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Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ireland come from behind in Turkey to clinch battling win
Women's Uefa Nations League B TURKEY…1 (Kader Hancar 49 IRELAND… 2 (Busem Seker OG 79, Emily Murphy 89) Substitute Emily Murphy plundered a late winner against Turkey to afford Ireland the slender chance of leapfrogging Slovenia at Pairc Uí Chaoímh on Tuesday for top spot. With the Slovenians maintaining their perfect record by beating Greece 2-0 in Ljubljana, three points were a must in Istanbul. They were fortunate to take any after Kader Hancar gave the Turks a deserved lead early in the second half, forcing Carla Ward to rely on reinforcements such as throw-in specialist Megan Campbell from the substitutes' bench. Campbell's deep catapult from the sideline into a crowded penalty area with 11 minutes left met the head of the back-peddling Busem Seker, who glanced the ball over the head of her goalkeeper Selda Akgoz. Ireland chased the essential winner against the side situated 35 places behind them in Fifa's rankings and they were gifted with a minute remaining. Circumstance decreed that managing Katie McCabe gametime in the aftermath of her exertions with Arsenal's Champions League victory was ditched and her long punt proved fruitful. Inexplicably, Sejde Abrahamson slipped when attempting to clear, steering her header into the path of Murphy to smash her first international goal high into the net. The results mean Ireland must beat the table-toppers by at least four goals to usurp them for promotion to League A and guarantee entry into the playoff series for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. More to follow… TURKEY: S Akgoz; B Seker, G Hiz, S Abrahamson, I Civelek; E Topcu, M Cal, E Turkoglu; Miray Cin, K Hancar (M Ozturk 75). M Pekel. IRELAND: C Brosnan; A Mannion (C Hayes 46), A Patten, J Stapleton, K McCabe: M Connolly; A Larkin (S Noonan 60), D O'Sullivan, M Sheeva (K Carusa 60), Lucy Quinn (M Campbell 75); A Barrett (E Murphy 60). Referee: Kristina Georgieva (Bulgaria)
The 42
2 days ago
- Sport
- The 42
Ireland eye Turkish delight as Nations League business end begins
TO ISTANBUL, WHERE Ireland hit the business end of their Uefa Women's Nations League campaign. Carla Ward's side face Türkiye in their penultimate group game, a must-win if they are to stay in the race for automatic promotion to League A. Group B2 finishes as it started for Ireland: against Türkiye and Slovenia, the latter fixture a potential Páirc Uí Chaoimh shootout next Tuesday evening. Slovenia have been in the driving seat since stunning the top seeds 4-0 in Koper in February. They face Greece this evening, with Ireland hoping for a slip-up while focusing on their own task. 'First and foremost, we have to go and win this game,' said Ward. 'Hopefully, Greece can get something from Slovenia. If they don't, the first bite of the cherry would be to try and beat Slovenia by five because it goes on head-to-head. 'If we don't and we finish second, then we've got to second bite it with the play-offs in October. That's huge, and it's an understanding that if we finish second, that's okay. We have to then make sure that we get the job done in October.' Advertisement The aim, while a tall order, will be to finish it over the coming days. Aside from the excitement around Katie McCabe's Champions League success with Arsenal, the build-up has been relatively low-key. No harm, with off-field drama often overshadowing the football of late. The Irish squad linked up in Istanbul on Sunday, with most players in their club off-season. While the weather has been mixed, the vibes appear good. Katie McCabe (centre) celebrating Arsenal's Champions League win at the Emirates Stadium on Monday. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo McCabe and US-based duo Denise O'Sullivan and Kyra Carusa reported late, with yesterday's pre-match tune-up at Esenler Erokspor Stadium the first time all 24 players trained. Indeed, it was just the fourth time Ward has had her full complement on the training pitch since her first camp in charge in February. It all began with a scrappy, unconvincing 1-0 win over Türkiye. Carusa scored the winner for a much-changed Irish team on a cut-up pitch at Tallaght Stadium, but the gritty Turks — ranked 32 places inferior, 58th in the world — almost levelled matters late on. The Slovenia shocker followed in the same window, before Ireland got back on track with 4-0 and 2-1 wins over Greece. It has not quite been the same stroll as the inaugural Nations League B campaign in 2023 (100% record, 20 goals scored, two conceded), but the overriding message is that progress is being made. 