Latest news with #GirlsinGreen
RTÉ News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Erin McLaughlin added to Ireland squad for second USA friendly
Erin McLaughlin has been added to the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of this Sunday's second friendly against the USA. The Girls in Green lost 4-0 to the world number one side last night in the first match in Denver, Colorado. Experienced duo Denise O'Sullivan (knee) and Megan Campbell (ankle) were both ruled out with injury pre-match and manager Carla Ward subsequently indicated to RTÉ Sport that neither player would likely be available for Sunday's second friendly in Cincinatti, Ohio (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player). Ireland had travelled to the USA without a number of players including captain Katie McCabe, who was rested for the trip, with Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan also among those not involved. Donegal native McLaughlin, who recently left Portsmouth, has three senior caps to her name and will now link up with the squad to provide cover in midfield and attack, while Philadelphia-born defender Dee Bradley, who plays for English side Durham FC, will train with the squad in Ohio. She qualifies for Ireland through her Donegal-born father and Cork-born mother. Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Unattached), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic) Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace) Midfielders: Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Shamrock Rovers), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Ellen Molloy (Wexford), Erin McLaughlin (Unattached)
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Climate
- RTÉ News
'I didn't know whether I'd get back playing football' - Chloe Mustaki grateful for first Ireland start in three years
Republic of Ireland international Chloe Mustaki admitted that there was a time when she did not know whether she would be back playing football, let alone representing her country again, after featuring in the first of this week's two friendly games against the USA. The Girls in Green lost 4-0 to the world number one side in Denver, Colorado in the early hours of Friday morning Irish time. But beyond the result, it was a significant night for Mustaki as the 29-year-old bridged a three-year gap since her last start which had come all the way back in April 2022. After the match, when asked by RTÉ soccer correspondent Tony O'Donoghue if she had believed that she would ever start in the green jersey again, Mustaki said: "Honestly, not really. About 15 months ago, I didn't know whether I'd get back playing football. "So it's been a big year for me personally to be honest. I have a lot of people to thank as well. But I'm just really, really grateful and hopefully there will be more to come." Mustaki, who overcame cancer earlier in her career, suffered a hip injury last year that kept her out for a number of months. Starting at left back in the absence of the rested captain Katie McCabe, Mustaki played almost the entire match before being subbed off for Izzy Atkinson in stoppage time. "First start in three years or just over three years, and first game in eight weeks so a pretty big shock to the system to be honest," said the Bristol City player. "But a great opportunity for us to learn. These are the best in the world and you can see that. Obviously (the USA) are mid-season, so they're fit, they're sharp, they're ready to go. "We've learned so much tonight and hopefully we'll learn more on Sunday as well." The game was staged at high altitude which, along with the 30 degree Celsius temperature, added to the challenge for Carla Ward's team. "It was pretty tough conditions especially in the first half but I thought we adapted pretty well," she said. "Obviously, we've been here for the guts of a week so we've been training, trying to get used to it but you can't really prepare for those conditions, so all you can do is be your best, communicate, stay tight as a unit and we did our best tonight and hopefully we can improve for Sunday as well." Ireland will have to absorb the lessons quickly with the second friendly against the USWNT to come on Sunday evening in Cincinatti, Ohio and goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, who wore the captain's armband for the first time on her 50th Girls in Green cap, had mixed emotions given the result. "Obviously, not the result I or the team wanted so that's frustrating. But a really proud moment for myself to get my 50th cap and to lead the team out, it's a huge honour, so I'm very proud," said the New Jersey-born shot-stopper. "We knew what the game was going to be. Best team in the world, you're going to be under the cosh sometimes so I tried to step up, wish I could have saved a few more. "But it was a good effort, defensively at times from us. We switched off at times which is frustrating and disappointing for our standards and what we want but obviously we're learning from it and move onto the next one." The Everton player added: "They're the best team in the world for a reason so we know the quality that they possess but I think we know the quality we have too and we showed that at moments tonight but maybe not enough, so we have to show them respect but we also need to do what we know we're capable of on the ball and defensively as well." Caitlin Hayes also started and having had a bit-part role earlier in Ward's tenure, she relished greater involvement. "Of course, it's just good to play football. I've obviously not played that much since my move to Brighton and obviously back in international," said the Brighton & Hove Albion defender. "But I'm just grateful to play football, grateful to have an opportunity and long may it continue, fingers crossed." On the task awaiting the Irish on Sunday in Ohio after the defeat in Colorado, Hayes added: "We know we can be better. We know we can turn up and get rid of those little mistakes and hopefully we can do better with the 4-0 and take our chances maybe a little bit better. But we're a team that's ready to go, we'll work on our chances and we'll hopefully take our opportunities in the next game."
