FT: Poland 2 (Pawollek 43, Pajor 78) Republic of Ireland 3 (Murphy 12, McCabe 20, Sheva 59) – Report
“Five goals and a missed penalty by Katie McCabe sounds like the Republic of Ireland were embroiled in a thriller in Gdansk,” Gavin Cummiskey writes in his report.
“Really, the visitors controlled large swathes of a World Cup qualifier that will be repeated at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
“Early Irish goals from Emily Murphy and an unforgettable McCabe volley were not enough to see off Poland. Marissa Sheva’s neat finish on the hour mark was needed to secure all three points.
“If Ireland can bottle the opening 20 minutes at the Gdansk Stadium then qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil should be achieved at a canter.”
Read Gavin’s report in full below:
[ Katie McCabe and Emily Murphy inspire Ireland to victory over Poland in GdanskOpens in new window ]
That’s all from me for this evening, thanks for following along. We’ll be back on Saturday’s for the return fixture at the Aviva.
Good night!
And here’s what manager Carla Ward had to say:
We’ll have a full match report from Gavin Cummiskey shortly.
Player of the Match Emily Murphy has been chatting to RTÉ after the win:
Three goals for Ireland – the opener from Player of the Match Emily Murphy, a worldie from captain Katie McCabe, and what was ultimately winner from Marissa Sheva.
Ireland register their first points of the campaign, seeing them up to third in Group A2.
Here’s how the table’s looking after that result:
- France – Six points (W, W)
- Netherlands – Four points (D, W)
- Republic of Ireland – Three points (L, L, W)
- Poland – One point (D, L, L)
Don’t commit that to memory just yet though, the Netherlands also host France this evening in the 7.45pm kick-off.
And it’s all over in Gdansk!
Ireland get a 3-2 away win over Poland ahead of Saturday’s return fixture in Dublin.
FULL-TIME: Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
93 MINS: Caitlin Hayes concedes a free kick and Klaudia Jamczyk stands over it. Great run from Paulina Dudek to get a tap on the incoming ball but Courtney Brosnan reads it for the save.
Regardless, Dudek is called offside.
Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
90 MINS: Five minutes added. Poland searching for an equaliser.
Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
87 MINS: Home crowd starting to make themselves known as the game reaches the last few minutes.
Courtney Brosnan is down receiving some treatment so Poland use the opportunity to makes some changes.
Jess Ziu comes on in place of goalscorer Marissa Sheva.
Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
82 MINS: Katie McCabe blasts it over the woodwork. Sigh of relief for the hosts.
Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
80 MINS: Penalty for Ireland!
Emily Murphy takes on two Poland defenders to enter the box and draws the foul.
McCabe to take it.
Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
78 MINS: Goal for Poland.
There’s Ewa Pajor. The captain makes a run from nothing, catching out Anna Patten to chip over Courtney Brosnan.
Poland 2 Rep of Ireland 3
72 MINS: Earning her 130th cap this evening, Denise O’Sullivan is tearing around the place like it’s her first. She’s linking up brilliantly with Aoife Mannion in defence.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 3
69 MINS: Carla Ward looking to add to Ireland’s goalscoring threat with her first replacement, brining in Amber Barrett for Abbie Larkin.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 3
66 MINS: Two changes for Poland as goalscorer Tanja Pawollek and Natalia Padilla make way.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 3
63 MINS: Much better play from Ireland as their passes are starting to stick again.
Changes on the way for Poland. Fresh legs and perhaps a chance to try upset Ireland’s momentum.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 3
59 MINS: GOAL FOR IRELAND!
Marissa Sheva with a cracking score.
