Irish Seniors in Algarve Cup

Portugal Grab a Draw in Dramatic Algarve Cup Opener



Wednesday, March 7th, 2007



Portugal 1-1 Republic of Ireland



The Republic of Ireland women’s side had to settle for a draw against tournament hosts, Portugal in the opening game of the 2007 Algarve Cup. Stephanie Curtis had put the Irish in the lead early on but Portugal regrouped and held Noel King’s side to a draw in an exciting encounter.



The Irish started very brightly and pressed the Portuguese from kick-off, after only three minutes, Michele O’Brien latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the box but her effort was straight at Simoes in the Portuguese goal.



The Republic of Ireland were ahead after only seven minutes when Stephanie Curtis intercepted the ball at the edge of the Portuguese box, Curtis dribbled to the six yard box and slotted the ball coolly past the Portugal keeper.



For the rest of the first half, Noel King’s side applied a lengthy period of sustained pressure on their Portuguese counterparts rarely allowing their opponents into the final third of the field and forcing them into long wayward shots.



Portugal should have been all-square five minutes after the re-start, substitute, Neno capitalised on a rebounded shot and her effort just at the edge of the six yard box was screwed wide of Emma Byrne’s goal.



Portugal had their first shot on target after 60 minutes after a rebounded shot fell to Portuguese captain Fernandes at the edge on the six yard box, Irish goalkeeper, Emma Byrne reacted brilliantly to deflect the ball past the post.



Portugal were back in the game after 63 minutes when the Irish needlessly gave away a free kick 20 yards from the Irish goal, Portugal’s Liliana Martins whipped in a high looping ball which evaded everyone in the Irish box and hit the net for an unbelievable finish.



Ireland’s response was instant, as Noel King introduced Claire Scanlon, Olivia O’Toole and Sharon Boyle to push for the winner, Scanlon played a neat one-two with Stephanie Curtis at the edge of Portugal’s box and Curtis’ was unlucky to see her shot edge past the post.



Olivia O’Toole looked very lively when she came off the bench, after 82 minutes, she caused havoc in the Portuguese box when her inviting cross was headed onto the underside of the crossbar by defender, Reis only to see Simoes gratefully scoop the ball off the line.



In the 92nd minute, Stephanie Curtis made an inspiring run down the left wing, her delightful cross picked out the on-rushing Niamh Fahey who came agonisingly close to scoring the winning goal on her senior debut with her shot which went over the bar..



Republic of Ireland manager, Noel King was very satisfied with today’s performance, “This was a very pleasing run out for the girls in this, our first game of 2007, I had the unique opportunity of trying out new players and I am definitely happy with their performance.”



“When Portugal equalised with that freak goal, the reaction I got from the girls was brilliant, I introduced some of our more established players and they really lifted the tempo of the game as they pushed forward for the winner,” he added.





Republic of Ireland

Emma Byrne (Arsenal FC)

Elaine O’Connor (Long Island Lady Riders)

Niamh Fahey (Salthill Devon)

Alisha Moran (New York Athletic Club)

Susan Byrne (St.Johns College)

Diane Caldwell (Hofstra University)

Ciara Grant (Arsenal FC) (C)

Sonya Hughes (New Hampshire Franklin Pierce)

Michele O’Brien (Long Island Lady Riders)

Aine O’Gorman (Stella Maris)

Stephanie Curtis (Bristol Rovers)





Subs

Sarah Peters (Michigan Phoenix)

Yvonne Tracy (Arsenal FC)

Sharon Boyle (Raheny United) on for Sonya Hughes, 66 Minutes

Claire Scanlan (Bristol Academy FC) on for Michele O’Brien, 66 Minutes

Denise Thomas (Boston Renegades)

Laura Hislop (New Hampshire Phantoms)

Olivia O’Toole (Raheny) on for Aine O’Gorman, 66 Minutes

Marie Curtin (Hofstra University)

Noelle Murray (Raheny)



Algarve Cup Fixtures

Friday 9th March:

Ireland V Iceland

Estadio Municipal – Lagos, Kick-Off: 18.00 Hrs (Irish Time)



Monday 12th March:

Ireland V Italy

Estadio Dr.Francisco Vieira – Silves, Kick-off: 15.30 Hrs (Irish time)

Iceland Cling on to Draw Against Irish in Algarve Cup



Friday, March 9th 2007



Republic of Ireland 1-1 Iceland

O’Toole 72 Mins



The Republic of Ireland women’s side were held to a dramatic 1-1 draw by Iceland in the Algarve Cup this evening. In what was definitely a game of two halves, Iceland had the upper hand in the opening 45 minutes but the Irish re-grouped after half time and put in a magnificent fighting performance to push their opponents all the way.



