The Ireland Women's Under-19s ended their 2024 UEFA Women's Under-19 European Championships campaign with a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands on Sunday.
Goals from Karlijn Woons and Mirte Van Koppen sent the Dutch through to the semi-finals ahead of Ireland, who can be proud of their performance.
In the afternoon heat at the Futbolo Stadionas Marijampolje in Lithuania, Ireland showcased tactical discipline for a third straight game that gave them a chance against one of the favourites to win this tournament.
Having drawn with holders Spain and lost narrowly to last year's runners-up Germany, Dave Connell's squad knew that they belonged at this level but needed a big performance and a victory here to progress further.
However, it was the Dutch who took control early on when Woons lost her marker on 18 minutes to head in a free-kick delivered into the penalty area by Jade van Hensbergen.
Shamrock Rovers forward Joy Ralph did fire a shot straight at goalkeeper Danae van der Vliet following a breakaway but the Girls in Green, wearing a black kit here, went in at halftime to break one goal down.
Four minutes into the second period, Irish hearts were beating that bit faster when Ralph controlled a pass, spun quickly and let loose with a half-volley from distance that struck the Dutch post. It was a superb effort.
🗣️ "The effort from the girls was sensational and I'm really, really proud of them all."
Head Coach Dave Connell praises WU19s for their EUROs campaign 🇮🇪#COYGIG pic.twitter.com/ginStEHBND— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 21, 2024
The Netherlands showed that they were capable of the same as Lotte Keukelaar made space for herself before unleashing a stinging shot that brought the best out of goalkeeper Katie Keane.
Just as the clock ticked past the hour mark, the Oranje increased their lead, with Van Koppen smashing a right-footed shot into the back of the net after running onto a neat pass from Keukelaar.
On 89 minutes, substitute Ceola Bergin did brilliantly to get a shot off that forced van der Vliet into a diving save that pushed the ball out for a corner kick. But the danger was then cleared from that resulting set-piece.
The Dutch closed out the win to send Ireland out, just as they did in 2014 when beating them in the semi-finals of this competition, but the effort and approach from Connell's team were impressive.
In fact, Ireland produced three laudable displays in this tournament against three excellent opponents so they can travel home knowing that they gave it everything across this entire campaign.
Ireland: Katie Keane; Meabh Russell, Kate Thompson, Eve Dossen (Hazel Donegan 82); Aoife Turner (Mary Phillips 46), Jess Fitzgerald (Freya Healy 68), Aoife Kelly, Ellen Dolan, Jodie Loughrey (Hannah Healy 68); Joy Ralph (Ceola Bergin 82), Lia O'Leary.
Netherlands: Danae van der Vliet; Daliyah de Klonia, Karlijn Woons, Isa Kardinaal, Anissa Chibani; Jasmijn van Uden, Jade van Hensbergen, Senne van de Velde (Sophie Proost 62); Lotte Keukelaar (Lyanne Iedema 85), Danique Tolhoek, Mirte Van Koppen.
Referee: Olivia Tschon (Austria).
Results
Monday, July 15th: Spain 0-0 Ireland
Thursday, July 18th: Ireland 1-2 Germany
Sunday, July 21st: Ireland 0-2 Netherlands
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