Two strong displays against Austria and Italy may have yielded only one point but Ronan was pleased with the overall team performance and, in particular, the tremendous resolve the side showed in fighting back to earn a draw against tournament favourites Italy on Friday in Larnaca.
“The players have been sharp in training this week and our matches against Austria and Italy have been played at a very high intensity. As a result, the two days of rest since Friday have definitely been welcome given the effort we’ve put into both those games. But I’ll be looking for more of the same from the girls on Monday when we face a very organised and physically strong Hungarian team,” said Ronan.
Ireland were held to a 1-1 draw by Hungary in their opening game at last year’s Istria Cup in Croatia and the Hungarians are currently third in their EURO 2017 qualifying group with one of the group’s top teams, Russia, lying behind them. They have lost their two games to date in the Cyprus Cup but Ronan says they showed enough in those two games to command respect.
“They were tough opponents this time last year at the Istria Cup and we found them very hard to break down. Watching them against both Austria and Italy, they’ve certainly improved since then, so we’ll need another good performance to get anything from the game.”
Megan Campbell, who didn’t play against Italy because of a foot injury sustained in the game against Austria, is a major doubt for tomorrow while scans have confirmed that Rianna Jarrett suffered an ACL injury on her left knee minutes after coming on as a substitute against Italy in what was her first appearance at senior level.
Once the dust settles on today’s action in Cyprus, Ireland will know their final place in the Group A table and will face the team occupying the same position in Group B which, at the moment, would be Wales as they currently lie third on two points behind Poland on four points and Czech Republic on three points with Ireland’s EURO 2017 opponents Finland bottom on one point.
Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team Squad
Goalkeepers: Emma Byrne (Arsenal), Niamh Reid-Burke (Shelbourne), Grace Moloney (Reading)
Defenders: Louise Quinn (Eskilstuna United), Jessica Gleeson (Wexford Youths), Megan Campbell Manchester City), Niamh Fahey (Chelsea), Savannah McCarthy (Glasgow City), Sophie Perry (Brighton & Hove Albion), Meabh De Burca (Galway).
Midfielders: Karen Duggan (UCD Waves), Denise O’Sullivan (Glasgow City), Diane Caldwell (Kóln), Ruesha Littlejohn (Glasgow City), Julie-Ann Russell (UCD Waves), Megan Connolly (Florida State University), Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Emma Hansberry (Wexford Youths), Rachel Graham (Shelbourne).
Strikers: Clare Shine (Glasgow City); Rianna Jarrett (Wexford Youths), Aine O’Gorman (UCD Waves), Claire O’Riordan (Wexford Youths).
Cyprus Cup Group A Details
Results
Wednesday, March 2: Republic of Ireland 0 Austria 2, Italy 2 Hungary 0.
Friday, March 4: Republic of Ireland 1 Italy 1, Austria 2 Hungary 1.
Fixtures
Monday, March 7: Republic of Ireland v Hungary, Paralimni, 15:30 (Irish time), Italy v Austria, Larnaca, 15:30(Irish time).
Wednesday, March 9: Positional Play-Offs