Denise O'Sullivan's 22nd Ireland goal proves the difference against Hungary

FRIENDLY: Ireland's Denise O’Sullivan in action against Henrietta Csiszar of Hungary. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Women’s international friendly: Rep of Ireland 3 (Abbie Larkin 8, Kyra Carusa 19, Denise O’Sullivan 50) Hungary 2 (Borbala Vincze 27, Zsanett Kajet 89) 

Denise O’Sullivan scored what proved to be the winner in Ireland’s behind-closed-doors friendly win in Marbella.

Thirteen days on from the men’s team slaying the Magyars in Budapest for a World Cup playoff spot, Carla Ward’s women prepared for their World Cup tilt by finishing the year on a high against the same nation.

Last month’s aggregate playoff win over Belgium sets up a qualification campaign for Brazil that begins against France on March 3 – potentially at Pairc Uí Chaoimh – and this was the last preparatory game.

Saturday morning’s encounter concluded a five-day warm weather training camp, enabling the Ireland manager to experiment with formations and personnel.

Larkin was rewarded for her tie-winning goal in Leuven with promotion to the starting line-up and took just eight minutes to open the scoring, seizing on a mistake to power clear and beat Lauren Brzkycy.

She teed up strike partner Kyra Carusa 11 minutes later to make it 2-0 before Borbala Vincze pulled one back, following up on the rebound to beat debutant Sophie Whitehouse in the Irish goal from the edge of the box.

O’Sullivan pounced five minutes after the restart to bury her 22nd international goal to restore the two-goal buffer.

A flood of substitutions from both managers, including Ward withdrawing her irritated captain Katie McCabe, disrupted the flow.

That may have contributed to Ireland labouring to kill off the tie, allowing Zsanett Kajet to pinch a second for Hungary with a minute remaining.

REP OF IRELAND: S Whitehouse; A Mannion (C Mustaki 46), A Patten, C Hayes, H Nolan, K McCabe (T O’Hanlon 84); T Toland (J Stapleton 46), D O’Sullivan, L Quinn (J Finn 60); K Carusa (L Kiernan 60), A Larkin (S Noonan 78)

HUNGARY: B Brzkycy; F Nagy, B Fordos (E Papai 73), H Nemeth, V Szabo; Z Mayer, D Csanyi, H Csiszar, D Sule (C Savanya 62), B Vincze 7 A (Csiki 73); B Purlins 6 (L Kovacs).

Referee: S Galia (Gibraltar).