Iceland got off to a flying start and applied firm pressure to the Irish defence and after only five minutes, Iceland had the perfect chance to take the lead when a cross was swung in from the right and Icelandic captain, Jonsdottir, got between the two central defenders but her effort just whizzed by the post.



Three minutes later, Irish goalkeeper, Emma Byrne was called into action, a through ball put Vidarsdottir one-on-one with Byrne, and the Arsenal Ladies player stood tall to deny the Icelandic striker, Sharon Boyle was on hand to clear the danger.



Noel King’s side pushed forward as they weathered the early storm and Alisha Moran played a long high ball to Laura Hislop who controlled well but her shot skinned just past the post.



Iceland were ahead with 35 minutes on the clock, a high swerving cross was sent into the Irish box and Logadottirrose rose unchallenged to head the ball past the helpless Emma Byrne.



Ciara Grant almost equalised just before the break, Alisha Moran’s long ball forward was mis-read by the Icelandic defence and Ciara Grant came storming in at the back post but her volley just screwed to the right of the post.



After the break, The Irish were locked in a keen midfield battle with Iceland working of scrappy ball to counterattack as the Irish poured forward.



On 72 minutes, Olivia O’Toole made the game all square with a set-play straight from the training ground. O’Toole lost her marker in the run up to the free kick and ran onto the in-swinging cross to apply a powerful header past the Icelandic keeper.



With Iceland now on the back foot and scrambling to hold on for the draw, the Irish pressed and created numerous scoring chances, the introduction of Elaine O’Connor into midfield added some extra freshness to the attack and she supplied a sublime cross to Stephanie Curtis at the back post only for the Bristol Rovers striker to hit the side netting with a crisp volley.



Emma Byrne was in excellent form in the Irish goal and she was up to the task of keeping Thorsteindoittir at bay when she saved a low and powerful shot from the Charlton Athletic striker in the 80th minute.



Iceland were defending for their life as the game went into the closing stages as they struggled to cope with Ireland’s attacking play, Under 19 starlet, Aine O’Gorman may have thought she had wrapped the game up two minutes into injury time. The ever menacing Stephanie Curtis made a mazy run down the left and her low cross was met by the sliding O’Gorman at the back post but her effort whistled just over the bar.



Noel King said the Republic of Ireland had plenty of chances to put the game beyond their Icelandic counterparts, “I looked for a much improved effort from the girls after half time, at one-nil down, I thought it showed tremendous character to come back into the game.”



“In fact I know that we had the beating of this team, even though they are eleven places above us in FIFA rankings, if we want to develop as a team and, these are the opponents we have to beat and we should have finished the game off,” he added.



King was very impressed with some of the younger players who featured this evening, “I brought on three Under 19 players and they grasped at the opportunity with both hands, Aine (O’Gorman), Diane (Caldwell), and 17 years’ old Noelle Murray were excellent for me, I hope that they learn from this experience and go on to push for a starting place in the European Championship Qualifiers next April.”



Republic of Ireland
Emma Byrne (Arsenal FC)
Sharon Boyle (Raheny United)
Niamh Fahey (Salthill Devon)
Marie Curtin (Hofstra University)
Alisha Moran (New York Athletic Club)
Claire Scanlan (Bristol Academy FC)
Ciara Grant (Arsenal FC)
Laura Hislop (New Hampshire Phantoms)
Denise Thomas (Boston Renegades)
Stephanie Curtis (Bristol Rovers)
Olivia O’Toole (Raheny)

Subs
Sarah Peters (Michigan Phoenix)
Yvonne Tracy (Arsenal FC)
Diane Caldwell (Hofstra University) on for Hughes, 82 Mins
Elaine O’Connor (Long Island Lady Riders) on for Thomas, 60 Mins
Susan Byrne (St.Johns College)
Sonya Hughes (New Hampshire Franklin Pierce) on for Claire Scanlon, 60 Mins
Michele O’Brien (Long Island Lady Riders)
Aine O’Gorman (Stella Maris) on for O’Toole, 88 Mins
Noelle Murray (Raheny) on for Hislop, 73