Ireland set for do or die tie with Slovenia at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh tonight

It’s do or die for the Republic of Ireland women in the race for automatic promotion in the UEFA Women’s Nations League.

Their entire campaign will be decided by one game with Slovenia at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening, kick-off 6pm.

The Girls in Green have to score five goals, while keeping Slovenia scoreless if they are to top the group, and secure the highest possible seeding position for 2025 World Cup qualifiers.

The objective is simple and a team featuring Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly, and Saoirse Noonan will attempt to get this done in their home city.

Ireland got themselves in this position by coming from behind and defeating Turkey 2-1 last Friday in Istanbul.

The Girls in Green actually struggled away from home, and they went behind through a well-worked Kader Hancar goal in the 48th minute.

Carla Ward went to the bench in a bid to ignite a comeback, and Noonan was one of those tasked with changing the game and making sure Ireland stayed in contention for automatic promotion.

The striker helped create space and unsettle the Turkey back-line, and this paid off when a Megan Campbell long-thrown was headed in for an own goal by Busem Seker. 

The winner followed in the 89th minute, with Emily Murphy scoring for the first time at senior international level after Sejde Abrahamson slipped inside the area.

With this win recorded, Ireland will get ready for Slovenia while still processing their 4-0 defeat in Koper.

Everything that could have went wrong went wrong for Ward and her players that night, and it started with an Anna Patten rebounding off Connolly in just the third minute. 

Lara Prašnikar latched onto the loose ball and she got her first of two goals inside the opening half-hour with a clean strike.

Zara Kramžar followed that up and the home side led 3-0 at the break, and Ireland went into the break dazed.

Ward reacted by bringing on Tyler Toland and Marissa Sheva, with Abbie Larkin following in the 66th minute. 

O’Sullivan went close to pulling one back during the rush of blood restart, and her effort was well stopped by Zala Mersnik. 

Ireland went on to dominate possession and Slovenia soaked up the pressure before sealing win with a stunning strike from Nina Kajzba on the edge of the box.

The immediate reaction to the result was of disappointment and regret, with a number of players taking to social media to express their feelings after the game.

The team responded by taking maximum points from their double header with Greece and then seeing off Turkey.

Slovenia went through those international windows undefeated, which has put them on top of the group with 15 points collected.

The good news for Ireland is that they know what they need to do, instead of relying off outside factors or games taking place across Europe.

All they need to do is win and win well at a packed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, the ground where they recorded their greatest ever victory by defeating last year in Euro 2025 qualifying.

Memories of that day, from O’Sullivan scoring into the Blackrock End to the roar at the full-time whistle, live long at local and national level. Tuesday is about adding the next chapter, with a goal laden performance against a resurgent Slovenia.