SO CLOSE, YET so far.
This was an emotional, historic occasion in Sydney, but ultimately, Ireland fell to a disappointing defeat on their World Cup debut against co-hosts Australia.
A 52nd-minute Steph Catley penalty settled matters as 75,784 fans — much of them Irish — watched the Stadium Australia showdown.
Marissa Sheva conceded the spot kick after a tangle with Hayley Raso as they battled for a floating ball in from Kyra Cooney Cross. Catley stepped up and converted in style, with Courtney Brosnan all but fully committing to the other side.
Ireland threw the kitchen sink at it, with Katie McCabe starring on her major tournament debut. Her battle with Raso was one for the ages. She and Louise Quinn came close to equalising late on, bookending a typically battling performance from the Girls In Green.
But amidst the spine-tingling atmosphere, Vera Pauw’s side fell agonisingly short.
Australia — 12 places higher in the Fifa world rankings and among the favourites for the tournament — were dealt a major pre-match blow with Sam Kerr ruled out through injury. Mary Fowler, whose father hails from Dublin, started in her place, with Alanna Kennedy joining Clare Hunt at centre-back as she returns from a setback of her own.
There were no surprises in the Ireland team as Pauw kept her faith in the XI she has thrown her lot in with of late. Denise O’Sullivan, as expected, won her fitness race after an injury scare in Friday’s warm-up game against Colombia.
Ireland’s tried and tested 5-4-1 worked well through an intense, physical first half. They held firm and kept their shape for the most part, with no signs of nerves despite the hugely significant occasion.
Australia showed their hand early on, with Heather Payne targetted at right-wing-back. The electric Courtnee Vine got in behind on several occasions, with Caitlin Foord in on the act, but Sinéad Farrelly — and later Payne — continually recovered.
Farrelly and Denise O’Sullivan were central to some of Ireland’s best moments, while McCabe had her hands full shackling Ellie Carpenter and Raso on the left. At one stage Ireland’s skipper pushed on and was caught out by a nutmeg, before Ruesha Littlejohn slid in to cut out any danger.
Australia always held that counter-attacking threat, but Ireland soaked up the pressure and nullified them. Kyra Carusa pressed hard and the visitors looked to engineer chances on the break, but she was hesitant to shoot when an opportunity arrived. Ireland’s only ‘shot’ of the opening period was a fluffed Sheva cross which Mackenzie Arnold batted away.
Before that, Raso headed just wide from a corner after getting up over Farrelly. Both sides were sloppy, struggling to retain possession while the battle of McCabe and Raso intensified.
The closing stages of the first half were hectic: Foord began shooting on sight; McCabe required treatment after a clash with Raso; O’Sullivan was booked for dissent after a sliding challenge, and there was a VAR check for a possible penalty for handball against Ireland.
The Matildas continued to target Payne, who grew into the game, while Brosnan easily claimed their first shot on target through the industrious Katrina Gorry.
The midfield battle between Gorry and O’Sullivan was a fascinating one, and that continued into the second half. She was key for the Aussies as they clawed their way on top, and their breakthrough moment arrived from the spot. Fowler nearly added a second shortly after but blazed over, and Ireland responded well.
Pauw pursued all avenues, introducing attacking players down the home straight. Lucy Quinn and Abbie Larkin made their impact felt and won a string of corners, but Arnold and co. kept them out — by the skin of their teeth, at times — while Louise Quinn and Niamh Fahey put in huge blocks to deny Australia’s attempts to kill the game.
Most of Ireland’s best work came down the right in the closing stages, but it wasn’t to be. Lucy Quinn drew a free in a great position on 90, but Megan Connolly’s shot took a crucial nick and went behind for a corner.
Payne and McCabe scuffed opportunities, the latter a particularly painful one in injury time after Larkin had pulled the ball back to her, and Louise Quinn’s header edged wide at the very death.
So close, yet so far.
Onwards to Canada.
AUSTRALIA (4-4-2): Mackenzie Arnold; Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy, Steph Catley; Hayley Raso, Kyra Cooney-Cross, Katrina Gorry, Cortnee Vine (Emily Van Egmond 75); Caitlin Foord, Mary Fowler (Clare Polkinghorne 85).
IRELAND (5-4-1): Courtney Brosnan; Heather Payne, Louise Quinn, Niamh Fahey, Megan Connolly, Katie McCabe (captain); Sinead Farrelly (Abbie Larkin 63), Denise O’Sullivan, Ruesha Littlejohn, Marissa Sheva (Lucy Quinn 63); Kyra Carusa (Izzy Atkinson 88).
Referee: Edina Alves Batista (Brazil).
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