They didn’t make their superiority count on the scoreboard but they know keenly the proverbial proviso that applies – it is only half-time. They will be the better for this, and much better, at home.
Wales produced a smattering of quality, taking a 20th -minute lead when leading duo Ceri Holland and Jess Fishlock exploited momentary defensive frailty to provide a roving full-back Lily Woodham with a goal.
Ruesha Littlejohn, the best player on the Cardiff turf, forced the equaliser with a shot that conspired to embarrass the home netminder, Olivia Clark. It also absolved fellow recalled veteran Niamh Fahey after she erred in the build-up to the lead goal.
Littlejohn managed to deliver a remarkable 78 minutes of effort, shrugging off recent injury concerns and returning to something like the form she displayed last summer in the World Cup.
Hers was a performance that reflected the Irish commitment to return to that type of stage again. This moves them one step closer to Euro 2025.
On the night, the result was amply sufficient unto the day thereof. Ireland might quibble they deserved more but it would be a weak enough argument.
They could have asserted in the second half but, perhaps cowed by the shock of the first, were content to almost steer the contest to its natural conclusion.
Wales, you feel, delivered all they had out here but it was not all that much, and they have little left. They felt they could have claimed a winner, when Carrie Jones unwittingly diverted a cross in injury-time beyond the flailing dive of Josephine Green.
That late pace and power from the bench that had sparked them to an extra-time win in their semi-final against Slovakia was held in reserve from the start by their Canadian boss Rhiann Wilkinson, perhaps a nod to a vigilance on their part too as they matched Ireland’s formation.
The game’s pattern was immediately obvious; Ireland pressing with comfort off the ball against a side who seemed distinctly discomfited on it. The disparity was not wildly obvious but enough to encourage the visitors; any initial satisfaction disintegrated when the Welsh struck.
It was noticeable that when Holland played a pass down the right flank, with Caitlyn Hayes struggling, for Fishlock to fling in a cross with her first meaningful touch, Fahey had been lying deep and negating any potential offside line.
Her hashed clearance compounded that positional error and Lili Woodham’s finish was precise, completing a pinpoint, accurate three-pass move that had seemed beyond them in the previous 20 minutes. Ireland were temporarily discombobulated, Wales thrived and the contest had suddenly swung.
It took ten minutes for them to compose themselves sufficiently to string their best passing pattern together on the right flank; within a minutes, a confection of ambition and misfortune had restored parity. Her side’s patience on the ball restored, Littlejohn, restored for her experience, delved into its vast reserves and from 35 yards tried her luck; it was in, as was the ball, the hapless Clark misjudging its flight as she scrambled to fingertip it over the bar.
Instead, it tipped on to it and, like one of those cartoon characters suffering an unwitting blow that makes them see stars, the ball caromed off the back of her head and, almost in slow motion, apologetically ended up in their net.
The Irish celebrations, joyous relief, allowed no such concession. Once more, they assumed the mildest of authority and both Denise O’Sullivan and Katie McCabe grew in stature as the Welsh full-backs were pinned back.
You sensed Ireland had another level, and a superior bench, should they require it. Marissa Sheva’s energy was the first switch, matching a Welsh change at the break.
Ffion Morgan did have an early chance, striding free from Littlejohn, but skewed her shot wide as Ireland settled into former eminence, content to avoid scares at one end except those avoidably self-inflicted
On the hour, Littlejohn was required beneath the same goal into which she scored to clear a corner prompted by some dilatory messing from Hayes, while sub Carrie Jones tested Brosnan’s palms with a stinger.
Ireland were unable to impose their will sufficiently in possession to deny the home team succour; Littlejohn’s tangle with Fishlock a measure of Irish frustration; the Welsh woman couldn’t exact more punishment from a pallid free-kick effort.
The muted crowd were briefly roused but no more.
Hayes’ smart effort on the turn with 14 minutes left – Clark more adroit this time – was almost a decisive moment. Wales almost had theirs too.
Wales: Clark; Roberts, Ladd, Evans, Woodham (Estcourt 89); Holland (Greene 81), James (capt), Griffiths (Jones h-t); Rowe, Morgan (Barton 70), Fishlock.
Ireland: Brosnan; Payne, Patten, Fahey, Hayes, McCabe capt; Littlejohn (Stapleton 78), Agg (Sheva h-t), O’Sullivan; Russell (Kiernan 79); Carusa (Barrett 88).
Referee: Maria Caputi (Italy)