Aoife Mannion spots the pass to Sheva just beyond the box and she drives her shot to the top left.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 3
54 MINS: Chance for Poland’s Natalia Padilla. She runs on to a long pass and has Aoife Mannion beaten. Her shot is on target but weak so comfortably dealt with by Courtney Brosnan.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
50 MINS: Rouge Ireland pass as they push out of their own half gives Poland an attacking opportunity.
Aoife Mannion puts a perfectly timed tackle in on the edge of the box to dispossess Natalia Padilla.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
47 MINS: Abbie Larkin makes a run in on the Poland goal and it comes off a Polish defender for an Ireland corner.
Katie McCabe steps up but Poland manage it well.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
46 MINS: Poland get play back under way.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
Big shift needed from Ireland after the break in Gdansk. Poland’s goal game a critical point that will give them a much-needed boost to take into the second half so Ireland need to match them.
HALF-TIME: Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
And there’s half-time.
Poland finished strong to cut Ireland’s lead for the break.
HALF-TIME: Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
45 MINS: One minute added on as tempers begin to fray. Yellow card for Poland’s goalscorer Tanja Pawollek.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
43 MINS: Goal for Poland.
The hosts play a short corner to Paulina Tomasiak who finds Tanja Pawollek in the box and she heads to the base of the right post past Courtney Brosnan.
Poland 1 Rep of Ireland 2
39 MINS: Chance for Poland’s Klaudia Jamczyk but she pulls it right of the left post. Let off for Ireland.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 2
37 MINS: Ireland caught by a quick counterattack from Poland but Anna Patten gets back to cover.
The hosts showing more attacking intent now as half-time nears.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 2
32 MINS: Poland captain Ewa Pajor is starting to play her way into the game after a quiet start. Her influence is opening up the Ireland defence but to no reward yet.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 2
29 MINS: Anna Patten saves Ireland from Poland’s first significant challenge on Courney Brosnan’s goal. Aoife Mannion does well to block a first attempt before Patten races in to stop Poland’s chance on the rebound.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 2
23 MINS: Great defending from Aoife Mannion to halt Poland’s advance and send Ireland back on the attack.
Ireland have settled well and playing with confidence now.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 2
20 MINS: GOAL FOR IRELAND!
Stunner of a goal from Katie McCabe!
Megan Connolly drifts her corner kick into the box and Poland clear but McCabe catches the clearance on the volley to send a shot past Szemik.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 2
19 MINS: Ireland playing aggressively up front, putting Poland really on the back foot as they struggle to escape their own half of the pitch.
Ireland get four throw-ins in quick succession as Poland scramble to thwart the threat on Kinga Szemik goal.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 1
12 MINS: GOAL FOR IRELAND!
Emily Murphy nets after some good link-up play pushing forward from Ireland. Katie McCabe, Denise O’Sullivan and Marissa Sheva all involved in the build-up for Murphy to finish.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 1
6 MINS: Some disjointed play by Poland’s defence gives Marissa Sheva a chance at a shot at goal but again it’s high.
The surface is having a real deadening effect on the ball.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 0
3 MINS: First chance for Ireland. From a quick Denise O’Sullivan pass, Abbie Larkin gets a tow-poke to the ball but it’s slightly too high.
Good start from Ireland.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 0
2 MINS: Early challenge on Katie McCabe earns a free kick for Ireland.
Megan Connolly steps up and arcs is into the box but Marissa Sheva can’t control it and loses possession.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 0
Anthems over, we’re ready to get under way.
Referee for the evening is Hristiyana Guteva from Bulgaria.
Ireland tip off.
Poland 0 Rep of Ireland 0
Five minutes to kick-off now.
The pitch isn’t in particularly good nick, the grounds people blaming a harsh winter.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Tony O’Donoghue pitchside ahead of the game, Carla Ward said while not ideal, “it’s the same for both sides”.
In the latest Fifa rankings, France are sixth, the Netherland 11th, Poland 24th and Ireland 27th.
Given the opposition, a third-place group finish feels like a good goal for Ireland, but the aim really hinges on Ireland picking up points against Poland, given they’re the most closely ranked side.
That being said, Ireland have shown they’re well capable of pulling off an upset. Remember that 3-1 win over France at Páirc Uí Chaoimh? Denise O’Sullivan surely does.
Ireland are currently bottom of Group A2 with zero points after two games played, having lost 2-1 at home to France last month, followed four days later by a 2-1 away defeat to the Netherlands.
