GIRLS IN GREEN HAVE A LOT TO LAUREN
Errors cost Irish three precious Euro points
EARLY concessions and a late rally – it’s becoming the story of Ireland’s Euro 2025 campaign.
But ultimately another defeat in another game against a team ranked among the best in the world, and plenty more frustration as errors and lapses proved costly.
Lauren James and Alex Greenwood both scored inside the first 18 minutes as England threatened to run riot in front of 32,742 fans at the Aviva Stadium.
But in the great tradition of Irish teams – both male and female – it was the centre-halves leading the late attacking charge.
And they should have at least made England sweat in the closing stages, as chances fell to Caitlin Hayes and Katie Mccabe.
Hayes and Louise Quinn were the targets as Mccabe whipped the ball into the area from all angles.
One Hayes header drifted wide and another was stopped by keeper Hannah Hampton.
And when Mccabe blocked a Hampton clearance, she retrieved the ball but tried to squeeze it home from a tight angle, when substitute Leanne Kiernan was better placed.
But the damage was well and truly done early on, as the reigning European champions and World Cup runners up scored twice and looked capable of cruising through the gears again if necessary.
Ireland lined out in a 5-4-1 formation, with Aoife Mannion and Katie Mccabe providing width from wing-back.
Mannion started on the right in response to how France targeted that side of the Irish defence in Metz last Friday – and Mannion’s redeployment there at half-time gave Ireland a little more structure.
Despite the change in personnel, England looked to attack that area too last night.
And once again the Girls in Green looked vulnerable, with England’s opening two goals – and the missed penalty – coming from crosses from that side.
Unfortunately there were basic defensive errors for both of England’s goals.
With 12 minutes on the clock, Mccabe was drawn inside towards Lauren James as a cross was whipped in from Mannion’s side.
As the ball carried beyond the Chelsea forward, Mccabe back-pedalled but couldn’t get to Lucy Bronze, whose knockdown allowed James to sweep home from 10 yards.
Six minutes later and England’s lead was doubled – and again it was a cross from England’s left.
This time Mccabe got up above Bronze to head clear, but only as far as Jessica Park, whose fiercely hit volley smacked off the outstretched hand of Littlejohn.
Finnish referee Lina Lehtovaara took her time before pointing to the spot, but when she did Alex Greenwood made no mistake, sending Courtney Brosnan the wrong way.
It should have been 3-0 on the half-hour when England attacked once again, you guessed it, down their left flank.
Lauren Hemp accelerated past Mannion and crossed towards Alessia Russo, she got her toe to the ball and hooked it overhead, where it struck Louise Quinn’s raised fore arm. There was no hesitation this time from the referee, but Greenwood saw her effort fly off the inside of the right post and across goal.
As the first-half neared an end, England found their rhythm but a combination of the offside flag and a poor final ball rescued the Irish from a heavier deficit.
Early in the second-half Ireland threatened to venture deeper into English territory.
But a killer final ball continued to prove elusive, while the visitors occasionally moved through the gears at the other end.
Somehow they failed to make it three when Mccabe, 20 minutes into the second-half, lost out to James on the left touchline. James’ cross was nodded down by Ella Toone and substitute Fran Kirby was denied by a point-blank save by Brosnan.
Then came the late Irish chances, but to no avail.