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Ireland outclassed by World No. 1 USA in Denver
IT was not unexpected but that did not make it any easier. Ireland boss Carla Ward has never beaten USA boss Emma Hayes, and the Girls in Green have never got a result against the USA. Advertisement So a 4-0 loss in Denver in the first of two games against the Olympic champions is no shock, nor a disaster. But that an Ireland team - without key players Katie McCabe, Denise O'Sulivan, Aoife Mannion and Megan Campbell - were thoroughly outclassed is a worry. These summer games were arranged primarily with a view torwards the Win that two legged tie against the Red Flames and Ireland go into League A for the World Cup qualifiers; something that makes qualifying that little bit easier. Advertisement Read More On Football But Belgium are, on paper, better than Ireland. So taking on the top class Americans was arranged to prepare; effectively like altitude training in thinner air that you will face in future. But against the USA, the Girls in Green learnt that it can be tough to breath when the best team in the world are running you ragged. The statistics said it all. The USA had 26 shots to Ireland's two, and it would have been greater than 4-0 were it not for stand-in captain Courtney Brosnan, winning her 50th cap. Advertisement Most read in Football Ireland were already hanging on before Avery Patterson opened the scoring with a header from a Rose Lavelle corner on 18 minutes. A second goal arrived in first half stoppage time when Sam Coffey skipped by two defenders before firing home. Christian Norgaard to Arsenal LATEST | Transfers Exposed And the second half was all-USA and Lavelle got a goal her performance deserved on 53 minutes before Alyssa Thompson added a fourth with a lovely curling effort after beating two Ireland defenders. Ireland: Brosnan; Stapleton, Patten, Hayes, Mustaki ( Atkinson 90); Connolly, Littlejohn (Toland ht); Murphy ( Noonan 65), Carusa ( Sheva 64), Quinn ( Larkin ht); Barrett ( Healy 75) Advertisement 1 Rose Lavelle of the United States is tackled by Kyra Carusa of Ireland
RTÉ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Carla Ward keeps spirits high but O'Sullivan boost 'unlikely'
Republic of Ireland boss Carla Ward said it's "very unlikely" Denise O'Sullivan and Megan Campbell will be available to face the USA in Cincinnati on Sunday after watching her team fall to a 4-0 loss against the world's No 1-ranked side. Avery Patterson, Sam Coffey, Rose Lavelle and Alyssa Thompson all found the net in a very comfortable American victory, as the Girls in Green wilted in tough conditions at high altitude. The USA have rested some big names for this friendly double-header but are still able to call upon a cluster of elite talent. Ireland were without O'Sullivan, Campbell, Aoife Mannion, Katie McCabe, Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan. They badly missed that experience and quality. Speaking to RTÉ Sport's Tony O'Donoghue, Ward said it's "very unlikely" O'Sullivan and Campbell - two late withdrawals who are in camp - will recover for Sunday's rematch, while praising her players' efforts at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. "Let's be honest, we've faced the best team in the world, and we knew that," she said. "We've come and played against a group of players that are all in season, fit. We know where we're at, we're out of season, but it's not just that. They're unbelievable quality, they really are. "I was just saying to the girls, we're going to learn more out of tonight than we will have in all our Nations League games. And that's what this is about. "Being really honest, Erin Healy was only (able for) 15 minutes, Ellen Molloy can't do more than ten, Izzy (Atkinson) was on 15, Ruesha (Littlejohn) was on 45. We were very restricted with what we could put out and the changes we could make. "Look, we've done what we could have done with what we had available." Expanding on the conditions, Ward said: "It's tough, it's really tough. The altitude, you can feel it in your chest, you can feel it everywhere. I take my hat off to the group. We asked them to leave everything out there, they've left everything out there. "There has to be some optimism given the state of what we've come into, and who we're playing against, and all the contributing factors. They've done pretty well considering." USA manager Emma Hayes only picked NWSL-based players with the exception of Chelsea's Naomi Girma, but they were still loaded with class. Ward accepted Sunday will be another very tough challenge. "We talk about a heavy defeat, this is the USA," she added. "Look at their squad tonight, we're talking about world-class players. They'd a one million pound player out there (Girma), 150-cap players they're bringing on to the pitch. "Sunday is going to be difficult. Ruesha's come off with her achilles. We've got some other questions (around players) that we knew coming in to tonight. "It's not going to be easy, but what we have to do is keep taking the positives, have a look at tonight, we have to dig deep in to the performance to see what we can change and tweak, and being honest, see who we have fit and available."