With two wins from two, France lead the group on six points, the Netherlands are second on four points having drawn their opening game against Poland, which earned the Poles their only point of the campaign so far.
As a quick refresher, these Uefa World Cup qualifiers are taking the place of this season’s Nations League. Ireland secured promotion from League B last October, hence why we’re in a League A group for the qualifiers.
Alongside Ireland in Group A2 are France, the Netherlands and tonight’s hosts, Poland.
While being in the top-flight means Ireland face tougher competition in the group stages, it can afford them an easier time through the playoffs, with a third-place group finish representing a positive return for Ireland.
The first-placed team in each of the four League A groups qualify directly for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, while the three other teams go to the playoffs. The second and third-placed teams will have League C opponents in the first-round playoffs, while the teams that finish fourth in Group A will be drawn against League B sides.
Going through as a second or third-place League A side also offers seeding in the second round, and home second-leg draws, so it’s no small prize.
“Without any fanfare or hype, a crucial week in Carla Ward’s time as Republic of Ireland manager has arrived,” Gavin Cummiskey writes, previewing this evening’s game.
He singles out captain Ewa Pajor as a major threat for Poland, the Barcelona striker with a record 70 goals in 1-7 caps for her country.
Ireland, meanwhile, will need some big shifts from the old reliables. “Ireland will look to (Katie) McCabe and (Denise) O’Sullivan for quality moments in Gdansk before Poland visit the Aviva Stadium on Saturday,” Gavin adds.
“Anything less than four points from these two games will be considered a failure by everyone involved in this Irish group.”
Read Gavin’s preview in full below:
Here’s Ireland’s starting XI:
Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Anna Patten, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Katie McCabe (capt); Marissa Sheva, Denise O’Sullivan, Megan Connolly; Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin.
Subs: Grace Moloney, Sophie Whitehouse, Maria Reynolds, Leanne Kiernan, Jess Ziu, Amber Barrett, Aoibheann Clancy, Lucy Quinn, Jamie Finn, Saoirse Noonan, Tyler Toland.
POLAND: Szemik; Zaremba, Wos, Dudek, Wiankowska; Achcinska, Jamczyk, Pawollek; Tomasiak, Pajor (capt), Padilla.
Subs: Radkiewicz, Szperkowska, Zieniewicz, Sarapata, Saqistowska, Nowak, Cyraniak, Kokosz, Jedlinska, Grzybowska, Szymaszek, Arasniewicz.
Last week, head coach Carla Ward added three players to the squad for these two fixtures – uncapped Shamrock Rovers defender Maria Reynolds, Shelbourne midfielder Aoibheann Clancy and Sunderland defender Jamie Finn.
The trio were called up after injuries ruled out Lily Agg, Aoibhe Brennan and Jessie Stapleton after their inclusion in the original squad.
Agg, currently on loan at Durham from Birmingham City, had been named in the national squad for the first time since she suffered an ACL injury in January 2025, while it also marked the first senior call-up for 18-year-old Brennan.
Afternoon all. Welcome along to The Irish Times live blog for the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifier against Poland.
Carla Ward’s side are in Gdansk for their third fixture in Group A2, their next outing coming against the same opponents on Saturday when Poland travel to Dublin for the return leg.
With two losses from their two opening games so far in the campaign, Ireland are in need of a win if they are to have a chance of achieve their aim of a third-place group finish. But more on that later.
No sign of the starting teams for this evening just yet, so for now, here’s the full squad Ward named last month in preparation for this week’s games.
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Sunderland)
Defenders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Jamie Finn (Sunderland), Maria Reynolds (Shamrock Rovers)
Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (Liverpool), Tyler Toland (Durham), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jess Ziu (West Ham United), Aoibheann Clancy (Shelbourne)
Forwards: Saoirse Noonan (Celtic), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Leanne Kiernan (Nottingham Forest, loan), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Kyra Carusa (Kansas City Current, loan), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg)
