93 mins: Off the post for France at the end. Asseyi with a header at the back post almost goes in. Ref blows the whistle.
FULL-TIME: Ireland 0 France 3
Good first-half performance by Ireland, very harsh to be two goals down. Very poor second half, looked lost and offered no threat as France raised a level. Different class between the two teams and a slight confidence before the Women’s World Cup. Ireland can play better than that and need to show it in the first game in two weeks against Australia. France have to be one of the favourites for the tournament and were strong in every department.
That’s all from me, stay tuned for the match report!
88 mins: Some more strong running by Basha down the left but her shot is straight at Brosnan. Kyra Carusa is chosen as Player of the Match. Well deserved for her hard running. Not many other players in contention for the home team tonight. In truth could have given it to several French players - Lakrar, Karchaoui, Le Sommer, Dali or Bacha.
Ireland 0 France 3
85 mins: Claire O’Riordan with a ball into the box from a free that causes some mild trouble but never close to scoring. Ireland have looked toothless tonight against a strong French side.
Ireland 0 France 3
80 mins: Some silky football by the French this half, Irish players chasing shadows. Élisa De Almeida with some flashy passes off the bench. Amber Barrett is not coming on then as Larkin and Caldwell are subbed on.
Ireland 0 France 3
77 mins: A tough game for Ireland. France lacked fluency in the second half but they’ve been dominant and strong this half. Now Farrelly is down injured. At this point, must be looking to avoid injuries to first-teamers. Amber Barrett and Abby Larkin being readied.
Ireland 0 France 3
69 mins: Nearly a fourth for France, Le Sommer has been very good since her goal and she plays in Matéo who just pushes her shot wide of Brosnan. Some subs for Ireland - Claire O’Riordan, Lily Agg and Áine O’Gorman on.
Ireland 0 France 3
A record attendance for a Irish women’s international, 7,633 in Tallaght Stadium tonight.
64 mins: This has not been very good at all by Ireland this half. Chasing the game they haven’t got any handle on the game. Lots of sloppy passing and a flat energy. Good play by France though to dominate. Farrelly has a chance to play in the forward but misplaces the pass.
Ireland 0 France 3
61 mins: GOAL FOR FRANCE! Lakrar with her second goal of the game from Lakrar, ball goes over Quinn’s head and Lakrar heads towards the goal, which gets past Fahey on the line.
Ireland 0 France 3
60 mins: Long period of Irish possession, Ireland struggling to get up the pitch. A cross by Bacha almost gets to Le Sommer but Quinn heads away. Atmosphere gone flat.
Ireland 0 France 2
55 mins: Renard’s long balls are a weapon and causing problems to the Irish team. Ireland a bit flat this half, Sheva has been careless on the ball.
Ireland 0 France 2
52 mins: Karchaoui plays a nice ball into Le Sommer in the box but Brosnan is brave and gathers the ball from her feet. Another chance for Le Sommer, who presses the ball and wins it off the defence, Dali puts her in and her shot hits the sidenetting.
Ireland 0 France 2
48 mins: Second half begins with France on the front foot but Ireland counter with Sheva trying to play Carusa in but Renard clears it for France.
Ireland 0 France 2
HALF-TIME: Ireland 0 France 2
Deflating end to the half there after Ireland were more than a match for France for the vast majority of the half. But the French ground down the Irish defence with some good play and now Ireland have to attack to find a way back into this one. Katie McCabe already off the pitch as precaution after an apparent slight knock.
France’s first goal:
France’s second goal:
47 mins: GOAL FOR FRANCE! Just like that and France turn the screw. France looking more positive and some nice passes through the middle. Toletti to Dali who slips it into Le Sommer who has done nothing much all game but is lethal in front of goal and shoots past Brosnan. Her 87th international goal.
Ireland 0 France 2
45 mins: GOAL FOR FRANCE! Atkinson caught out on the left side by Lakrar, she plays into the box, Payne tries to clear it but kicks it straight back at Lakrar who finishes off Brosnan.
Ireland 0 France 1
44 mins: France get down the byline on the left again but well headed away by the defence. First time where Diani has been unleashed on the right after a long ball by Renard, she hits over Connolly’s head and runs towards the goal but shoots against the sidenetting.
Ireland 0 France 0
41 mins: O’Sullivan drives through midfield and plays to Atkinson who crosses but keeper takes it confidently this time.
Ireland 0 France 0
38 mins: Littlejohn gives the ball away, France have a chance outside the box but poor pass from Toletti who hits it out of play.
Ireland 0 France 0
35 mins: France keeper gives away the ball sloppily after some good pressure by Sheva. Carusa wins a corner. Not convincing goalkeeping from the corner by Peyraud-Magnin either, but France get it away. Farrelly plays into the box and Renard knocks it out for another corner. Again they put the keeper under pressure from the corner but doesn’t lead to anything.
Ireland 0 France 0
32 mins: Katie McCabe down again, but seems to be moving up reasonably well. Subbed off. Precautionary perhaps, very understandable though as it’s a friendly and can’t take any risks before the World Cup. Izzy Atkinson on for McCabe.
