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Date Time League Season
22 June 2023 7:30 pm Women's Senior 2022/23

Match Report

Barrett brace raises heat in Women’s World Cup Warm Up

Ireland commenced their World Cup warmup by edging a five-goal thriller against Zambia at Tallaght tonight, thanks to a match-transforming Amber Barrett brace. 

In this, the penultimate audition before Vera Pauw's final squad selection, Ireland were faced with pacy, tricky opponents in the form of AFCON qualified Zambia. 

Izzy Atkinson sparkled on the left early on but the supply line to Saoirse Noonan left much to be desired.

Indeed, Zambia created the clearer chances when Simora Mepapa hit the side-netting and Barbara Bonda's barnstorming run yielded nought. 

They were rewarded seventeen minutes in though when Reachea Kundananji reacted quickest to a loose ball, lashing beyond Courtney Brosnan, quieting a buoyant Tallaght crowd. 

Ireland were dented by the concession but showed their quality shortly before the break when Ruesha Littlejohn linked swiftly with Atkinson but saw her shot batted out by Hazel Nali, captain Louise Quinn planting a header high from the resultant corner. 

Clearly unsatisfied, Vera Pauw rang the changes at the break with five replacements entering the fray. 

Notable amongst them was the arrival of hero Amber Barrett, who transformed the tie Ireland's way. 

Within four minutes, her sparky presence led to Zambia's Evarine Katongo handballing. 

Barrett, who else, nonchalantly tucked it away as Ireland levelled up the score. 

From there, Ireland took the initiative, Clare O'Riordan eventually finding treasure for her hard running all night, swivelling and scoring from a quick free that caught Zambia napping as Tallaght roared it's approval. 

Entering the final stages, Barrett produced a delightful thing of pure raw, instinct, slamming a shot high into the net to give Ireland breathing space and prompt a clenched fist from Pauw. 

However, the hosts switched off and Zambia's direct, speedy attacks continued to threaten. 

After being thwarted by Brosnan before, Kundananji took another chance brilliantly, shimmying left and smashing in to cue a nervy final ten. 

Admirably, Ireland saw it out, Barrett defending from the front with her astute holdup play, a great start to the World Cup Warmups. 

France on July 6th will be the Tallaght send off and despite triumphing tonight, Pauw will know there are many positives to take and improvements to make as we countdown to July 20th. 

Ireland
1Courtney Brosnan Goalkeeper
4Louise Quinn Defender
5Niamh Fahey 2 Defender 43'
6Megan Connolly Midfielder
8Ruesha Littlejohn 21 Midfielder
14Heather Payne Forward
18Leanne Kiernan 28 Forward
20Abbie Larkin 15 Forward
24Saoirse Noonan 9 Forward
25Claire O’Riordan Defender 63'
29Isibeal Atkinson 3 Forward
16Grace Moloney Goalkeeper
23Megan Walsh Goalkeeper
2Harriet Scott 5 Defender
3Chloe Mustaki 29 Defender
7Diane Caldwell Defender
9Amber Barrett 24 Forward 48', 71'
13Aine O’Gorman Forward
15Lucy Quinn 20 Forward
17Jamie Finn Midfielder
19Hayley Nolan Midfielder
21Ciara Grant 8 Midfielder
28Erin McLaughlin 18 Forward

Zambia
16Hazel Nali Goalkeeper
2Judith Soko Defender
3Lushomo Mweemba 19 Defender
15Agness Musase Defender
8Margaret Belemu 23 Defender
12Evarine Katongo Midfielder 47'
10Grace Chanda Forward
30Xiomara Mapepa Forward
17Racheal Kundananji Forward 17', 79'
28Susan Banda 24 Midfielder
11Barbra Banda Forward
4Esther Siamfuko Defender
6Mary Wilombe Midfielder
7Pauline Zulu Defender
9Hellen Mubanga Forward
19Vast Phiri 3 Defender
21Avell Chitundu Midfielder
22Esther Banda Defender
23Lubandji Ochumba 8 Forward
24Rhoda Chileshe 28 Midfielder
26Mary Mulenga Defender
29Comfort Selemani Midfielder
34Letisha Lungu Goalkeeper

