Ireland set to face Australia in Tallaght

TALLAGHT Stadium will provide the backdrop to a first ever meeting between the Republic of Ireland senior women’s team and Australia on Tuesday, September 21.

The international friendly will provide a great opportunity for Vera Pauw’s side to test themselves against a quality outfit that is currently ranked 11th in the world and finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics.

Indeed the Aussies possess a host of top international players in their line-up, including the likes of Sam Kerr of Chelsea, and Arsenal’s Caitlin Foord, Lydia Williams and Steph Catley.

Looking forward to the challenge, which will be the first national women’s team home game open to supporters since their victory over Greece in March 2020, Ireland manager Pauw said “We are excited by this opportunity to play against such a top quality opponent in Australia, especially in front of our own supporters who we will welcome back to Tallaght Stadium for the first time in 18 months.

“This game continues our approach to taking on games that will bring the best out in us, following on from our recent friendly games against Denmark, Belgium and Iceland.

“We learned a lot from those games and will be aiming to do the same against Australia, who are one of the best teams in women’s football.

“Our focus is on qualifying for the 2023 FIFA World Cup, so getting to test ourselves against a team like Australia will surely benefit us ahead of playing the top two seeds in our group in October, in Sweden and Finland.

“We will start, however, away to Georgia and that is where our focus is right now” she stressed.