Cymru have made history in Dublin, replacing the heartbreaks of the past with tears of joy. After years of near misses and frustration, Cymru are heading to Switzerland next summer as one of the 16 nations competing at EURO 2025. Following a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Cardiff, this was the day of destiny—a winner-takes-all clash where Cymru left everything on the pitch to claim their long-awaited triumph.
Head coach Rhian Wilkinson made two changes to the starting XI, bringing in Josie Green and Hannah Cain for Ceri Holland and Ffion Morgan. From the outset, Green’s primary task was clear: neutralize Ireland captain Katie McCabe. Their physical duel quickly set the tone, leaving McCabe frustrated and earning her a booking just 17 minutes in.
The first leg in Cardiff had been a physical contest, and the return match in Dublin was no different, with hard but fair challenges defining the early exchanges. As the game found its rhythm, the chances followed. Ireland’s Denise O’Sullivan came closest in the first half, her effort beating Olivia Clark only to cannon off the crossbar. Moments later, Clark denied Kyra Carusa with a fine save.
Cymru created opportunities of their own, with Lily Woodham—scorer in the first leg—forcing a strong save from goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan with a well-taken free-kick. From the ensuing corner, Brosnan had to stretch again to turn Rhiannon Roberts’ low shot wide. Just before halftime, Niamh Fahey nearly gave Ireland the lead with a strike that narrowly missed the target.
The game’s turning point came shortly after the restart. A VAR review deemed that Anna Patten had handled the ball, awarding Cymru a penalty. Hannah Cain stepped up and coolly converted, sending the visiting fans into raptures. The goal rattled Ireland, who surged forward in search of an equalizer. Cymru, however, found opportunities on the counterattack, with Cain coming close to doubling the lead after a dangerous cross from Rachel Rowe.
Cymru captain Angharad James nearly extended the advantage, but Brosnan again stood firm. A hamstring injury to Jess Fishlock threatened to shift the momentum back to Ireland, but Cymru struck again in the 67th minute. Substitute Carrie Jones latched onto a brilliant through ball from Woodham and calmly slotted it into the bottom corner, making it 2-0.
Ireland refused to go quietly, pulling one back in the 86th minute as Patten headed home from a McCabe corner. The closing minutes were tense, but Rhiannon Roberts rose to the occasion, making two crucial blocks to deny Leanne Kiernan and Denise O’Sullivan in stoppage time. When the final whistle blew, Cymru had done enough to secure their place in history.
Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones became Welsh football heroes with their decisive goals, but this achievement is a tribute to the countless players, coaches, and supporters who have carried the team to this moment. This success is not just a victory; it is a watershed moment for women’s football in Wales, heralding a bright new era for the sport.
