Comment: Katie McCabe and Ireland wanted it too much
When the dust settles on this tetchy, fiery encounter, Katie McCabe might reflect on an evening where she wanted it too much.
Ireland may have been the better team and Eileen Gleeson’s players should rue a collection of first-half misses, not to mention those nerve-shredding final moments when Megan Campbell’s long throws caused havoc but failed to yield a leveller.
But ultimately they needed much more from their star player than a performance that veered too far beyond the line of passion.
Before a ball was kicked McCabe found herself raising both arms to the home crowd, imploring them to raise the decibel level. Yet this was always going to be a night where those who kept the coolest heads seemed more likely to prevail.
And McCabe, the most technically gifted and decorated player on the pitch, was simply too fired up. There is no way around it: this was a desperately disappointing night for the Dubliner.
The pressure has weighed heavily on McCabe for years, the all-action hero who has steered the team to heights many could never have dreamed of, but on this big occasion her energy was not channelled the right way.
She was booked early and lucky to avoid a second yellow on a couple of occasions. And while she provided the corner that led to Anna Patten’s late goal, even that moment was blurred by her telling the assistant referee to f-off before delivering.
The barbs and backchat since the first leg, with Welsh boss Rhian Wilkinson bitterly remarking on Ireland's direct style, hung heavily over proceedings and McCabe made it clear beforehand that Wales’ own brand of physicality was a source or mirth.
Except the stakes were far too high for it to become a night of playing the woman rather than the game. And despite forcing a couple of early corners, there were concerning signs of Ireland playing with too much fire in their bellies.
McCabe picked up a needless yellow card after just 17 minutes for making a point to referee Marta Huerta De Aza too forcefully after a late, retaliation foul on Josephine Green.
And she was fortunate not to be dismissed for a rash attempt to get the ball back from Rachel Rowe - though the attempt from Wales star Jess Fishlock to convince the ref it was worthy of a second yellow was undignified.
The Arsenal star sustained her own share of kicks too, of course, notably from Angharad James approaching the interval.
And between the niggly challenges Ireland created a series of really good chances.
Only the crossbar denied Denise O’Sullivan from scoring a spectacular long-range effort, McCabe was not too far away with her own drive from distance and Niamh Fahey went close as well.
But for every missed opportunity there was a growing sense of this not being Ireland’s night.
Wales were not quite clinging on at the break but there could be little disputing that they had been second best without sustaining a significant blow.
Three minutes after the interval their counterpunch arrived. Hannah Cain’s penalty was at odds with all that went before, rolled past Courtney Brosnan with a level of composure barely seen anywhere else on the pitch.
Its award was a gift for Wales, initially missed by the referee but spotted by her video assistant, and Patten could really have no complaints. Her arm was raised and in an unnatural position. She was not under severe pressure and the delivery came from 30 yards away so was hardly a snap reflex.
Still, Ireland had plenty of time to respond. Another O’Sullivan attempt was blocked, a succession of corners were swung in without a green shirt getting a clear attempt away.
But as they pushed more bodies forward, Wales began to find joy on the break - Cain was almost on the end of a Rowe delivery and James was denied by Courtney Brosnan.
Then, what ended up being the fatal blow. It came moments after McCabe sought to buy a free kick by going to ground too easily left of the box as Ireland’s level of desperation grew at a rate of knots.
Caitlin Hayes should have been stronger when dueling with Carrie Jones following Lily Woodham’s through ball. But Jones’ finish was well placed and even with 22 minutes to go Ireland looked dead and buried for a spell.
An inevitable late charge followed with Patten heading home after her initial attempt was cleared off the line.
Heartbreak, however, was right around the corner as Wales had their Hampden moment and Ireland were left to ponder their absence of sangfroid.
