Stephen McCarthy's nine favourite pictures from Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign

The Sportsfile photographer has been covering the Irish women's team since 2008 but has been working more closely with the team since the Euros decider in Ukraine in October 2020. Here he selects nine photos that best capture the journey to Australia

Penalty pain: Katie McCabe hits the crossbar from the penalty spot against Ukraine. Pic credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

Penalty pain: Katie McCabe hits the crossbar from the penalty spot against Ukraine. Pic credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile.

We thought they were going to be the first Ireland women’s squad to do it. Win and they’re in the playoffs for the Euros. It seemed like this was going to be their time, to edge closer to qualifying for a first major tournament. But from the first whistle nothing went their way. From the own goal to Katie, who you would normally put your house on to score, missing this penalty, it just wasn’t to be their night. But in the aftermath Vera Pauw told her devastated players that they would use this disappointment to qualify for the World Cup.