Agg’s on the mark in solid win for Ireland
STEPHANIE Roche marked her return from the international wilderness by playing a part in Lily Agg’s first goal for her country, which was enough to give Vera Pauw’s side a narrow win in yesterday’s friendly with the Philippines.
Ireland are currently in the midst of a ten-day training camp ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Georgia on this day week, and this match against a team ranked 53 in the world was always just to warm up and get a match into their legs.
And in the Turkish resort of Antalya, where Pauw’s squad will be based until next Saturday, Agg made sure that she had an Ireland debut to remember when the Brighton midfielder reacted quickest to pounce on a chance after 35 minutes when the Filipino goalkeeper had initially parried Roche’s shot.
The Peamount striker was keen to impress Pauw after being called up for the first time in almost three years last weekend, and the part she played in the winning goal will not have gone unnoticed, even if she found chances to add to her 15-goal international tally at a premium.
Agg, who was born in Brighton but qualifies for Ireland through her Cork-born grandparents, certainly impressed on her first appearance for her country, aggressive in her pressing and determined with her off-the-ball running. It was one of those runs that led to her goal as she attacked the back post after Roche’s fierce shot was deflected into her path.
There weren’t an awful lot of clearcut goalscoring chances after that. Roche was called ashore in one of four half-time changes for Abbie Larkin, while defender Jessie Stapleton also came on for her senior international debut.
The Philippines might be ranked 26 places below Ireland in the FIFA rankings but they did pose Pauw’s side problems and might have gone ahead as early as the 13th minute when Carleigh Bennette Frilles fizzed a shot wide of Courtney Brosnan’s goal.
Having made the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, the Philippines have already booked their place for next year’s World Cup and showed their quality late on when Jessica Anne Miclat’s dipping shot veered just wide of Brosnan’s post. It ensured that the Irish stopper recorded her fourth clean sheet for her country.
Ireland created chances of their own. Their best passage of play in the second half saw Lucy Quinn and Eabha O’Mahony link up, with the latter whipping a cross that Heather Payne narrowly failed to connect with.
Larkin looked energetic at the head of the attack in the second half and was unfortunate to have a goalbound shot deflected to safety.
All in all, it was a productive afternoon in 28 degree heat which will help Ireland handle the conditions in Gori, where when the temperature is expected to top 30 degrees. After the full-time whistle, the players who did not feature in the game, as well as the unused substitutes, took part in a 9v9 practice game against the Philippines to ensure everyone underwent a workout.
Midfielder Denise O’Sullivan will report into camp today, having featured for her club, North Carolina Courage in the NWSL at the weekend.
Pauw’s squad will continue their training camp until Saturday when they fly to Tbilisi, Georgia ahead of their qualifier.
Having beaten the Group A minnows by a record 11-0 at home, the expectation is for a similar result but, with most Irish players not having played any competitive football for almost two months, nothing is being left to chance. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND: Brosnan; Payne, Fahey (Stapleton 46), Louise Quinn, Caldwell,McCabe (Mustaki 46); Connolly (Finn 75), Agg (O’Mahony 62); Ziu (Lucy Quinn 46), McLaughlin; Roche (Larkin 46). PHILIPPINES: Fontanilla; Cesar, Raedle, Sawicki, Long, Bolden, Bugay, Frilles, Harrison,Madarang, Quezada. Referee: G Pakkan (Turkey).