Wales 0
Republic of Ireland 1
Denise O’Sullivan’s spectacular first-half strike saw the Republic of Ireland sealed a third-place finish at the Pinatar Cup in Spain.
The North Carolina Courage midfielder seized on a loose pass before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner midway through the first half.
It’s the first time Ireland’s senior have finished third in an international tournament, the closest they’ve come a fourth-place finish at the 2017 Cyprus Cup.
And it was no less than Vera Pauw’s side merited as they were comfortably the better side throughout and had several chances to put the result beyond doubt.
Pauw named an entirely changed starting XI from the one narrowly beaten by Russia on Saturday, recalling ten of the side that came from behind to beat Poland in the quarter-finals.
Ireland won the toss and captain Katie McCabe curiously decided to play into the sun in the first half, a choice goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan may not have thanked her for.
The Everton stopper was calm and assured under a series of early testers, however, as Wales had the better of the opening 15 minutes.
Ireland had plenty of the ball but struggled to play through an organised and hard-working Welsh side, who were happy to play on the break.
Striker Kyra Carusa very nearly gave Ireland a dream start inside five minutes as she rounded Welsh keeper Olivia Clark, but she could only steer her shot into the side netting.
Wales were causing problems of their own down the flanks, and a Charlie Estcourt found Jess Fishlock unmarked in the box, but Niamh Fahey dived across to block.
Ireland began to find their rhythm as the midpoint in the half approached and Carusa again went close as she nodded a Fahey flick behind.
The breakthrough came on 25 minutes as Heather Payne and Carusa pressed the Welsh defence high and forced a careless touch from defender Rhiannon Roberts.
O’Sullivan captured the loose ball, took one touch to steady herself and smashed the ball into the top corner, leaving Clark with no chance.
Ireland played with fluency in attack and assurance at the back, and should have added to their lead before the break.
A slick passing move found Payne in space on the right but her cutback was behind Carusa, and McCabe’s shot hit a defender and went behind.
From the corner, McCabe found Fahey at the back post but she couldn’t keep her header down with the goal gaping.
Wales had a purple patch early in the second half and Sophie Ingle was unfortunate to see her long-range effort clip the bar with Brosnan well-beaten.
From there it was all Ireland. Louise Quinn headed a corner wide and Abbie Larkin, on at half time for Carusa, controlled well before volleying at Clark.
Leanne Kiernan replaced Payne as she was injured following a Cynical Rachel Rowe tackle, while DLR Waves keeper Eve Badana replaced Brosnan for her first cap in nine years.
A well-worked one-two between McCabe and Lucy Quinn set the captain up with a shooting opportunity but she scuffed the ball across goal.
Larkin went closer shortly afterwards as she drove forward from deep and her goalbound effort was deflected inches wide by Roberts.
Lucy Quinn had a great chance to double the lead as she was picked out by a Jess Ziu cross but again she couldn’t keep her header down.
O’Sullivan was denied a chance to seal it late on as Anghard James tripped over the ball and presented her a clear run on goal, but the referee charitably gave a free out.
There was little charity from referee Bockova Miriama moments later as she awarded Wales a free kick on the edge of the box and booked Savannah McCarthy for a dubious handball.
James’ free hit the wall and, from the resulting scramble, Roberts’ goalbound shot was blocked by McCarthy but this time the Welsh handball shouts were rightly waved away.
Wales pushed on through four minutes of injury time but Ireland held out comfortably to take bronze and head into April World Cup qualifier in Sweden with confidence.
Wales: Olivia Clark; Charlie Estcourt, Rhiannon Roberts, Gemma Evans (Anna Filbey 60), Rachel Rowe (Lily Woodham 60); Ceri Holland (Elise Hughes 70), Sophie Ingle, Angharad James, Ffion Morgan (Kayleigh Green 70); Jess Fishlock (Helen Ward 70); Natasha Harding (Georgia Walters 60).
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan (Eve Badana 63); Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Savannah McCarthy; Jess Ziu, Ruesha Littlejohn, Denise O'Sullivan, Katie McCabe; Heather Payne (Leanne Kiernan 63), Lucy Quinn (Amber Barrett 85); Kyra Carusa (Abbie Larkin 46).
Referee: Bockova Miriama (Slovakia).
