LOCAL HERO Saoirse Noonan scored a historic winner — but Ireland could not turn utter dominance into the goals they needed as they fell well short of the four-plus victory required for Nations League promotion.
Cork native Noonan completed a unique double of playing inter-county Gaelic football and international soccer matches at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
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Saoirse Noonan scored as Ireland beat SloveniaCredit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
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Slovenia were promoted to League A while Ireland settle for an October play-offCredit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The ex-Rebels star’s headed goal came from an early Jessie Stapleton cross as Ireland bombarded Slovenia’s box from wide areas in front of 9,433 fans at ‘The Park’.
It maintained their winning record at the home of Cork GAA but was not good enough for promotion as they finished level on points with their visitors — whose 4-0 home win over the Girls in Green three months ago ensured they were the ones left celebrating League A status at full-time.
Ireland will now face a third-placed team from League A in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off in October. Austria, Iceland, Belgium and Denmark are their potential opponents in Friday’s draw.
Win the play-off and Ireland would also gain a guaranteed play-off spot for the 2027 World Cup.
But a yellow card for Anna Patten in a late sideline bust-up with Kaja Erzen will see her suspended for the first leg.
Tuesday night’s game also provided a tearful send-off for retiring Louise Quinn, who came on late for her 122nd cap in her international swansong.
Carla Ward made four changes from the 2-1 comeback victory over Turkey as she implemented a more direct style.
Alongside Noonan, Istanbul match-winner Emily Murphy came into the midfield and put in a standout performance. Kyra Carusa and Caitlin Hayes were also called upon.
The Jim McGuinness-inspired Slovenian boss Sasa Kolman claimed to have outfoxed Ward in February’s game. There was no question of that recurring in a tetchy clash.
Starting against a strong wind, Ireland were determined to lay down a marker and poured down the flanks to force three corners inside five minutes. They won the headers from all three deliveries, too.
Noonan came closest but Zara Kramzar took her header off the line. Patten could not do any better with her two efforts.
Abbie Larkin switched to the left flank for this game and she dribbled past two defenders for the next chance but Zala Mersnik gobbled up her edge-of-the-box strike.
The overlapping Katie McCabe doubled the danger down the left. Her back-to-back crosses did not connect but did play a key role in the build-up to the 19th-minute goal.
Murphy retrieved the second ball and rolled it back for Stapleton, whose deep cross was perfectly weighted for Noonan to redirect over the keeper, with the former Cork City star wheeling away to celebrate her second international goal with her home-town fans.
Carusa scuffed a couple of chances wide in the aftermath, Murphy fired a shot into Mersnik’s arms and another Corkonian, Megan Connolly, saw a drilled attempt blocked by Sara Agrez, with Patten unable to turn the ricocheting ball goalward.
A frustrated Kolman was booked but his side did carve out one major opening before half-time. However, Courtney Brosnan beat away Lara Prasnikar’s stinging shot.
Kolman detailed his players to get closer to Ireland around the middle as they began to contain the hosts in the second half, while Brosnan had to make a routine save from Maja Sternad.
At the other end, Stapleton and Patten went for the same ball to spoil one chance. Then Connolly fired over from the 18-yard line.
Murphy drove just over the bar from a tight angle before another good cross followed from Connolly’s free-kick. However, Hayes glanced her header off target.
Then Murphy got in around the side again to shoot, only for Mersnik to parry around the post.
Mersnik also had to deal with a couple of Megan Campbell throw-in missiles but she did so successfully as hopes of Ireland adding three further goals faded away.
Slovenia go straight up. Ireland must find another way.
SUN STAR PLAYER
Emily Murphy (Ireland)
IRELAND: Brosnan 7; Stapleton 7 (Campbell 62, 6), Patten 7, Hayes 7, McCabe 7; Larkin 7 (Louise Quinn 80, 6), O’Sullivan 7, Connolly 7, Carusa 7 (Sheva 80, 6), Murphy 8; Noonan 8 (Barrett 62, 6).
SLOVENIA: Mersnik 7; Conc 6, Golob 6, Agrez 7; Kolbl 7, Makovec 6, Korosec 7, Prasnikar 7 (Janez 90, 6), Erzen 6; Sternad 6 (Kajzba 68, 6), Kramzar 6 (Zver 87, 6).
REFEREE: M Bockova (Slovakia) 6.