Republic of Ireland 3 - 2 Australia | 2020 - Senior Women's Friendlies | 999947407

Senior Women's Friendlies International Friendly | Tallaght Stadium

Tuesday, September 21, 2021

Republic of Ireland 3 - 2 Australia

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Preview
Lineups
Minute by Minute Commentary
Statistics
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REPORT | WNT 3-2 Australia

A second-half header from Louise Quinn secured a historic win for the Republic of Ireland as they overcame Australia 3-2 at Tallaght Stadium.

21st Sep 2021

Vera Pauw's snapped a losing streak by recording this deserved victory in front of 3,314 supporters at Tallaght Stadium against a team who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics.

It is Ireland's biggest win over a higher-ranked opponent in over two decades and they set off to achieve it straight away with Amber Barrett unleashing a stinging shot inside two minutes.

Australia barely had a chance to catch their breath when debutant Lucy Quinn curled a powerful free-kick at goal, which struck the post and rebounded in off goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

The game was back and forth in many ways but Ireland were never outclassed by a team led by star striker Sam Kerr, who was marking her 100th appearance.

Mary Fowler twice got the visitors back into the contest, albeit with a bit of luck, but Ireland also profited when a strike from Denise O'Sullivan was deflected in.

At the end of a thrilling first half, it was 2-2 but Ireland will have felt that they were slightly on top. And they continued to play with confidence in the second period.

Louise Quinn powered in a header early in that half to reassert a lead that they would not surrender as Pauw's team showed how recent performances against top-quality opponents stood to them.

Ireland, who were roared on by a vocal crowd, finished the game by battling for every ball and proving that they belonged in competition against such a good team.

Next up is their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign, starting at home to Sweden on October 21st.

Republic of Ireland: Brosnan; Fahey, Louise Quinn, McCarthy; O’Gorman, McCabe; Finn (Caldwell 90), O’Sullivan, Barrett (Farrelly, 60); Payne (Kiernan 90), Lucy Quinn (Whelan 72).

Australia: Arnold (Williams HT); Polkinghorne, Kennedy (Checker HT), Nevin (Beard 68); Yallop (Gant 68), Logarzo (Wheeler 53), Cooney-Cross, Catley; Gielnick, Kerr, Fowler.

Referee: Paula Brady (Ireland).

PREVIEW | WNT v Australia

With the start of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign delayed until next month, the focus for the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team is on Tuesday's game with Australia.

20th Sep 2021

Ireland were meant to have played Georgia in their opening Group A game last Friday but that was rescheduled until June 2022. So their preparation this week has been centred on the 11th-highest ranked team in women's football.

Tickets are almost sold out for the game, with a capacity set at 4,000 due to COVID restrictions.

TEAM NEWS
Midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn is ruled out due to a foot injury.

All of the players & staff have tested negative for COVID-19.

QUOTES
Republic of Ireland Manager Vera Pauw
“Australia are officially the ninth-best team in women's football and recently finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics. We know just how good they are and this opportunity to test ourselves against such a top-class opponent is one that we are ready to make the most of.

"We have never played against Australia at senior level before so this fixture is a first in many ways. Crucially, though, it acts as another chance for us to work together as a group to be in the best position possible for our first 2023 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

"The start to our qualifying campaign has been delayed due to COVID issues in Georgia - where we faced the possibility of travelling without over 20 players - so we now have to look ahead to a double-header in October at home to Sweden and away to Finland. We know how difficult these games will be so that is why this test against Australia is so important to take positives from our performance."

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe
"It's an exciting game, Australia are a top class side and it will be a great test for us. We've been playing against a lot of top quality teams of late and they certainly fall into that bracket.

"I know a few of the Australian players from my club, Arsenal, and we've been having a laugh talking about the game. But it will be down to business on Tuesday for them and for us because we want to put on a good performance.

"One of the big things about this game is that we can finally have our fans back in Tallaght after so long away due to COVID. We're fully aware of the need to maintain social distancing and the protocols in place, but there is no doubt that they will make a difference for us - they have always been fully behind us."

