Wales broke new ground in Dublin on Tuesday night as they qualified for the first major women’s tournament in their nation’s history. A 2-1 win for Rhian Wilkinson’s side thanks to goals from Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones earned them a 3-2 aggregate victory over Republic of Ireland and booked their spot at next summer’s European Championship in Switzerland.
Wilkinson, who took over the manager’s role in February, was full of pride at her team’s achievements. “The most incredible thing is that I’m new here. I showed up for the sprint end of a marathon,” she said. “I see all these staff who have been through the whole ride and how proud they are and that is what makes it for me. I am so proud … That’s the emotional part for me.
