Denise O’Sullivan was instrumental in a crucial three points picked up at the Aviva Stadium.
Ireland 1
Poland 0
Ireland concluded their international break with all 6 of the available points in their two games against Poland. After a 3-2 victory in Poland, Carla Ward’s Irish outfit ran out 1-0 winners on Saturday thanks to a Marissa Sheva tap in.
Poland opened the game the stronger of the two sides, as Ewelina Kamcyzk robbed the ball from Denise O’Sullivan and tested Ireland ‘keeper Courtney Brosnan early on. Ireland skipper Katie McCabe soon after played a ball into the Polish box, but the danger was cleared by two Polish defenders.
Poland quickly responded, as Nadia Krezyman darted past Aoife Mannion and set up Ewa Pajor, but her shot went to the wrong side of the post.
A quarter of an hour in, Denise O’Sullivan skipped into the box and tee’d up Emily Murphy, only for her shot to rattle off the crossbar, and the rebound fly over off the boot of Marissa Sheva. Just before the half hour mark, Ireland captain McCabe, played a dangerous ball into Mannion, whose header was blocked off the line by Polish defender Paulina Dudek.
High flying O’Sullivan soon found herself in hot water, as her illegal challenge on Poland’s Krezyman saw the referee brandish a yellow card. After being previously being booked in the qualifying campaign, she will now miss the crucial clash against The Netherlands in June, due to suspension.
Poland shortly regained momentum, as a free kick tested Brosnan’s commanding of the box, and a Pajor shot on target was stopped by the ever present Brosnan in the Irish net.
The girls in green found the opening goal of the game on 39 minutes. Kyra Carusa’s shot from the right hand side of the box drew a save from Kinja Szmeik, and Sheva was there to tap the ball home into a gaping net to give the Girls in Green the advantage going into half time.
Ireland kept their momentum coming out after half time, as Mannion played a ball to Megan Connolly on the edge of the box, but her volleyed effort was stopped by Szemik inbeteeen the sticks. Goalscorer Sheva almost created the second goal for Ireland, but her cross floated over the heads of the Irish striker partnership of Murphy and Carusa in the box.
The 18,267 patrons in the Aviva Stadium almost witnessed a Puskas worthy goal from O’ Sullivan. O’Sullivan picked up the ball inside the box and flicked it over the head of Martyna Wianlowska twice before unleashing a thunderbolt that left the crossbar reverberating. Had her shot been six inches lower the Puskas award would have been decided there and then for the Liverpool player.
As the hour mark struck, Poland refused to lie down, after Pajor won a free kick in a dangerous area, after being thwarted illegally by Caitlin Hayes. The free kick however proved a comfortable one for Brosnan, who got her hand on the ball with ease. Poland’s Wianlowska soon picked up a yellow card, as she impeded Emily Murphy’s advances in the eyes of the referee.
Ireland’s defensive set-up refused to cave coming down the stretch, and held firm against the ever present Poland. The visitors had a shout for a penalty, as Mannion seemed to had pushed substitute Weronika Zawistowska inside the box, but there was no issue with the challenge in the eyes of the referee.
Injury woes could soon face Carla Ward and her side, as Carusa, Brosnan and O’ Sullivan all seemed to take knocks in the late passages of the second half. Carusa was forced off and replaced by Abbie Larkin, while Brosnan seemed to have a reoccurring head injury after a clash of heads with a Polish player.
For Denise O’Sullivan, she seemed to have taken a hit to her ankle, but was not forced off during the game. Carla Ward will be hoping her players will return fit in June ahead of their final two qualifying games against France and Poland.
Ward will also be without Emily Murphy against the Dutch, as she will be sidelined due to suspension, due to her yellow card today. Ward herself picked up a yellow for entering the field of play in the latter moments of the game, but will not face any repercussions ahead of the game against The Netherlands.
Poland had a chance to equalise after 91 minutes, as substitute Patryjcra Sarasota headed a ball down to Pajor in the box, but the Barcelona star couldn’t direct her shot past Brosnan in the Irish goal.
As the full time whistle blew in the Aviva Stadium, it was mission accomplished for Ireland, who sit tied on points with The Netherlands in Group A2, and now look set to avoid the drop as they maintain a 5 point advantage over today’s opponents.
Speaking after the game, Carla Ward claimed “They (The Irish players) are an absolute joy to work with”. Ward also labelled the game a “Proper Irish performance”.
Ward will now look ahead to June with suspension and injury questions in her mind ahead of two crucial clashes with The Netherlands in Cork, and France abroad.
Player of the Match: It could only be Denise O’Sullivan to be crowned player of the match this afternoon. Her effort in the Irish engine room was crucial to today’s victory, and she provided flair and class in all areas of the pitch, including the build up to her narrowly missed effort.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe; Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva; Kyra Carusa (Abbie Larkin 72), Emily Murphy.
Poland: Kinga Szemik; Wiktoria Zieniewicz, Oliwia Wos, Paulina Dudek, Martyna Wiankowska; Adriana Achcinska (Gabriela Grzybowska HT), Ewelina Kamczyk (Patrycja Sarapata 80), Tanja Pawollek; Paulna Tomasiak (Weronika Araśniewicz 90), Ewa Pajor, Nadia Krezyman (Weronika Zawistowska 65).
Referee: Aleksandra Cesen (Sweden)