'I think this will be a better camp than the first camp against the same opponents,' said Marissa Sheva this week. 'There was almost an overhaul of tactics from how we were previously playing. We're being encouraged to build out from the back more, be a little bit more aggressive from the get-go, trying to utilise our midfield more, and you can't change that overnight. 'I think we're in a much better position to give Türkiye a game and hopefully beat them by more than a goal.' Ward immediately moved away from the back three/five Ireland have played through the years, deploying a variation of 4-3-3 / 4-1-4-1. Five players have started every game of the new era: Courtney Brosnan, Anna Patten, Aoife Mannion, Denise O'Sullivan and Lucy Quinn, with Brosnan, Patten, Mannion and O'Sullivan playing every minute. McCabe played just one half of the Greece double-header due to injury and suspension, and while the captain is available for selection, she could again be held in reserve as an ongoing calf issue and fatigue are managed. Long-throw specialist Megan Campbell has been deputising at left-back, with Mannion also experimented, but the Manchester United player is making the right-back berth her own. Patten and Jessie Stapleton appear to be the favoured centre-half pairing, but Campbell and Megan Connolly have also featured there. Caitlin Hayes has fallen down the pecking order, while the retiring Louise Quinn is back in the fold for her swansong. Louise Quinn (left) and Jessi Stapleton in training yesterday. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO Ruesha Littlejohn appears to be Ward's preferred number six. Connolly and Tyler Toland are other options, while O'Sullivan has been combining well with Sheva, but the midfield could take any shape. The same applies further forward: A debut is possible for new call-up Erin Healy, but Carusa and Amber Barrett have both scored two goals apiece, and Ward has been impressed by the returning Saoirse Noonan. With Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan out injured, Ireland are lacking in wide players: recent selections suggest Lucy Quinn will get the nod again, but Abbie Larkin or Emily Murphy could also be handed opportunities. Shelbourne midfielder Aoibheann Clancy and Bristol City defender Chloe Mustaki are among those on the fringes targeting minutes. Different oppositions require different players and approaches, but Ireland must be more purposeful in possession and test Türkiye. Goals are needed over these games, which have often proved challenging, and patience is required to break down low blocks. Related Reads Carla Ward: Türkiye a 'must-win game' as Ireland chase Nations League promotion 'A credit to the team': Inside Katie McCabe's Champions League final display Ireland send-off, future plans, and Katie McCabe's Champions League win The Turks sat deep in a 4-4-2 last time, aggressively zonal marking early on but also carrying a threat, with German-born Melike Pekel and Galatasaray's Ebru Topçu leading the charge for Necla Güngör Kırağası's improving side. They again will look to frustrate and counter, as day turns to night in Istanbul. (Temperatures should cool to 18 degrees for kick-off at 8pm local time.) But Ireland will focus on themselves, rather than Türkiye — or indeed Slovenia. Yes, they have a few bites at the cherry, but Carla Ward and co. will want to get the job done sooner rather than later. Turkish Delight would be the perfect start to the business end.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
McCabe may be kept in reserve as Ireland monitor calf issue
Ireland's European queen Katie McCabe could be kept in reserve during Ireland's must-win penultimate Nations League clash in Turkey (6pm, Irish time). It's certain that the captain – fresh from helping Arsenal win the Champions League on Saturday – will win her 97th cap but it could be as a substitute. McCabe has been nursing a calf problem for a few months, influencing the decision of Ireland manager Carla Ward to keep her on the bench for the April visit to Greece. With that game scoreless at the break, the trump card was mobilised at the break and McCabe inspired the Girls in Green to a 4-0 victory. Ward now faces a dilemma in managing the game-time of McCabe over the next five days. It isn't so much a concern about the aftereffects of the partying McCabe and her Gunners teammates have