Latest news with #NationsLeagueB
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Ireland seal late smash-and-grab win over Turkey as substitute Emily Murphy bags her first international goal
Women's Nations League: Turkey 1 Ireland 2 Istanbul represents the meeting point of two worlds but for Ireland here, shaky evidence of fitful progress as they seek to bridge their own division between mediocrity and a return to the elite. Ascending from the mediocre ranks of Nations League B is paramount, not merely to gain much more competitive company for them and attractive fare for punters and sponsors.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Turkey v Ireland: Carla Ward's girls in green face Nations League trip to Istanbul
Live | Ireland continue their Nations League B Group 2 campaign with a visit to Turkey. Carla Ward's team won the reverse fixture 1-0 and will be hoping to keep the pressure on Solvenia at the top of the table. You can follow all the action as it happens in our liveblog below. 2 minutes ago Her manager, Carla Ward, insisted that there was nowhere else the Tallaght woman would rather be as she bids to ease her country's qualification path ahead of a possible second successive World Cup appearance. 'There's nowhere else she'd rather be' says Irish boss Carla Ward as Katie McCabe's dizzying week continues in Istanbul Katie McCabe's head-spinning, headline-grabbing week continued this morning in Istanbul as she joined her Irish international team-mates for her first training session since helping Arsenal stun Barcelona in Saturday's Champions League final. 6 minutes ago McCabe straight back into action in Green this evening Katie McCabe was given a special welcome into camp this week, after her Champions League heroics with Arsenal. She will be fully focused tonight as she looks to lead Ireland closer to another World Cup appearance. 9 minutes ago Louise Quinn starts on the bench tonight 'I'm here to play,' declares Quinn, who has won 121 caps in a storied 16-year career that, perhaps, may yet have a valedictory footnote. 'I'm here to fight for my position. It's not going to be given to me, I absolutely know that. Carla doesn't owe me anything in terms of being like, 'Oh we'll just play her just because of this." 'I was sobbing at the airport' – Louise Quinn on postponing retirement and motherhood as she answers Ireland's call Louise Quinn may have been forced to bow to the inevitable conclusion of every athlete's sporting career but is determined to postpone her final fate for a few more days yet. 10 minutes ago Megan Connolly is back in the side and looking to keep up the positive vibes after her move to Rome Read David Kelly's chat with the Cork native here. 'As soon as I heard the first phone call, I knew straight away' – All roads lead to Rome for Ireland's Megan Connolly Perhaps it was the day that Megan Connolly got lost in new surroundings was the moment of discovery that she had, in fact, found exactly what she had been looking for. 14 minutes ago Team news is in! - Dave Kelly reports live from Turkey Ireland have made three changes for this evening's Nations League B clash in Istanbul with newly-crowned European champion Katie McCabe returning from suspension to lead her side. Megan Connolly and Abbie Larkin also come in for Megan Campbell and Tyler Toland in the other changes to the side who beat Greece last time out, as Carla Ward's women bid to claim the victory that will give them a chance of over-hauling pace-setters Slovenia in Cork next Tuesday. Slovenia have already kicked off against Greece and, should both they and the Irish claim victory this evening, Ireland must over-haul a four-goal deficit on Tuesday to clinch automatic promotion to the top flight. Twelve Irish fans are officially at the game, curiously being attended to be almost as many riot police, who ushered in both team's buses less than a half-hour ago. Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Jessie Stapleton, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe (capt); Megan Connolly, Denise O'Sullivan (capt), Marissa Sheva; Lucy Quinn, Amber Barrett, Abbie Larkin Substitutes: G Moloney, S Whitehouse, M Campbell, Louise Quinn, T Toland, R Littlejohn, E Healy, C Hayes, K Carusa, S Noonan, E Murphy, C Mustaki. Turkey: Selda Akgoz (capt); Busem Seker, Gulbin Hiz, Sejde Abrahamson, Ilayda Civelek; Ebru Topcu, Meryem Cal; Ece Turkoglu, Miray Cin, Melike Pekel; Kader Hancar 21 minutes ago Welcome to live blog coverage of Ireland's crucial women's Nations League Group B clash in Turkey Ireland arrive at the Esenler Stadium in Istanbul knowing that they need two wins in their final two games to have a chance of automatic promotion to Group A of the Nations League, boosting their seeding for World Cup qualifying next year. With a win, second place will be guaranteed tonight, which will result in a two-legged play-off against one of the third-placed teams from League A. Ireland will be led by captain Katie McCabe, fresh off her Champions League triumph with Arsenal as they face a tough Turkey side, whom they beat by a narrow one-nil margin in Tallaght in February. The match kicks off in 30 minutes, so enjoy and be sure to check out the analysis from David Kelly, online and in print.
