Spirited late Irish flourish not enough to bridge class divide

IRELAND 0

ENGLAND 2

EURO QUALIFIER

Before this match, Ireland had expended much energy in dismissing talk of a rivalry with England.

It had seemed for long stretches the imperious visitors didn’t have to exert much effort to roundly silence it.

It is to Ireland’s credit that they at least roared so strongly in the game’s death throes that the return tie this summer will offer some measure of intrigue.

The reigning European champions and World Cup runners-up were strolling to victory with such contemptuous ease it might take some time to ever conceive of rivalry.

Two first-half goals from Lauren James and Alex Greenwood confirmed domination that had been immediate, then prolonged, before plummeting.

But then a denouement of entirely unexpected drama, even if no punchline. Ireland had a glorious chance to halve the deficit with 14 minutes left. As if personifying her side’s limp opening hour, Caitlin Hayes had neither the poise or self-control to convert as England pined for the plane home, guilty of assuming their work had been concluded.

Smacked

That the hosts ended the contest with sustained pressure prompted pity that they had not begun affairs with such zeal and intention.

Hayes smacked a header on target from a corner as 32,742 locals found their voice.

Bizarrely, Katie McCabe charged down Hannah Hampton but ignored onrushing colleagues and allowed the ’keeper to spare so many blushes.

Ireland’s spirit and endeavour all for nought then, as early defensive indiscipline and insufficient poise with limited possession handicapped their ambitions.

Ireland didn’t win a corner in Metz; within two minutes they had nabbed one here.

England’s threat was initially subtler than France’s explosive use of pace; moving the ball steadily from side to side, Chelsea’s James roaming everywhere, as is her wont.

This allowed Ireland to start with a higher line, also permitting them more courage to snap and tackle and stop.

They had vowed to cherish the ball more than they had on Friday; their efforts were far too fitful. Sloppy passes and poor control, albeit under pressure, betrayed their modest ambitions.

England thieved the lead in the 12th minute, McCabe caught in a sandwich as the imperious Keira Walsh’s cross from the left utterly undid the heavily populated Irish back-line.

Lucy Bronze was at the far post to climb above a back-pedalling McCabe to nod the ball down, from where it caromed off the leg of Anna Patten; the enigmatic Chelsea star Lauren, sister of Reece, slammed the lead goal home.

Once more, any attempted consolation from this Irish team was undone by defensive dereliction.

Within five minutes, as France completed their second win of the campaign against Sweden, England had doubled their lead from the first of two first-half penalties from Alex Greenwood.

This was the most decisive in all respects. Hemp had tortured Payne once more and floated a cross. McCabe’s poor defensive header as Bronze lurked once more invited peril, rather than repelled it.

As Jessica Park lined up a volley, Ruesha Littlejohn lined up a verbal volley, appearing to roar something as she advanced, arms flailing.

Unfortunately, the ball pinged off her left forearm; it was utterly careless, reckless even, as Littlejohn was not in control. Legally, the current call. Greenwood mercilessly despatched justice.

Another penalty came like a bus after ten more minutes of effortless English control. This was a more dubious call, a cross from you-know-who on the left pinballed around Louise Quinn, from her thigh to her hand, as she was contesting possession with Russo.

Adamant

With no VAR, Finnish whistler Lina Lehtovaara was adamant, despite protests. Perhaps an element of justice prevailed, as Greenwood’s attempted double smacked Brosnan’s right-hand post and dribbled wide.

Megan Connolly replaced the ineffective Littlejohn as Ireland reformatted their starting side for the third successive match. They pressed and harried but again, all too late.

Along with a return to 4-4-2 to pin back the marauding full-backs, Megan Campbell arrived on the hour to fling her remarkable throw-ins to prompt minor panic amongst the English and major hollering in the crowd.

Her third indirectly provided the freekick and a spectacular chance that Hayes could not convert from a yard with 14 minutes left.

Fran Kirby, who should have scored England’s third, eventually cleared that danger. There would be more to come, some self-inflicted.

Ireland’s earlier self-harm had left them too much road to travel.