indulged in since beating Barcelona in Bilbao but the risk of aggravating a lingering injury that flares up in spells of fatigue. Six points are essential from the concluding double-header against the Turks and Slovenia but Tuesday's second leg Pairc Uí Chaoímh may require a deluge of goals to usurp the Slovenians for top spot. A presumption that Ireland would replicate their last tenancy in League B strolling to top spot and promotion was mothballed by a 4-0 thumping against the pool leaders in February. Various permutations are still possible. Were Greece, sunken at the bottom without a point, to somehow halt the Slovenian gallop in the match kicking off an hour earlier Ljubljana, two wins for Ireland would leapfrog them to the summit. Automatic promotion to League A could also enable them to dodge the playoff series in the Autunm. Still, Ireland also cannot afford to be complacent. Ward's first match at the helm was a forgettable narrow 1-0 win over the Turks at Tallaght, a match in which the visitors spurned a late chance to snaffle a draw. They've since beaten Greece to reside in third spot and will fancy taking a bigger scalp against an Ireland team still reliant on McCabe to weave her magic. The warm conditions will be in their favour. Denise O'Sullivan, as she was the last time out at home to Greece when McCabe was suspended, will be the other creative force through which Ireland can produce the performance to avoid a second hiccup in the campaign. 'It's difficult when players first come in to new staff, system and way of doing things," noted Ward about her experience so far, entailing just two full camps in February and April. 'The players have reacted brilliantly but there's an understanding that we're at the business end. Hopefully these two games will get us where we want to be. 'First things first, we've to win tomorrow night to set up the final game against Slovenia in Cork. 'Hopefully Greece takes something off Slovenia in the other game. If not, it sets up for the first bite of the cherry on Tuesday where we'd have to beat Slovenia by head to win the head-to-head. 'Failing that, if we finish second we'll have a second bite in the October playoff. We'd have to get the job done then.' Ending up in League A smooths the path for Ireland to a second successive World Cup in 2027. Should they gain promotion, either after Tuesday or via the playoffs, then they would be guaranteed entry into a convoluted playoff series towards reaching Brazil. That showpiece will feature 32 teams but the next event, likely to be hosted by the UK nations, is to be expanded to 48 nations.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
What time does Turkey vs Ireland kick-off? TV channel, stream and odds as Katie McCabe returns from UCL celebrations
THE Irish women's team travel to Istanbul to face Turkey in their penultimate UEFA Nations League Group B fixture. A win or a draw in Friday's game would mean a minimum of a promotion play-off spot guaranteed for Carla Ward's side but a win is a necessity for any hopes of an automatic spot. A loss would allow the Turks back into touching distance and would likely rule out an automatic promotion spot with Slovenia three points ahead with a home fixture against bottom of the group, Greece to play. Turkey currently sit six points behind Ireland and six goals worse off in goal difference, but with a tough last fixture for Ireland against Slovenia and Turkey to play struggling Greece, a leapfrogging from Turkey is not outside the realms of possibility. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the big fixture: What is the Kick-Off Time? The match kicks off at 6pm Irish time which is 8pm local time. Read more on Irish football What TV channel is Turkey vs Ireland on? The match is being shown live on RTE 2. Coverage starts at 5:30pm and it will also be available to stream on the RTE player. What are the odds? Ireland, who Turkey are the underdogs at 13/2 despite the home advantage at Turkish newly second tier side Esenler Erokspor's Esenler Stadyumu with a capacity of just over 5,000. A draw is set at 16/5. Most read in Football Katie is Back! Katie McCabe had to cut her Champions league celebrations short to join the Irish squad in Instanbul on Tuesday. She was greeted by a 'You can't make this up' - Irish fans in stitches at Ruesha Littlejohn's playful prank upon Katie McCabe's camp arrival The last time these sides met Ireland came out 1-0 winners in a hard fought contest in tough conditions in Tallaght stadium. A Kyra Carusa header from a Heather