Timeline

 17' 9. Racheal Kundananji
5. Niamh Fahey 43' 
Niamh Fahey
Harriet Scott		45' 
Isibeal Atkinson
Chloe Mustaki		45' 
Saoirse Noonan
Amber Barrett		45' 
Ruesha Littlejohn
Ciara Grant		45' 
Leanne Kiernan
Erin McLaughlin		45' 
 47' 12. Evarine Katongo
9. Amber Barrett 48' 
11. Claire O'Riordan 63' 
Abbie Larkin
Lucy Quinn		64' 
 67'Lushomo Mweemba
Vast Phiri
 67'Margaret Belemu
Lubandji Ochumba
 67'Susan Banda
Rhoda Chileshe
9. Amber Barrett 71' 
 79' 9. Racheal Kundananji
  • 94'

    The referee's whistle brings Ireland's first warm up game to a close as Amber Barrett's second half brace with a fine header from Claire O'Riordan ensures a great second half performance leads to victory.

  • 89'

    Esther Banda posing problems but Ireland holding firm here

  • 84'

    Expert holdup play by Barrett creates Ireland a breather, and her tireless running almost sees Judith Soko score an own goal, but luckily for her, it trickles short

  • 79'

    Zambia have a second, Kundananji coasting through and beating Brosnan to set up a nervy final ten minutes!

  • 76'

    Brosnan sends Tallaght delirious, denying Barbara Banda and then being, miraculously, back in goal to claim the headed effort from her cross!

  • 71'

    GOAL, Barrett has a brace, with a really well-taken shot on the turn! Some turnaround!

  • 64'

    Lucy Quinn on for Larkin

  • 63'

    O'Riordan puts Ireland ahead, finishing off a killer cross from a set piece! Tallaght erupts!

  • 61'

    Lovely linkup between Larkin and Barrett, but the former's cross is just too far ahead of the scampering Barrett.

  • 56'

    Abbie Larkin enjoying far more of the ball this half, but for all Ireland's improvements, Zambia still posing a big threat of their own as Mapepa goes close.

  • 52'

    Far better from Ireland, crisply controlling the tempo now

  • 48'

    IRELAND LEVEL! Calm penalty by Barrett rolling it to the keeper's right after a Zambia defender handballed in the box.

  • 45'

    Chanda fires a free kick at Brosnan as the first half ends niggly, 0-1 to Zambia!

  • 43'

    First booking to Fahey for chopping down the balletic Banda

  • 42'

    Goal scorer for Zambia, Kudananaji alomsot has a second after a scintillating run but Brosnan saves well

  • 40'

    Captain Louise Quinn heads the corner over, the tails are up now!

  • 38'

    Much better by Ireland, Atkinson laying it off, Littlejon crossing as Zambia clear. Littlejohn then denied by Hazel Nali!

  • 36'

    Big block by Fahey as Banda looked to be in there!

  • 34'

    Nearly as Noonan is released one-on-one but up goes the flag to Tallaght\'s great despair!

  • 30'

    Neat synopsis of Ireland's struggles so far as Clare O'Riordan brilliantly wins it high up but has no team mate in support and baloons a cross out

  • 24'

    Having started so brightly, Ireland struggling now to get into effective attacking positions, Noonan very isolated up front right now whilst Zambia can counter devastatingly

  • 17'

    Zambia score and it's been coming! Reachea Kudananji pouncing from close range after Banda and Grace Chanda carved Ireland open!

  • 14'

    More dangerous living by the hosts as slack passes let Zambia in but Mapepa can only strike the side netting again from close range

  • 9'

    Worrying moment for Ireland there as Barbara Banda charged down the right all too easily but Fahey cuts out her dangerous cross expertly

  • 6'

    Niamh Fahey proving herself a real leader, marshalling Ireland's defence back on but just as Tanzania's Siomara Mapepa fizzes the side netting

  • 2'

    Brilliant from Izzy Atkinson, fizzing one in but Saoirse Noonan pokes wide! Great start by Ireland!

  • KICK OFF - WE'RE UNDERWAY AT TALLAGHT!

  • Good evening and welcome to this evening's coverage of the first of Ireland Women's World Cup warmup matches. Tonight, it's against Zambia, I'm Rory Morrow and I'll be keeping you updated throughout, live from Tallaght

Ground

Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W