Russell and Ireland seal deal with brace of wins

MÉABH RUSSELL of Wexford FC Women featured for the full 90 minutes at right-back as the Republic of Ireland Under-19 team recovered from a 1-0 interval deficit to beat Iceland 4-1 in their opening

UEFA European Championship qualifying game in Sesvete, Croatia on Wednesday.

Knowing that they needed to top Group A2 in order to qualify for this summer’s finals tournament in Lithuania, the girls responded positively to falling behind on 36 minutes when Vigdis Kristjansdottir netted.

They got back into it courtesy of an own goal from Sigdis Bardardottir on 56 minutes, before Sligo Rovers ace Jodie Loughrey put them ahead six minutes later after getting on the end of an inswinging corner-kick.

Substitute Hannah Healy of Shelbourne made it 3-1, before Joy Ralph of Shamrock Rovers completed a very good day for Ireland with their fourth goal on 79 minutes.

And there was even better news for Méabh and her colleagues on Saturday, when the 1-0 win over Austria thanks to another goal from Ralph ensured qualification for a first final tournament at this level since 2014.

Once again Tipperary native Russell lined out in her familiar fullback role from start to finish, as the team clinched qualification due to a better head-to-head record even though they still had one game to play against Croatia.

Russell will be on a high when she returns to club action after the international break, with Wexford FC Women set to host Cliftonville from Belfast in their second group game in the All-Island Cup on April 20.