Belfast Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland Women dealt injury blow as midfield star pulls out ahead of key double-header
The midfielder has picked up a hamstring injury that has ruled her out for the clashes at home to Poland and away to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nottingham Forest Women defender Nat Johnson has been called up to replace the 26-year-old Scofield, who has been a regular in Oxtoby's starting line-up since switching allegiance and making her debut for Northern Ireland in 2024. The London-born midfielder has just completed a loan spell at Sheffield United Women in the FA Women's Championship from London City Lionesses, while she also previously plied her trade for Leicester City Women in the Women's Super League. Scofield's withdrawal is unwelcome news for Oxtoby with Northern Ireland facing Poland at Seaview on Friday, May 30 (7.00pm) before travelling to Zenica to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, June 3 (6.00pm BST) in two crucial Nations League B, Group 1 encounters. With Northern Ireland sitting second in the group with seven points from four games as they stare into the final two games of the League, the first clash sees them lock horns with unbeaten League leaders Poland, who have 10 points, before tackling the third-placed Bosnians who are perched on four points. Their current position would be good enough for a Promotion Play-Off to get into League A, however failing to beat Poland would rule out their chances of automatic promotion courtesy of their inferior head-to-head record. Similarly, they are at risk of falling into a Relegation Play-Off. Bettering third-placed Bosnia's result against winless Romania on Matchday Five would eliminate that possibility and confirm Northern Ireland's League B survival, however any other outcome would ensure their fate goes right down to the final day.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Louise Quinn back in Ireland squad for Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia
Louise Quinn will return to the Ireland squad for two crucial Nations League B clashes against Turkey and Slovenia – but will still retire this summer.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
'It is absolutely ludicrous' - Carla Ward on skort controversy
Carla Ward has waded into the skorts controversy, the Ireland manager initially believing the restriction was a joke. The Englishwoman took up the reins earlier this year and concludes the Nations League B campaign against Slovenia at Pairc Uí Chaoímh on Tuesday, June 3. She was recently made aware of the brewing storm in Camogie by her fellow FAI staff members but originally didn't take it seriously. The row over females being forbidden to wear shorts in matches has since escalated with Saturday's Munster final between Cork and Waterford postponed by the hierarchy. A special congress ballot on May 22 will decide whether to lift a stipulation which Ward brands 'crazy'. "It is absolutely ludicrous,' said the former Aston Villa and Birmingham City manager. 'Some of the staff shared it, when it first happened, and I did say 'is this some sort of joke?' It is absolutely mental to be even having these sort of conversations in 2025. "It is an old mentality, isn't it? There are still some countries who have an old mentality towards women. "Women are getting there in a lot of places but, I'll be honest with you, it did blow my mind that anyone in this country could have the mindset that women couldn't wear shorts." 'What does that say about the people at the top? Should they really be there or should they move on, and pass the baton to a different generation. "Ireland is a big sporting country so it is just unbelievable. It is very outdated." Meanwhile, Ward has lost Liverpool's Leanne Kiernan and Everton's Heather Payne for the upcoming double-header that begins in Turkey on May 30, yet Louise Quinn might be on the plane to Istanbul. Centurion Quinn last month announced her retirement but despite finishing with Birmingham City last week could have a farewell over these pair of matches. 'She has made herself available until the summer,' updated Ward. 'I think when she called me, she called me to say, I'm going to retire from football, but in the summer, and I said, OK. I said, what does that look like then? And she said, I want to let you know I'm available. I'm available for camp. And I said, okay, okay, that's good to know. 'So we've had a few conversations and she's such a top pro. I've said it a lot. I think one thing we've lacked as leaders. I said that we need to create new leaders. Do I think Lou can play a part in helping those young players breed leadership? Absolutely, I do. 'Maybe she'll be in Turkey or maybe not. You have to wait till next week when the squad is announced.'
