Niamh Fahey: Sweden was a free hit, this is the big one

Top seeds Sweden racked up their third win in a row by beating Ireland 1-0 at Tallaght on Thursday and the Finns will join them on nine points should they get the better of Vera Pauw’s side

Niamh Fahey of Republic of Ireland in action against Amanda Ilestedt of Sweden. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

After getting Thursday’s ‘free hit’ against Sweden out of the way, Niamh Fahey admits Ireland must extract at least a point from tomorrow’s visit to Finland.

World Cup qualification will be beyond veterans like the 34-year-old Liverpool defender if they don’t succeed in this campaign for the 2023 finals, crystallising the importance of the showdown at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.