Borges sinks Irish

The Ireland Women’s team crashed to defeat against Algarve Cup hosts Portugal in Faro last night.

Going into the last group game with just one point from their opening two matches, Ireland needed a win to finish runners-up in the four-nation pool.

Portugal’s winger Ana Borges ensured the task for Sue Ronan’s Irish team would be difficult as she raced clear on seven minutes to open the scoring. Louise Quinn, one of five players from Peamount United in the Ireland starting line-up, equalised on the half hour mark with a thumping header from Grace Murray’s corner.

Ireland were undone 16 minutes from time when Zaragoza’s Borges got the better of Megan Campbell to net her second.

Ireland conclude their tournament against Hungary tomorrow; their last game before the UEFA qualifier on April 5 against Scotland.

IRELAND: E Byrne (Arsenal); S Perry (Chelsea), L Quinn (Peamount United), N Fahey (Arsenal), G Murray (Peamount United); D Gorman (Peamount Utd), C Grant (Arsenal), JA Russell (Doncaster Belles); S Lawlor (Peamount Utd), M O’Brien (Chicago Red Eleven), D O’Sullivan (Cork). Subs: M Campbell for G Murray (30), F O’Sullivan (Soyaux ASJ) for Lawlor, A O’Gorman (Peamount Utd) for O’Brien, M Curtin (Cork) for Gorman (both 46).