Ireland 0 France 0
29 mins: Almost all of France’s attacking has been down the left side, Bacha and Karchaoui with some nice interplay creating a chance but good block by Louise Quinn.
Ireland 0 France 0
26 mins: Brosnan comes for the ball over the top but doesn’t get to it, Bacha gets there first and tries a shot but the angle is too tight. Got away with that misjudgment.
Ireland 0 France 0
23 mins: Karchaoui goes on a good run, the pick of the French players so far and passes to her other full-back Lakrar but it’s easily gathered by Brosnan. Ireland win a corner as Fahey hits off Bacha. Not a good corner by McCabe though and doesn’t get an Irish shirt.
Ireland 0 France 0
20 mins: France lacking a bit of fluency, Ireland competing well and Carusa causing problems. She tried to play in Sheva but gathered by the goalkeeper.
Ireland 0 France 0
17 mins: Connolly takes the free kick, Fahey gets a head on it under pressure but goes harmlessly out of play. France attack as McCabe is back up and helping save the day defensively.
Ireland 0 France 0
15 mins: Good centre forward play by Carusa after Littlejohn keeps the ball on play on the sideline, passed to by Katie McCabe. Carusa is followed just outside the box by Cascarino. A concern as Katie McCabe goes down after making that pass.
Ireland 0 France 0
12 mins: Carusa with a chance through on goal after a head on from a long ball but ruled offside, perhaps unfairly, a lively spell for Ireland.
Ireland 0 France 0
9 mins: No real chances yet in the game in some challenging conditions. Some good touches by Karchaoui at left-back for France.
Ireland 0 France 0
5 mins: Ireland’s defence looking strong but defending deep from early on and yet to create anything.
Ireland 0 France 0
2 mins: Some early passing along the back by France before they hit it long into the wind, but doesn’t go too far. Should be a factor tonight.
Ireland 0 France 0
Back from the brink: Sinead Farrelly returns to the Ireland team this year from a seven-year exile. The Ireland international remains a natural, even after a car crash, 4½ years of severe concussion and traumatic stress. Read about her story in this Q&A with Gavin Cummiskey:
[ Back from the brink: Sinead Farrelly returns from seven-year exileOpens in new window ]
Most of the build-up to today’s game was about allegations made about Ireland manager Vera Pauw’s coaching methods when managing Houston Dash and her feud with The Athletic.
“This agenda is known, this agenda has been on Twitter, and after the World Cup I will see if I can take legal action,” Pauw revealed. “For now, this strategy works.”
Who is this person? “This person is from the US.” Can you name them? “No.” Why not? “Because I need to see what the legal access can be from that.” Is the person from the Houston Dash. “They are not from the Houston Dash.”
Earlier, Pauw accused The Athletic, a sports website owned by the New York Times, of having an “agenda” against her.
[ Vera Pauw: ‘There is a person that is targeted to destroy my career’Opens in new window ]
In February, France captain Wendie Renard took an enormous risk when she quit the squad, effectively forcing the federation to choose between her or manager Corinne Diacre. That the six-foot two-inch Lyon defender was sitting in Tallaght Stadium’s new media room yesterday alongside the debonair Hervé Renard tells us who won that skirmish, writes Gavin Cummiskey.
Their new manager is very well respected in the game, and only nine months ago led Saudi Arabia to victory over men’s World Cup champions Argentina in the group stages. “The French are one of the best in the world. We already have the results,” he said. Watch out for forward Kadidiatou Diani, she scored 26 goals in 30 games for Paris Saint-Germain this season.
[ Ireland v France: Pauw’s masterplan to reveal itself in World Cup warm-up gameOpens in new window ]
France: P. Peyraud-Magnin, M. Lakrar, E. Cascarino, W. Renard (capt), S. Karchaoui, G. Geyoro, S. Toletti, K. Dali, S. Bacha, E. Le Sommer, K. Diani.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Ireland’s farewell game before taking off to the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. A great match it is too, and an excellent test against France, semi-finals in the World Cup and European Championships and full of Champions League players. It’s a full Ireland team for this test, and an expectedly defensive team at that, as Vera Pauw will expect France to play in a similar way to hosts Australia in the first game of the World Cup.
There are first home starts for Marissa Sheva and Sinead Farrelly, while Katie McCabe will captain the side from left-wing back. Megan Connolly comes into the defence, with Kyra Carusa up front. Formation likely to be five at the back, and some variation of those midfielders and forwards depending on where Farrelly lines up As always, Ireland are likely to look to Amber Barrett from the bench if in need of a goal. Here is the Ireland starting line-up:
Ireland: Courtney Brosnan, Louise Quinn, Niamh Fahey, Megan Connolly, Heather Payne, Ruesha Littlejohn, Denise O’Sullivan, Katie McCabe, Sinead Farrelly, Kyra Carusa, Marissa Sheva.
France’s team to follow. Ireland and France kicks off at 8pm in Tallaght.
