Ireland v Wales: Girls in Green hoping to reach their first Euros with ...

IRL

Wales

Wales attack for the first time through Cain, who breaks free at pace and cuts the ball back. 

Fahey is well-placed to intervene, however. 

Payne latches on to a flick on by Carusa and drives into the Welsh box. 

She goes down under pressure from Liverpool's Gemma Evans but the penalty shouts are rightly waved away. 

Ireland then earn a second corner and McCabe plays it short to O'Sullivan, but they get their wires crossed and the ball runs out for a goal kick. 

A good start from the home side. 

Ireland use a training ground routine to kick off and O'Sullivan wins them a corner inside the opening 20 seconds.

Littlejohn curls the ball centrally but it's too close to Clark, who comes to collect.

The first whistle 

OK, it all comes down to this. The anthems are out of the way and Ireland, wearing their traditional green and white strip, kick off. Wales are in their change colours of white and black. 

Tonight’s referee is Marta Huerta De Aza of Spain. 

There’s a party atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium with both sets of fans currently singing along to Gala’s ‘Freed From Desire’. 

Remember, both nations are looking to book a place at next summer’s Euros in what would be their debut appearance at the tournament. 

Manager's final words

As usual, Eileen Gleeson is keeping her cards close to her chest in conversation with Tony O'Donoghue about tonight's team selection. 

Ireland fans gear up for a massive night of football in Dublin 4

“Everyone is coming with their popcorn so they better sit tight because it’s going to be wild" – Carusa

The San Diego Wave striker believes the second leg will be more entertaining than Friday's dull affair. 

McCabe expects another physical battle Having called out the Welsh for some "cheap shots" in the first leg, the Ireland skipper says they will be prepared to slug it out again tonight. 

Match preview: Trailblazing Girls in Green close in on next milestone

“But tonight the focus should narrow to those charged with achievement; modern giants of the sport, from Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan, to Niamh Fahey and Diane Caldwell. They demand their own version of legacy, too,” writes David Kelly. 

“Deserves has little enough to do with outcome but there is a gnawing sense that, should this squad fall short against a moderately talented Welsh side, in front of a partisan 26,000 crowd, the concession of such an opportunity would be utterly wasteful.”

Good evening. Ireland’s senior women are the cusp of qualification to a first-ever European championships and their second consecutive major tournament. 

Following Friday’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with Wales in Cardiff, it’s all set up for a winner-takes-all in tonight’s second leg at the Aviva Stadium, where we’re told more than 25,000 tickets have been sold.