Dutch overpower fighting Irish in Tallaght

So no repeat of last year’s heroics in Holland from Ireland in Tallaght last night, but no shame either, as the Netherlands showed why they are the European champions with a classy and comfortable 2-0 victory.

In front of a record attendance for a women’s international in Dublin of 4,047, the girls in green were never lacking in guts and application but the gulf in class was evident throughout as only some brave and disciplined defending, a couple of fine saves and the intervention of the woodwork restricted the visitors to two goals.

But with the Irish still in second place in the World Cup qualifying campaign, Amber Barrett’s late winner against Slovakia at this venue last Friday retains its significance ahead of what are now critical back-to-back meetings with the group’s other big guns, Norway, in June.