Soccer

Ireland 1 Slovakia 1: How the Irish players rated

Malachy Clerkin hands out the marks on a disappointing night at Tallaght Stadium

Ireland players huddle before the gam. Photo: Laszlo Geczo/inpho

Malachy Clerkin's face
Malachy Clerkin
Thu Nov 25 2021 - 21:09

Courtney Brosnan (Everton)

Pulled off a fine one-handed save with 15 to go but almost gave it straight back with a howler soon after. Not a lot she could do with the goal - the damage was done out the field.

Rating: 6

Niamh Fahey (Liverpool)

Caught napping at the back post for the Slovakian goal - not much point Ireland having a three-to-one advantage back there if they’re not all aware of where the threat is.

Rating: 5

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Louise Quinn (Birmingham City)

Saved Brosnan with a heroic clearance off the line. Solid at the heart of the defence. Didn’t connect as well as she’d have liked on the back post from the corner just before the break.

Rating: 7

Savannah McCarthy (Galway WFC)

Caught far too narrow as Slovakia broke forward for their goal just after the break and couldn’t get out to shut down the cross.

Rating: 5

Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)

Mixed bag. Positive in possession but shaky when it came to close control. Her initial heavy touch led to the break from which Slovakia scored their goal

Rating: 5

Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

Cometh the hour. Ireland’s best attacker, even from left wing-back. Caught up the pitch for the Slovakia goal but buried her chance when O’Sullivan put her clear.

Rating: 7

Jamie Finn (Birmingham City)

Never stinted but it wasn’t her kind of game against such a physical Slovakia side. Muscled out of it time and again in around the middle. Shifted to right-back after O’Gorman’s departure.

Rating: 4

Megan Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion)

Pure strike in response to the goal drew a strong save out of the Slovakia goalkeeper. But like the rest of the Ireland mindfield, she struggled to bring any control or tempo to the game.

Rating: 5

Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage)

A rare off-night. Outnumbered so often across the first hour, she gradually asserted herself after Ireland went one behind. Fantastic work for McCabe’s goal, injecting pace and then a deft pass.

Rating: 6

Heather Payne (Florida State Seminoles)

Must be such a godsend for her teammates - such a willing outball, such a dogged chaser of lost causes. Got knocked about plenty every time she got on it but came back looking for more.

Rating: 6

Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)

Got creased twice inside the opening quarter-hour but it didn’t soften her up. Lots of huff-and-puff thereafter, with a couple of half chances but for ultimately not much return.

Rating: 5

Substitutes

Ruesha Littlejohn was lively and slick around the middle and flashed in one fantastic cross. Kyra Carusa put in a couple of skilful body swerves but wasn’t really on long enough to make a big difference.

Rating: 6

Manager: Vera Pauw

This goes in the debit column. Ireland weren’t at the emotional pitch of what Slovakia brought and they still seem unclear as to how best to use Katie McCabe. They’ve made life trickier than necessary now.

Rating: 4