Details

Date Time League Season
26 March 2022 2:00 pm WU17 International 2021/22

Match Report

Ireland WU17’s lose to Finland

The Republic of Ireland missed out on securing victory in their second UEFA Women's Under-17 European Championship Round 2 game following a 2-1 loss to Finland.

With the clock ticking into added time, James Scott's team were leading 1-0 but two late finishes from Finland swung the contest back in their favour and they took the three points.

Ireland fought back to draw 1-1 with Slovakia in their previous game and they started well here with Michaela Lawrence winning a free-kick that Kate Thompson struck wide.

Lia O’Leary made a fantastic run in the 10th minute, gliding past two Finnish players before dragging her shot just wide. 

Finland started to up their game and in the 15th minute had a very close chance. It was a wake-up call for the Girls in Green. 

O’Leary again threatened with a fantastic chance in the 20th minute. Goalkeeper Summer Lawless played a quick long ball up the field and O’Leary drifted pass the Finnish defenders, her shot was saved by the Finnish goalkeeper. Again in the 25th minute O’Leary had another great chance, but was saved by Finnish goalkeeper Ellan Arpiainen. 

The game stayed extremely even between the two teams, Lawless made a fantastic save in the 27th minute, keeping Ireland in the game. 

Thompson had another shot from goal far out, the Finnish goalkeeper touched it onto the crossbar, but it just didn’t bounce the right way for Jodie Loughrey following in.

Right before halftime, Jodie Loughrey’s shot deflected out to O’Leary who just hit the ball over the crossbar. A eventful first half for Ireland, but the score line still 0-0.

Finally in the 58th minute Ireland got the opener. Katie McCarn intercepted a pass out the of the back from the Finnish goalkeeper, crossed the ball in, and there was captain Abbie Larkin to give Ireland to lead.

Ireland started to dominate the game from this point, chances kept coming with more chances for O’Leary and Orlaith O’Mahony - the latter having a great chance in the 90th minute, just putting over bar.

Finland got a good spell of possession late on in the game and got the equaliser through substitute Elli Makipelkola in extra time. 

An extremely tense last couple of minutes for both sides and after a great Finnish free kick, an unfortunate touch from Thompson put it into the back of the net.

Extremenly unfortunate for the Girls in Green, but they can be proud of their performance in a very intense game.

Ireland play Iceland in their final Round 2 game on Tuesday in Tallaght Stadium.

Ireland

1Summer Lawless Goalkeeper
12Heidi Mackin Defender
3Tara O’Hanlon Defender
8Orlaith O’Mahony Midfielder
15Meabh Russell Defender
20Jodie Loughrey 13 Midfielder
10Michaela Lawrence 6 Midfielder
2Kate Thompson Midfielder 90+5'
9Abbie Larkin Forward 58'
7Keri Loughrey 19 Midfielder
11Lia O’Leary 14 Forward
16Claudia Keenan Goalkeeper
13Ellen Dolan 20 Midfielder
19Katie McCarn 7 Forward
6Aoife Kelly 10 Midfielder
14Joy Ralph 11 Forward
18Héidí O’Sullivan Forward
17Chloe Atkinson Midfielder
5Aoibhe Fleming Defender
4Eve Dossen Defender

Past Meetings

1 - 2
Women's World Cup Qualification
Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Finland v Republic of Ireland

4 - 1
UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Finland v Republic of Ireland

0 - 2
Women's Senior
Tasos Markos Stadium

Finland v Republic of Ireland

0 - 2
UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Tallaght Stadium

Republic of Ireland v Finland

1 - 0
Women's Senior
Tasos Markos Stadium

Finland v Republic of Ireland

(International Friendly)
0 - 0
Women's Senior
Iveagh Ground

Republic of Ireland v Finland

Ground

Aviva Stadium
Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road, Pembroke West A ED, Dublin, Dublin 4, Leinster, D04 FP65, Ireland

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