SQUAD LISTS

Republic of Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Eve Badana (DLR Waves)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (Birmingham City), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Louise Quinn (Birmingham City), Claire Walsh (Glasgow City), Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC), Áine O'Gorman (Peamount United), Isibeal Atkinson (Celtic)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Jamie Finn (Birmingham City), Ciara Grant (Shelbourne), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Aoibheann Clancy (Wexford Youths), Jess Ziu (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Rianna Jarrett (London City Lionesses), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Clare Shine (Glasgow City), Emily Whelan (Birmingham City), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)

Australia
Goalkeepers: Lydia Williams (Arsenal), Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United), Teagan Micah (Rosengard)
Defenders: Angela Beard (Fortuna Hjorring), Ellie Carpenter (Lyon), Steph Catley (Arsenal), Charlotte Grant (Rosengard), Emma Checker (Melbourne City), Winonah Heatly (Vaxjo), Alanna Kennedy (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Jenna McCormick (Vittsjo GIK), Jamila Rankin (Brisbane Roar), Tameka Yallop (West Ham United), Kyra Cooney-Cross (Melbourne Victory), Amy Harrison (PSV Eindhoven), Chloe Logarzo (Kansas City), Emily van Egmond (Unattached)
Forwards: Mary Fowler (Montpellier), Emily Gielnik (Aston Villa), Sam Kerr (Chelsea), Hayley Raso (Manchester City), Kyah Simon (Tottenham Hotspur), Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC)

CAPS LIST
Republic of Ireland
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (5 Caps / 0 Clean Sheets), Courtney Brosnan (4 Caps / 1 Clean Sheet), Eve Badana (3 Caps / 0 Clean Sheets)
Defenders: Harriet Scott (21 Caps / 0 Goals), Niamh Fahey (94 Caps / 0 Goals), Diane Caldwell (83 Caps / 3 Goals), Louise Quinn (86 Caps / 11 Goals), Claire Walsh (3 Caps / 0 Goals), Savannah McCarthy (5 Caps / 0 Goals), Áine O'Gorman (107 Caps / 13 Goals), Isibeal Atkinson (Celtic)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (84 Caps / 11 Goals), Jamie Finn (5 Caps / 0 Goals), Ciara Grant (15 Caps / 0 Goals), Niamh Farrelly (3 Caps / 0 Goals), Aoibheann Clancy (0 Caps / 0 Goals), Jess Ziu (4 Caps / 0 Goals), Katie McCabe (52 Caps / 10 Goals)
Forwards: Heather Payne (18 Caps / 1 Goal), Rianna Jarrett (15 Caps / 1 Goal), Amber Barrett (23 Caps / 3 Goals), Kyra Carusa (2 Caps / 0 Goals), Clare Shine (7 Caps / 0 Goals), Emily Whelan (5 Caps / 0 Goals), Saoirse Noonan (0 Caps / 0 Goals), Leanne Kiernan (20 Caps / 4 Goals), Lucy Quinn (0 Caps / 0 Goals)

MEDIA GUIDE
Click here to view the Media Guide for the Republic of Ireland WNT

VIDEO PLAYLIST
Katie McCabe Interview
Niamh Fahey Interview
Team-mates: Courtney Brosnan & Kyra Carusa
Guess Who? Katie McCabe & Ruesha Littlejohn
My Debut: Jamie Finn
WNT Book Club: Episode 1
Grassroots Club Coaching Clinic
Irish Courage: Denise O'Sullivan & Diane Caldwell

GET TICKETS NOW - IRELAND v AUSTRALIA

MATCH DETAILS
International Friendly
Republic of Ireland v Australia
Tuesday, September 21
Tallaght Stadium
KO 19:00
LIVE on RTÉ2
Referee: Paula Brady

SOCIAL MEDIA
Game Hashtag: #IRLAUS
Team Hashtag: #COYGIG