Ireland begin life after Pauw with victory at Aviva

The Republic of Ireland began life after Vera Pauw with a 3-0 UEFA Nations League defeat of Northern Ireland in front of a record crowd at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Goals from Lucy Quinn, Kyra Carusa and Lily Agg put the spirited visitors to the sword in balmy conditions, as a landmark day was marked by an important win.

The Nations League feeds directly into qualifying for Euro 2025, and the Girls in Green will want - and expect - to win their group, which also includes Albania and Hungary, who they face in Budapest on Tuesday.

But there was more at stake than all that. This was the first time an Ireland women's football team had ever played at the Lansdowne Road venue. The official attendance of 35,994 was roughly five times the previous record of 7,633, which turned up at Tallaght Stadium for the pre-World Cup friendly against France.

In that context, a victory and decent performance drew a line under the sand after a protracted and messy split from the Pauw era.

It was hardly a vintage performance - Ireland were often sloppy in possession and stilted going forward - but it’s a win, and a definitive step forward after a draining summer of off-the-field drama.

More to follow