LIONESSES ARE 0 2

Early goals cost Gleeson’s side despite late rally against England

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.

Considering they put five past Italy, six past Scotland and seven past Austria in recent months, it seemed fair enough to fear the worst with less than a quarter of the game played.

But in the great tradition of Irish teams — both male and female — it was the centrehalves 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.

Targets

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, at the back post, was stopped by goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, who was lucky to be in the right place at

SISTERS IN ARMS: The Ireland team huddle and (right) Alex Greenwood of England celebrates scoring her team’s second goal with Lauren James the right time.

And when McCabe blocked a Hampton clearance, she retrieved the ball but tried to squeeze it home from a tight angle, when sub Leanne Kiernan was better placed.

The irony, considering what happened late in Metz last Friday.

But the damage was well and truly done early on, as the European champions and World Cup runners up scored twice and looked capable of cruising through the gears 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 — and how Mannion’s redeployment there at half-time gave a little more structure to the rearguard.

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 two goals — and the missed penalty — coming from crosses from that side.

Mannion struggled against Lauren Hemp, as time and again the Manchester City forward turned on the afterburners and left the Manchester United player for dust.

Strong

To be fair to the Ireland international, she is a centre-half by trade and is quite strong in that department, but has found herself squeezed out by more recent arrivals Caitlin Hayes and Anna Patten.

There were changes in midfield, with Ruesha Littlejohn and Lucy Quinn coming into the starting-11.

Meanwhile, urgency and de