John Fallon: US misadventure an own-goal for Ireland's women

Carla Ward's admission that a glut of her players 'begged' to be substituted during the second successive 4-0 mauling in three days testified to the difficulty in performing the basics.

The US subjected Ireland to another 4-0 drubbing on home soil on Sunday. Picture: Jason Mowry/Getty

IF you can't stand the heat, best avoid the kitchen furnace.

Temperatures tipping over 30 degrees and 90% of humidity were the conditions Ireland encountered for a Sunday afternoon kick-off against the a USA side ranked top of Fifa's standings.