On Saturday, September 23, history was made as the Republic of Ireland took on Northern Ireland for the first-ever women’s football match at the Aviva Stadium. The Girls in Green earned a 3-0 victory in front of a record crowd of 35,944, as both sides kickstarted their UEFA Nations League campaigns.
Just after the half-hour mark, fans in the stadium erupted as Lucy Quinn also carved her name in history, becoming the first female footballer to score in the Aviva. She got on the end of a Katie McCabe corner, hitting the back of the net with a sweetly struck volley into the bottom right corner.
The Republic of Ireland created more chances in the first half, but goalline clearances from the travelling team kept the score at 1-0 at the break.
Here’s the goal that has given us a deserved lead at the interval!
Nice one, @LucyQuinn7 ?#COYGIG | #WeAreOne | #OUTBELIEVEpic.twitter.com/z4vJisIYsd
— Ireland Football ⚽️?? (@IrelandFootball) September 23, 2023
It wasn’t until the 70th minute that the home side’s lead was doubled, as Kyra Carusa capitalised on a mistake from the Northern Irish defence. Her shot from distance nestled into an open net, marking her first goal for her country.
The third and final blow for Northern Ireland came in the 85th minute from substitute Lily Agg, who scored with a powerful header after getting on the end of another well-delivered McCabe corner. It topped off a dominant display from the Girls in Green in their first match since the Women’s World Cup.
Speaking after the historic occasion in the Aviva Stadium, Repulic of Ireland interim manager Eileen Gleeson, who has taken the reigns since Vera Pauw’s departure, said: “What a day. Super proud of the girls. Solid performance, three goals, clean sheet – really good day all round.”
Tyler Toland, winner of the Sky Player of the Match award, also commented, saying: “It’s a very proud day to be Irish, I must say. It’s absolutely incredible – so many people coming out to support us, and hopefully it continues this way. We’ll keep putting on performances, keep winning and the people of Ireland keep coming to watch us.”
Toland, who wasn’t involved in the squad for the previous four years under Pauw’s leadership, added, “I’m delighted to be back and nothing makes me prouder than playing for my country.”
FT | Three goals, three points ?
The perfect start to our @WEURO campaign!#COYGIG | #WeAreOne | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/QuTdB7f4uV
— Ireland Football ⚽️?? (@IrelandFootball) September 23, 2023
The result means that the Republic of Ireland sit on top of Group B1 in the UEFA Nations League as they head into their next fixture against Hungary on Tuesday, September 26.
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