- Aaron Clarke
- Wed, Jun 08 2016
Ireland bounced back from their 4-1 mauling against Finland in Valkeakoski to produce a five star display as Sue Ronan’s side secured a record equalling nine goal victory against Montenegro at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The hosts opening the scoring in just the third minute when Megan Connolly reacted quickest to a Stephanie Roche shot before slotting the rebound beyond Ines Obradovic for her first competitive international goal.
Ireland doubled their advantage eight minutes later, Ruesha Littlejohn found Aine O’Gorman after some neat link up play Julie Ann Russell and the UCD Waves attacked found the net with a lovely strike from the edge of the box.
Despite being 2-0 up and in cruise control, Ireland almost conceded a goal two minutes after O’Gorman’s finish, Jasna Djokovic found Armisa Kuc from a corner, but the winger's headed effort cannoned off Emma Byrne’s crossbar before going out of play.
As Sue Ronan’s side continued to keep possession at ease, Connolly had an excellent opportunity to extend her side’s lead after a Karen Duggan shot was parried into the sky by Obradovic, but the Florida State University star could only head the ball directly at the goalkeeper.
With half-time fast approaching Ireland increased their advantage when Roche found the top corner with a free-kick from the edge of the box after Darija Djukic was penalised for handball.
Despite star forward Connolly being replaced at the break, Ireland left off when they finished the opening half and eight minutes into the second period O’Gorman grabbed her second goal of the game after Roche’s initial shot was blocked, the forward rifled the ball home from close range.
Five minutes later with what proved to the goal of the match O’Gorman completed her hat-trick after the attacker looked up and found herself in acres of space and her shot from 25 yards nestled into the top left corner of the net.
As the Girls in Green continued to pour forward, Louise Quinn was the next player to find the net after the central defender headed home a Russell corner from close range.
Three minutes later, Roche grabbed her second of the game when the Sunderland forward raced onto an O’Gorman pass inside the box after referee Ivana Projkovska played advantage after Katie McCabe was brought down inside the box and she made no mistake firing past the Montenegro shot-stopper from an acute angle.
Roche completed her hat-trick minutes later, some great play from McCabe down the left wing saw the Arsenal player skip past several defenders before finding Roche unmarked in the penalty area and she made no mistake with her headed effort from eight yards.
Ireland completed the scoring with eight minutes remaining when second-half substitute Fiona O'Sullivan headed home from a lovely flighted Russell cross.
After equalling their record victory at Tallaght Stadium the Girls in Green will play their final qualifier at the same venue in September when they welcome Portugal to Dublin.
Republic of Ireland: Emma Byrne; Sophie Perry, Louise Quinn, Savannah McCarthy, Meabh De Burca; Julie Ann Russell, Karen Duggan (Denise O’Sullivan 63), Ruesha Littlejohn; Aine O’Gorman (Fiona O’Sullivan 77), Megan Connolly (Katie McCabe HT), Stephanie Roche.
Subs Not Used; Grace Moloney, Jetta Berrill, Diane Caldwell, Emma Hansberry.
Booked: Ruesha Littlejohn (57), Louise Quinn (78).
Montenegro: Ines Obradovic; Zeljka Radanovic, Ana Trutic, Tatjana Djurkovic (Helena Bozic 79), Miljana Rondovic; Sladjana Bulatovic, Milica Vulic, Darija Djukic (Aleksandra Popovic HT), Armisa Kuc; Tamara Bojat, Jasna Djokovic (Jovana Zlaticanin 59).
Subs Not Used: Ivana Cadjenovic, Jovana Zlaticanin, Milica Radunovic, Jelena Vesovic.
Booked: Darija Djukic (45), Jasna Djokovic (57), Miljana Rondovic (65).
Referee: Ivana Projkovska (MKD)
Attendance: 946
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Stephanie Roche (Republic of Ireland)
You can see Michael P Ryan's, Laszlo Geczo's and Peter Fitzpatrick's pictures from the game here.