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
USA a cut above as Ireland slump to four-goal defeat in Colorado friendly
Women's Friendly: USA 4 (Patterson 18, Coffey 45+4, Lavelle 53, A Thompson 63) Republic of Ireland 0 After 16 meetings, these USA-Ireland match-ups follow a well-worn pattern. One which will be hard to shake when they face off again on Sunday. Mixing the outrageous talent of Alyssa Thompson with the calm experience of Rose Lavelle, the reshuffled world number-one ranked Americans showed the wealth of their player development pipeline. Ireland can't compensate for absentees such as Katie McCabe and Denise O'Sullivan in the same manner. Carla Ward's side couldn't land a blow. Their two shots, both blocked in the one move, compared to the US's 26. The Girls in Green have scored just once in those contests. Michelle O'Brien's 2004 goal remains unmatched. The heat and altitude at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Colorado made for tough conditions. America's direct runners and pressing posed constant headaches. But Ward will hope these lessons from the best will serve as a healthy tune-up for October's Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs against Belgium. Up against her good friend and mentor Emma Hayes, Ward's possession-based style came under severe stress as they struggled to pick their way through the accomplished Americans. Alyssa Thompson of the United States strikes the ball during the first half against Ireland. Picture: Brad Smith/Getty Despite some high-profile absentees, seven starters remained from the Slovenia victory at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Chloe Mustaki got her first start since April 2022, while Ruesha Littlejohn, Amber Barrett, and Lucy Quinn were also recalled. Courtney Brosnan was handed the captain's armband on her 50th cap. It would be a busy one. American centurion Lavelle hit the post in the early stages, but the whistle had already sounded for offside. Sam Coffey's terrific crossfield ball enabled Thompson to thunder past two would-be tacklers, but Brosnan produced a wonderful one-on-one save. Moments later, Claire Hutton's low drive was turned around the post by Brosnan. But Ireland were caught napping for the 18th-minute opener. They weren't alert to a quick corner as Lavelle advanced to cross unopposed. Right-back Avery Patterson met it sweetly with a downward header. Brosnan got a hand to it but couldn't deny the 23-year-old her first international goal. A hydration break due to the 30-degree heat helped Ireland to settle. Thompson did open them up late in the half. She was blocked by Caitlin Hayes before being foiled by Jessie Stapleton's good defensive positioning. Ireland hoped to reach the break just one behind, but the US struck in the fourth of five added minutes by slicing through from a throw-in. Avery Patterson celebrates scoring with teammates. Picture: Brad Smith/Getty Coffey saw the potential after instigating the move, sprinting across to receive the return ball from Thompson. Her surging dribble split through the defence to slide a left-footed finish home. Again, Brosnan couldn't get enough of a hand on the well-directed effort. Tyler Toland and Larkin were called upon at half-time as Littlejohn and Quinn departed. Ireland's first task was to clear Lavelle's cheeky backheeled shot, and Hayes produced another brave block on Thompson. But America carved them open again for a third in the 53rd minute. Michelle Cooper slipped Ally Sentnor away, and it was the simplest of jobs to pick out Lavelle for the finish. She was a popular goalscorer after her recovery from ankle surgery. Thompson was anxious to add to her assist. Anna Patten blocked the pacy winger's next chance in a scramble. Thompson then pulled back for Sentnor to guide inches wide. An ambitious Larkin attempt marked Ireland's first shot. The deflected long-ranger almost worked out. Kyra Carusa flicked the ball on for Emily Murphy, who fired at the keeper before being flagged for offside. Thompson's dazzling surge made it four. The 20-year-old sensation picked the ball up inside her own half by the sideline. She wasn't there for long, flicking past Stapleton to sprint away and cutting inside Patten to curl in via the far post. California-native Erin Healy came on for her debut, but Ireland were penned back to the end. Sentnor fired over, and Brosnan's splendid fingertip save diverted Olivia Moultrie's stinger onto the crossbar. USA: Dickey; Patterson (G Thompson 59), Sonnett, Girma (Bugg 73), Reale; Coffey, Hutton; Cooper (Biyendolo 73), Lavelle (Moultrie 59), A Thompson (Sears 86); Sentnor (Ryan 86). IRELAND: Brosnan; Stapleton, Patten, Hayes, Mustaki (Atkinson 90); Connolly, Littlejohn (Toland 46); Murphy (Noonan 65), Carusa (Sheva 64), Quinn (Larkin 46); Barrett (Healy 75). Referee: V Diaz (Dominican Republic). Read More Netherlands pip Spain to Euro U19 glory after Jimenez own goal
