A different Celtic symphony: A look at Ireland's play-off opponents Wales
CHANCE OF REDEMPTION: Ireland’s Megan Connolly and Jessica Fishlock of Wales in action during a friendly at Tallaght Stadium. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Now for the real stuff.
Uefa’s play-off farrago generated a series of landslides in the semi-finals, ranging from a couple of 8-1 aggregates to 14-0, 12-0, and in Ireland’s case against Georgia, 9-0.
Don’t discount a few hidings either to come in the final pairings to determine the last seven qualifiers for next summer’s European Championships in Switzerland.
Ireland’s outcome won’t feature in the resounding category. Celtic derbies seldom produce one-sided results, save for Ireland’s 6-1 stroll over their northern brethren at Windsor Park last December.
When Scotland stood in the way of a World Cup spot, Ireland counted on goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan stopping Caroline Weir’s penalty and substitute Amber Barrett to seal a first major tournament qualification with her famous extra-time goal at Hampden Park.
Ireland must edge another neighbour in Wales to secure a maiden trip to the Euros.
As the League A team, they start as favourites, bestowed the home leg second by Uefa, but only five places separate the nations in Fifa’s rankings.
Ireland will rock up to the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday, November 29 – most likely general election day – before they welcome the Welsh to Lansdowne Road on Tuesday, December 3.
Pressure and expectation to slay the Dragons sits on the shoulders of Ireland’s management and players.
That comes with the territory of being the top tier nation in this four-nation play-off subset.
It had been the opposite case in 2023, when Ireland coasted through their League B series with six straight wins while the Welsh claimed one draw over the same stretch.
They swapped places for this year’s main Euros qualifiers but there’s a rising tide of optimism within the Welsh ranks about their tournament drought being smashed.
Simultaneous to Ireland ending theirs against Scotland, the Welsh missed out on venturing to Australia by virtue of a last-minute defeat to Switzerland.
The spine of their team – an experienced cohort of thirty-somethings led by veteran Jess Fishlock – have eyed this opportunity as potentially their last.
To observe them in their 2-0 win over Ireland in February – albeit a friendly – was to appreciate a team capable of mixing it at tournament level.
As Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson acknowledged, the respective squads are similar in profile. “This is an opportunity for redemption,” she declared after that friendly reverse.
Players on either side share dressing-rooms at the likes of Liverpool, Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Sunderland.
What works against Wales’s quest to qualify at Ireland’s expense is the absence of Sophie Ingle.
The midfielder became the record appearance holder in the Women’s Super League last year, operating at the top level as part of Chelsea’s domineering title winners.
She stood down as Wales captain in April but last month suffered an ACL knee rupture, the latest high-profile women’s player stricken by the serious injury.
Wales had Ingle in their midfield for the February friendly, contrasted with Ireland being without their maestro of Denise O’Sullivan but Gleeson’s crew cannot afford to be as vulnerable as they looked that night.
They came to Tallaght having snapped a six-game losing streak by holding the mighty Germany scoreless.
Curbing the influence of O’Sullivan and Katie McCabe in the first leg on their home patch will be the priority of manager Rhian Wilkinson.
The former Canada centurion, whose mother was from Wales, was appointed on the day of the Ireland match, sitting in the Tallaght stand assessing her resources.
Here we take a look at some of those reliables she’s leant on to offer a fighting chance of reaching Switzerland.
Manchester United.)
A regular for United since their maiden WSL season in 2019, Ladd is part of a Welsh backline alongside fellow stalwarts Rhianon Roberts and Gemma Evans. Also comfortable in midfield, Ladd’s contract at Old Trafford was extended until next year, by which time she’d like to be swapping tourist tips on Switzerland with her United teammates.
Crystal Palace (on loan).
One of Woodham’s two international goals was a screamer into Courtney Brosnan’s top corner in February, highlighting the threat she brings by bombing from full-back. One of three Wales players currently in America with Seattle Reign, she was loaned to WSL newcomers Crystal Palace last month.
Seattle Reign)
Stepped into the captaincy in succession to Ingle, leading by example with his powerful midfield initiative. Has been around the block for a decade, back in America where she originally was a teammate of Denise O’Sullivan at North Carolina. A former colleague, too, of Grace Moloney at Reading, she had been previously part of the Notts County team alongside Irish centre-back Louise Quinn made unemployed in 2016 when Notts County went bust.
Liverpool)
Will be fondly recalled as the matchwinner in their semi-final 3-2 aggregate victory over Slovakia. Holland is an explosive midfielder who has found her feet at Liverpool after following her apprenticeship with Manchester City with a stint in America. Was a figurehead in the Pool team which Galway native Niamh Fahey captained to the English Championship in 2022.
Forward (Seattle Reign)
A pioneer for the Welsh game, Fishlock is still going strong ahead of her 38th birthday in January. Has globetrotted in her club career from Netherlands, Scotland, England, Germany and Australia but is most associated with the National Women’s Soccer League in America, where she’s made her home away from home. There were concerns that an injury could rule the 154-times capped lynchpin out of the play-offs but she recovered in time for the second leg and will spearhead their attack in Cardiff on November 29.
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