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Saoirse Noonan after scoring for Ireland. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
Ireland WNT
Ireland beat Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh but fall short of 4-goal win needed for top spot
Carla Ward’s side head for the Nations League play-offs in October.
Republic of Ireland 1
Slovenia 0
AT THE FINAL whistle, Slovenia celebrated wildly.
Ireland won the battle, but not the war.
A first-half winner from Cork history-maker Saoirse Noonan wasn’t enough at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the hosts fell short of the four-goal victory needed to steal top spot and secure automatic Nations League promotion.
Carla Ward’s side went for it, but instead navigate the play-offs in October as they get another shot at promotion to League A. They’ll learn their fate in Friday’s draw, a third-place League A team lying in wait (Austria, Iceland, Belgium or Denmark).
As Saša Kolman and his players revelled in their incredible achievement — owing mainly to the 4-0 humbling in Koper in February — the Irish squad huddled quietly and paid tribute to the retiring Louise Quinn.
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