Aine O'Gorman: We didn't adjust quickly enough to Canada's changes

Defender Áine O'Gorman felt the Republic of Ireland did not adjust quickly enough to Canada's changes as a 2-1 defeat signalled the end of any prospect of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Women's World Cup with one group game remaining.

The Girls in Green took the lead on four minutes in Perth through Katie McCabe's goal straight from a corner kick and held that lead until deep into first-half stoppage time when Megan Connolly conceded an unfortunate own goal.

Canada regained more control in the second half and scored what proved to be the winning goal on 53 minutes.

O'Gorman, making her first World Cup appearance after 17 years as a senior international, was part of the impressive first-half Irish display, having started the game following right wing-back Heather Payne's injury-enforced withdrawal shortly before kick-off.

But with both sides ringing the changes after the interval, the 34-year-old felt that Ireland did not react promptly enough to the alterations Canada made.

Aine O'Gorman on getting the nod to start for Ireland and the sucker punch of Ireland conceding an own goal just before half time in what was ultimtely a defeat to Canada #FIFAWomensWorldCup2023 #rtsoccer #coygig #faiwomen pic.twitter.com/qvBe6qEiRP

"We were really happy with first half, got the goal, got forward, created chances, got corner kicks , but just got hit with a sucker punch before half-time and coming into second half, they made some substitutions and changed tempo of the game and we just didn't adjust quick enough," she said.

"It's hard to reflect on it now but we scored the first goal, it's our first Women's World Cup, we'll take a lot from it and learn and the future generations coming through will learn."

Midfielder Ruesha