The stage was set in Tallaght, as the Republic of Ireland played host to a friendly fixture face-off with Jon Grey’s Welsh side. The interim manager would look to finalise his campaign as head coach in impressive fashion, following yesterday’s announcement of the appointment of

IRL: Brosnan; McCabe, Hayes, Stapleton, Connolly, Payne, Littlejohn, Ziu, Fahey, Kiernan, Barrett

CYM: Clark; Woodham, Evans, Ladd, Green, Roberts, Ingle, James, Fishlock, Rowe, Hughes

A late change to the starting line up saw Dianne Caldwell work her way into the eleven for the hosts, as Niamh Fahey made way for the defender. Caldwell proved strong from the outset, denying the visitors of a real attacking motion.

Jess Fishlock looked to catalyse a promising surge for Wales along the field’s width, though her searching cross was cleverly dismissed by the head of Caitlin Hayes.

Though the Republic of Ireland wouldn’t find respite for long, as the visitors set up to take a dangerous corner. Sophie Ingle’s shot on target was expertly saved by a stretching Courtney Brosnan, before Fishlock found herself in an opportunistic position inside of the area. Making no mistake in sending Brosnan’s net rippling, the hosts found the advantage in the opening minutes of play.

The hosts searched for an emphatic response, as Ruesha Littlejohn and Katie McCabe combined well to control possession up the field’s spine. McCabe made no mistake in carrying possession, finding the feet of an advancing Leanne Kiernan. Kiernan let the arrow fly from an ambitious position, though her shot was narrowly denied by the netting.

The Girls in Green pressed on, as they desperately looked to make up the deficit. Olivia Clark pulled off a miraculous double save inside of the area, denying the hosts of an equaliser.

Against the run of play, Wales looked threatening on the break. Fishlock found herself in space, before sending a clever ball through to an advancing ingle. Despite her floating effort looking promising, the Welsh captain’s chipped strike flew just over the woodwork.

The visitors looked to add a further blow to the sails of the Girls in Green, as Rhiannon Roberts sent a searching ball into the area. Elise Hughes provided a clever flick on, before Lily Woodham delivered the final blow to double the advantage at Tallaght Stadium.

Wales looked to add a third in Dublin, as Hughes found herself in an opportunistic position inside of the area. Despite her best efforts under high pressure, Brosnan cleared up the remains without a worry.

The Girls and Green looked desperate to get one back as the clock ran in to its final minutes. McCabe carried possession up the field’s spine, as Jess Ziu searched to make a lasting impression. Ziu’s impressive footwork evaded her marker with expertise, though her searching ball was unanswered as Kiernan swung and missed on the edge of the area.

It would be the visitors who would hold the advantage as the first half drew to a close, as strikes from Fishlock and Woodham proved to be the difference in Dublin.

Play was back underway in Tallaght, as the hosts looked desperate to make up the mounting deficit on home turf as the second half commenced.

The Girls in Green opened the second interval with an insatiable hunger, as they searched to break the stalemate of their own scoreboard. Tensions beginning to rise exponentially saw Fishlock shown a yellow card, as McCabe set up for a corner.

The Ireland skipper sent in a promising advance, though Littlejohn failed to connect with power at the back post position.

Jon Grey’s Welsh army continued to march, as Roberts delivered a line breaking advancement to the edge of the area. Despite her touch and turn arriving with class, Hughes’s strike provided no challenge to an awaiting Brosnan between the goalposts.

The clock continued to run down in Dublin, as the Girls in Green failed to chip away at their strong standing visitors. McCabe made way for Izzy Atkinson in the 72nd minute, as the young Irish star hoped to produce the spark that the hosts so desperately needed in the fixture’s final fifteen minutes.

Ceri Holland looked to deliver the final blow off the substitutes bench, as her footwork made sure Hayes was left stretching. Despite her best efforts, the Welsh forward’s strike was easily collected by Brosnan.

Hayes eagerly searched to provide her side a boost as the fixture ran into additional time, though her headed attempt off the back of a whipping corner flew off target ineffectively.

All wrapped up at Tallaght Stadium, as Wales held on to their first half advantage as the final whistle blew to draw the friendly fixture to a close.