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3 days ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Louise Quinn bade farewell to the green shirt on Tuesday evening after a superb career with Ireland. The 34-year-old centre-back announced in April that she would retire from professional football at the end of the season. After missing out on several camps due to injury, she returned to the Irish setup for the final double-header of the Nations League B campaign, with Tuesday's clash against Slovenia in Cork her final matchday as an Irish player.
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4 days ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Ireland 1-0 SloveniaIt may not have been the 4-0 win that Ireland needed to top their Nations League B group but there was much to like about their performance against Slovenia on Tuesday evening. From the off, Carla Ward's side showed intensity, with a sense that the required four-goal margin was on the mind of every Irish player on the pitch. That intensity bred a dominant performance, though it was not reflected in the scoreline.
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4 days ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Ireland 1-0 SloveniaEoin Harrington reporting from SuperValu Páirc Uí ChaoímhIreland came up short in their chase for top spot in their Nations League B group, but did claim a deserved closing victory against Slovenia in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday evening. They knew coming in that only a win by four goals or more would see them leapfrog their opponents on head-to-head, and it ultimately proved too high a mountain to climb.
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5 days ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Eoin Harrington reporting from SuperValu Páirc Uí ChaoimhIreland captain Katie McCabe hopes that the Cork crowd will be able to drive the Girls in Green on to the big scoreline they need in Tuesday's Nations League decider against Slovenia. For the second year running, Ireland will close their campaign with a game at the home of Cork GAA, bringing back fond memories of last year's sensational 3-1 win over France.
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1 week ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Just under a week on from securing Champions League glory with Arsenal, Katie McCabe was the standout Irish player as the Girls in Green battled to a late victory in Istanbul on Friday evening. The Ireland captain was the driving attacking force in what was otherwise a lacklustre performance from Carla Ward's charges against Turkey.
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1 week ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Ireland's dramatic late win over Turkey in Istanbul on Friday night means they still have a chance of topping their Nations League B group when they take on Slovenia on Tuesday. When the draw was made, Ireland may not have foreseen themselves needing a big win in their final game, but that is what they need to give their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil a massive boost.
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1 week ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Turkey 1-2 IrelandIreland left it late, but ultimately they got the job done in dramatic fashion after a lacklustre display in Istanbul on Friday evening. Emily Murphy was the hero, with her winning goal just one minute from time completing a late, late turnaround that Ireland may not have fully deserved. The first half was a cagey affair, with Ireland struggling to break down the Turkey defence.
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1 week ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
The round-robin phase of the provincial hurling championships is concluded and eight teams remain in the All-Ireland championship. Limerick and Cork will face off in a mouth-watering Munster final on Saturday, June 7th, before Kilkenny take on Galway the following day in the Leinster decider. Third-placed Tipperary and Dublin will be joined by Joe McDonagh Cup finalists Kildare and Laois in the preliminary quarter-finals, completing the eight counties who will contest the All-Ireland series.
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1 week ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
As Manchester United's miserable post-season tour came to an end on Friday, attention was focused firmly on captain Bruno Fernandes. After United lost 1-0 to the ASEAN All-Stars on Wednesday in Kuala Lumpur, they faced Hong Kong on Friday to finally draw a line under the worst season the club has endured in decades. In the buildup to Friday's game, reports suggested that Fernandes was seriously considering an approach from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
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1 week ago | 
balls.ie | Eoin Harrington
Now that the 38-man Lions squad is in, the next question for head coach Andy Farrell is how on Earth to select a starting XV for the opening test in Australia. Some of the 15 will pick themselves, with captain Maro Itoje likely to be joined by the likes of Jamison Gibson-Park and Finn Russell in just about every punter's selections in the build-up to the first test on July 19. Several other positions are up for grabs, however, and one of the most competitive areas is in the centre.