Payne cross was all that separated the two sides in Carla Ward's first game as Ireland manager. Turkey were inches away from an injury time equaliser from a free kick delivery which wasn't fully cleared and fell to Kader Hancar who's effort went just off target. Turkey made it a difficult game and clear-cut chances were hard to come by. 1 Katie McCabe preparing for Friday as Carla Ward looks on Ward's side dominated possession as she tried to implement a new system which the side hadn't played before. Ireland are coming into this fixture from their back to back wins of Turkey were less successful last international window with two loses against group leaders Slovenia. A 3-0 thumping away in Ljubljana was followed by a better performance and much tighter 1-0 loss in Sivas This will be Ireland's first proper test since the 4-0 humbling away to Slovenia. And a win is crucial for our promotion hopes.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Carla Ward says Katie McCabe is ready to go for 'must-win' Turkey clash
Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward insists Katie McCabe is fit and ready to play against Turkey tomorrow evening having savoured the joyous celebrations that followed Arsenal's Champions League triumph. The Gunners beat Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon last Saturday to win the crown for the second time in their history. McCabe was excellent in the decider, producing a disciplined, high-quality display to help her team shut out Barca's star-studded attack. She was front and centre of the team's gathering in London with supporters on Monday, and was given a great welcome by her international team-mates when she arrived at Ireland's hotel in Istanbul on Wednesday. McCabe trained today and - according to Ward - is available to feature in tomorrow's Nations League clash at the Esenler Stadium. "Katie's a pro," the boss told RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue. "You never want anyone to not celebrate such a massive, massive win and important moment in her career. "It was about her enjoying those celebrations but she's a professional, she's fit, she's ready. Maybe a question mark on her calf at the moment... but she's said to me straight away, 'I'm ready, I want to play', so of course she's available for selection." Ward had predicted Arsenal would upset the odds and turn over Barcelona. Assessing McCabe's performance, she said: "She was unbelievable. I thought they all were. I think tactically they got the game plan right. "Katie's Katie - you know what you're going to get. She's wholehearted, she's front footed, she's tenacious, she gives you everything. Her overall performance was outstanding but credit to Renee (Slegers), the team and all of them involved because it was some achievement. "As soon as Arsenal won that game the talk (among the Ireland players) was, 'how do we welcome them back?'. It's safe to say Katie was pleased. (It was) a really positive evening when she came in. Delighted to have her back and unbelievably proud of what she's achieved." Ireland can expect a difficult game against the Turks, who were stubborn and resilient when the countries met in Tallaght back in March. Ireland won 1-0 that night thanks to a Kyra Carusa header, but they were fortunate not to concede a late leveller. The Girls in Green must win to keep alive their hopes of winning the group and gaining automatic promotion back to League A of the Nations League. And while Ward expects a stern examination, she's confident they can show things are beginning to gel under her watch. "That first game, we've looked at it and whilst we had a lot of the ball, we didn't do enough with it. Since then we have. We've increased a lot of the numbers we wanted to. The team is starting to grow. "Turkey are a good side, and they know if they beat us and beat Greece they can finish second. Let's be really clear, this is a must-win game. We have to go and get three points. We have to make sure we're switched on, we're focused and we get the job done." There's been concerted efforts to implement a patient, passing style but Ward admitted Ireland won't shy away from using a couple of trusty old assets if they need to. The towering Louise Quinn is in the squad ahead of her summer retirement, as is Megan Campbell, who set a new Guinness world record earlier this month after performing the longest ever throw-in by a female footballer. "We know that if we need goals we've got a Guinness world record holder and also Lou Quinn that we can turn to," added Ward.
