Ireland are off to the Women's World Cup for the first time in their history after a cool Amber Barrett finish saw them defeat Scotland in a gripping playoff.
What a nervy night in Hampden Park it was. It was not always pretty, but Ireland and Scotland both threw all their punches, as well as several kitchen sinks, and left everything out on the pitch.
Ireland conceded an early penalty when a sliding Niamh Fahey deflected a goal-bound effort off her team's crossbar. Fahey was yellow-carded, but that was as bad as it got.
Caroline Weir stepped up but her spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Courtney Brosnan and Ireland could breathe again:
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Megan Campbell's long throws
Ireland were causing the Scots chaos with long throws, from either wing. Megan Campbell has one fling on her, and one throw went directly into the Scottish net, but was ruled out as a goal as it went in without taking a touch.
Ainé O'Gorman should have scored a header when Katie McCabe whipped in a dangerous, testing cross. O'Gorman and Lily Agg both had sighters on the Scottish goal, but it was the throw-in tactic that was putting the home side in all sorts of bother:
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Scotland make early strides
The Scots had the better of the opening exchanges, in the second half, with some vital interceptions and last-ditch tackles being made by Irish players to protect the goal of Brosnan.
Ireland ventured into the Scoittish half as the game went on, and it was Amber Barrett that sent Vera Pauw's side into raptures when she raced on to a thru-ball and poked the ball past the on-rushing goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
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The closing stages saw Ireland drop back to defend their slender lead.
There were heroic blocks and clearances from just about every player in an orange jersey. Anything that could get by those desperate, determined efforts was met by Courtney Brosnan, and nothing was getting by her.
This article originally appeared on Sports Joe
Header image via Instagram/megcam10
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