Republic of Ireland 0 - 1 Scotland

Rachel Corsie’s 24th minute goal put an end to Republic of Ireland’s aspirations of finishing second in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 Group 4 Qualifiers as Scotland claimed maximum points at Turner’s Cross on Thursday night.

Anna Signeul’s visitors were sensational in the first-half and deserved the lead given to them by Corsie when she pounced ferociously on Emma Byrne’s unconvincing palmed clearance following Kim Little’s in-swinging corner.

Ireland emerged after the interval a revitalised unit buoyed by the introduction of top scorer Denise O’Sullivan who unusually had to settle for a place on the bench for the opening period.

However, despite pinning Scotland back in their own half more and more as the second 45 developed Ireland lacked the required finesse in the final third to make their new-found dominance count even though substitutes Fiona O’Sullivan and Stephanie Roche gave the hosts greater scope for offensive productivity in the closing stages.

In truth, it would be stretching it to say Ireland deserved a draw from the game as Scotland were by far the more accomplished unit with and without the ball, particularly Little and pacy attacker Jane Ross but dissimilar to the game against Wales and in the first-half of last night’s loss Sue Ronan’s charges at least displayed the required passion and intensity levels needed at this level.

The first-half was more akin to a game of attackers versus defenders in training as Scotland’s relentless pursuit of Emma Byrne’s net was laudable.

Signeul’s Scots were practically camped in Ireland’s half, especially in the opening 35 minutes and engineered 14 attempts at goal, five on target as well – Louise Quinn’s 43rd minute header from Áine O’Gorman’s corner was the hosts’ first attempt of the match – as forcing five corners to Ireland’s two in the first period.

As early as the third minute the visitors could have forged ahead after Ross evaded a defender before drawing an excellent stop from Byrne with the Arsenal net-minder denying the attacker with her right foot as Ross intelligently shot across her body.

Ross forced Byrne into a superb save on 17 minutes when the dynamo was afforded far too much space in front of the area to shoot.

Jennifer Beattie also struck a shot from a similar position moments later that went harmlessly wide but the warnings signs were there for all to see as Ireland dropped deeper and deeper and eventually paid the most costly of prices as it turned out.

However, Corsie’s goal 24 minutes into the contest only fuelled Scotland’s desire to surge forward and they continued to lay siege to Byrne’s goal until the final stages of the first-half whereby Ireland won themselves two corners and had Quinn’s headed effort as positives to take into the half-time interval.

In the interim period Hayley Lauder curled a testing shot from outside the area that went wide and she later crossed to Ross whose glancing header flew outside the far post. As well as that Little struck a venomous 25-yard piledriver that blazed inches over the crossbar.

Understandably, stern words and sparks must have flown in the Irish dressing room during the interval as the team performed with greater purpose thereafter.

Niamh Fahey epitomised Ireland’s improved attitude as she drove at the Scotland defence – one that was majestically marshalled by the outstanding presence of Ifeoma Dieke – four minutes after the restart as the central midfielder rifled a shot that captain Gemma Fay had to save smartly.

Nevertheless, irrespective of being more dominant in terms of possession Ireland’s shot count was being incremented all too infrequently as it took a further 25 minutes for the hosts to register another meaningful attempt – that another Fahey effort that resulted from Denise O’Sullivan’s initial drive being blocked.

Scotland – led by midfield generals Joanne Love and Megan Sneddon – showed that they could mix it with Ireland as well as out-class them at regular points in the match as they repelled the hosts’ advances time after time.

The Irish management may reflect negatively on their decision not to start Denise O’Sullivan, the most prolific player at their disposal in the qualifying campaign.

However, Scotland still deserved their victory, especially for their more positive approach from the first whistle.

Republic Of Ireland: Emma Byrne, Sophie Perry, Meabh De Murca, Louise Quinn, Yvonne Tracy, Niamh Fahey, Ciara Grant (capt), Ruesha Littlejohn, Shannon Smyth, Julie Ann Russell, Áine O’Gorman.
Subs: Denise O’Sullivan for Littlejohn (inj., 45), Fiona O’Sullivan for Smyth (79), Stephanie Roche for Russell (83).

Scotland: Gemma Fay (capt), Rhonda Jones, Rachael Small, Ifeoma Dieke, Joanne Love, Hayley Lauder, Kim Little, Megan Sneddon, Jennifer Beattie, Jane Ross, Rachel Corsie.
Subs: Lisa Evans for Lauder (67), Leanne Ross for Beattie (75).

Referee: Teodora Albon (Romania).
Attendance: 827.