BELL WANTS IMPROVEMENT

COLIN BELL has called on the Republic of Ireland women’s side to break their major tournament hoodoo after completing their World Cup campaign on a high last night. Leanne Kiernan and captain Katie McCabe each scored twice as Ireland easily overcome Northern Ireland at Tallaght Stadium. Qualification for next year’s tournament in France was already beyond Colin Bell’s side but they finish the eightgame series having won half their matches. ‘We play Poland in a friendly in October which is the start of the build-up for the Euro 2021 campaign,’ said the winning coach. ‘There are areas to improve on but I’m fully confident that this group can bring Ireland to our firstever major tournament.’ Just three minutes in and Diane Caldwell’s lofted pass from her own half released Kiernan who waited for Jacqueline Burns to advance before lobbing the bouncing ball over her head. Kiernan’s pace saw her get in behind the defence on 12 minutes and her cut-back allowed Tyler Toland to fire in a 20-yard shot. Burns saved the effort but the ball fell to Jarrett, who laid back for McCabe to find the net. After having a volley ruled out for offside soon after, Kiernan bagged her second on 27 minutes. When Denise O’Sullivan’s surging run drew the centrebacks out of position, she slipped the ball into space for Kiernan to burst clear and beat Burns with a curler. The second half was equally one-sided. McCabe’s converted penalty on 58 minutes, after Scott was bundled over by Burns, was all they had to show for their dominance. However, 18-year-old Kiernan was denied a hat-trick when she did the difficult work by beating her marker only to see a diagonal shot clip the inside of the post. REP OF IRELAND: Budden; Payne, Caldwell, Fahey, Quinn, Scott; O’Sullivan, Toland (Duggan 61), McCabe; Kiernan (Barrett 88), Jarrett (Ziu 77). Scorers: Kiernan 3, 27, McCabe 12, 58 (pen). NORTHERN IRE: Burns; Simpson , Raffety, Nelson, Foy: Milligan, McFadden (Holdaway 74), Callaghan, Wade (McKenna 72); Montgomery (Bell 62); McGill. Referee: Angelika Soeder (GER) Attendance: 1603.