Emma Duffy

4 days ago | the42.ie | Emma Duffy

CORK’S OWN SAOIRSE Noonan became the first sportsperson to play a competitive inter-county Gaelic football match and soccer international at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening. Not only did the hometown hero play, she also scored. Her second international goal, on her first competitive start for Ireland. The stuff of dreams. “It was a bit surreal,” said Celtic striker Noonan. “I was just trying to find my feet, ease my way into the game and not get caught up in the moment.

4 days ago | the42.ie | Emma Duffy

IRELAND FACE INTO the Uefa Women’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs after finishing second in Group B2. Carla Ward’s side were chasing top spot, but didn’t achieve the four-goal win needed to usurp Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening. They won 1-0 thanks to Saoirse Noonan’s first-half goal. While Slovenia secured safe passage to League A, Ireland have another shot at promotion in the play-offs in October.

4 days ago | the42.ie | Emma Duffy

AT THE FINAL whistle, Slovenia celebrated wildly. Ireland won the game, but not the war. A frst-half goal from Cork history-maker Saoirse Noonan wasn’t enough at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the hosts fell short of the four-goal win needed to steal top spot and secure Nations League promotion. Carla Ward’s side went for it, but instead navigate the play-offs in October as they chase promotion to League A. They’ll learn their fate in Friday’s draw, a third-place League A team lying in wait.

4 days ago | the42.ie | Emma Duffy

GARY NEVILLE HAS welcomed reports Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is set to turn down a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. The 30-year-old Portugal international has been the subject of speculation linking him with a £100million switch to Al Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League side reportedly prepared to pay him £700,000 per week.

4 days ago | the42.ie | Emma Duffy

IRELAND RETURN TO Páirc Uí Chaoimh with much more on the line than their first visit to the Cork GAA venue last summer. Already relegated and consigned to the Euro 2025 play-offs, Eileen Gleeson’s side stunned France to secure a famous 3-1 win in their final group game. They did copper-fasten a seeded place, however. Now back in League B and under the watch of Carla Ward, Ireland face Slovenia in their Nations League Group B2 decider.