A Denise O'Sullivan goal ensured the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team recorded a 1-0 win over Wales to finish in third place in the Pinatar Cup.

Having beaten Poland and narrowly losing to Russia, Vera Pauw's team were moved to the Pinatar Arena for this Play-Off game that Ireland deservedly won.

Inside the opening five minutes, Kyra Carusa was presented with a fantastic opportunity to break the deadlock when tipping the ball past Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clark but her shot from an angle hit the side netting.

Carusa would go close again, this time with a header when meeting a corner kick, while Wales star Jess Fishlock saw an effort from distance blocked by Niamh Fahey.

On 25 minutes, O'Sullivan was quickest to react to a loose ball on the edge of the area and she smashed in a superb strike to record her 17th senior goal.

Niamh Fahey should have made it 2-0 just before the interval when she found herself unmarked at a corner kick but the Centurion headed over the bar.

Teenager Abbie Larkin replaced Carusa at the start of the second period and it was more of the same from Ireland as they rolled out their controlled game-plan - working on both sides of the ball.

Wales tried their luck from distance on 55 minutes when captain Sophie Ingle unloaded a shot but it clipped the crossbar and went over, not troubling goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

Just past the hour mark, Ireland introduced goalkeeper Eve Badana for her fourth senior appearance and first game since 2013.

Pauw's team looked sharp on the attack with McCabe fizzing a shot wide and Larkin taking aim from around 25 yards out. Then Lucy Quinn headed over 84 minutes from inside the penalty area.

This was the type of performance that Pauw wanted from her players and it should aid their preparation for their next FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier away to Sweden in April.

An early goal proved to be the difference as a much-changed Republic of Ireland lost 1-0 to Russia in the Pinatar Cup in La Manga, Spain on Saturday evening.

Vera Pauw always intended to use this fixture to give game-time to several players. Included amongst those changes were debuts given to goalkeeper Megan Walsh, defender Chloe Mustaki and forward Abbie Larkin.

The rotation of players breaks Katie McCabe's run of 42 consecutive starts which dates back to September 2016, while Diane Caldwell wore the captain's armband for the first time at senior level.

Mustaki became the 11th player from the Ireland Women's Under-19 squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2014 UEFA European Championships to earn a senior cap.

Russia made a fast start to the game with Walsh having to be on full alert when saving well inside the opening minutes but she could not keep out a close-range strike from Elizaveta Lazareva.

After good attacking play, Russia squared the ball to Nelli Korovkina to unload a shot and even though Walsh was equal to that Lazareva was there to covert from the rebound.

Ireland responded by playing some nice football and on 25 minutes it almost came together with Ellen Molloy dinking past three players to feed the ball to Larkin to shoot, but her effort was straight at the opposition goalkeeper.

Two minutes later, a breakaway saw Larkin slide a pass to Leanne Kiernan, who skipped inside her marker to fire a shot just over the crossbar. It felt like Ireland were getting closer to scoring with Amber Barrett also shooting too high soon afterwards.

Just before the interval, Kiernan took the responsibility on her own shoulders by attempting a long-range drive into the net but goalkeeper Julia Grichenko pushed it over her bar for a corner kick - from which Caldwell headed wide.

Unchanged at the break, Ireland continued in the second period to grow into the game and enjoyed more possession of the ball. Yet they couldn't find that breakthrough with Molloy shooting over with a speculative effort from distance.

On 70 minutes, Walsh saved superbly with her feet to deny Korovkina and again was called into a similar stop later on. It was an impressive debut for the Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper.

McCabe, who came on as part of a triple substitution, had a great chance to hit the target but her shot didn't trouble Grichenko.

Ireland will be disappointed with the result, but Pauw can pick out many positives and now knows that she can call on numerous players for the remainder of the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying campaign should they be needed.

Next up is a Third-Place Play-Off on Tuesday against Wales in the same venue.

Two second-half goals from two Quinns ensured the Republic of Ireland started the Pinatar Cup with a 2-1 victory over Poland in La Manga, Spain.

Vera Pauw's team went in scoreless at half-time and fell behind soon after the restart when Paulina Dudek converted a penalty - harshly awarded for a handball against Niamh Fahey.

Ireland showed their fighting spirit with Lucy Quinn firing in a superb left-footed effort to draw level on 52 minutes before Louise Quinn powered in a header on 75 minutes to give them a lead that they would not surrender.

In what was a physical battle, Ireland went toe to toe with a team ahead of them in the FIFA Women's World Rankings and created several patterns of play that showed they are a team constantly trying to play on the front foot.

Fahey, making her 100th appearance, was immense as part of a back three alongside Louise Quinn and Savannah McCarthy. She didn't need the captain's armband to prove that she is a natural leader.

Denise O'Sullivan had the first chance of the game when she broke in behind the Polish lines inside the opening 15 minutes but her shot was directly at goalkeeper Karolina Kalbs.

Poland were given a penalty five minutes into the second half and Dudek made no mistake from the spot to give them the lead.

Ireland never panicked and continued to play in a positive way with Lucy Quinn cutting in from the right to wreak havoc while the composed passing of Ruesha Littlejohn linked play.

It was Birmingham City ace Lucy Quinn - who was the Sky Ireland Player of the Match - who got them back level when instinctively letting rip with her left foot from distance.

Poland had a couple of half chances, while O'Sullivan forced Kalbs into another save before Louise Quinn got her 13th senior goal with a header inside the penalty area after connecting with Katie McCabe's cross.

Wearing orange for the first time, Ireland held on to secure victory.

Ireland will next be in action on Saturday as they continue to use this tournament for preparation for the FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifier against Sweden in April.