Megan Connolly: Ireland will 'keep going' after Euro heartbreak against Wales 

As far as Megan Connolly is concerned, all the Republic of Ireland can do is ‘keep going’ after losing the Euro 2025 play-off to Wales.

The Girls in Green went into the return leg drawing 1-1 with their near rivals and a commanding first half performance was followed by a disastrous spell that saw Hannah Cain convert from the spot and Carrie Jones score on the counter.

Anna Patten pulled one back late-on and despite a chaotic finish to the game at the Aviva Stadium, Wales hung on and qualified for their first ever major international tournament.

"We'll keep going," Connolly told RTÉ Sport. 

"It’ll be a tough few months. Some teams are prepping for the Euros, we’re prepping to be better and make sure this doesn't happen again.

"After Christmas the Nations League games and World Cup qualifiers begin, so life moves on. 

"We need to process this and be better because we want to be at major tournaments. We have to learn from this."

The defeat raises questions over the age profile of players in the squad, meaning there is a possibility of retirements in the group that broke ground and qualified Ireland for the World Cup two years ago.

"Hopefully all the players are here to stay," she added. "I think if the players are fit and well and playing with their clubs, whatever their age, then they should keep playing. 

"That is the backbone of the team. The age is what it is but if they are playing fine then they should keep going.” 

That trail of thought is for tomorrow – when the team looks ahead at their upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.

Right now is for grieving after going close to history and qualifying for back-to-back major tournaments.

"It's still quite a fresh feeling,” Connolly explained about the mood inside the dressing room.

“We'll try and process it. Everyone wanted to be there. We were prepared and just on the day it didn’t go our way.

Everyone is devastated. 

"If I'm being honest I don't have many words at the minute, it’s quite something to process."

What makes all of this worse is that the tie was set up for Ireland to qualify after Ruesha Littlejohn equalised in Cardiff.

FANCIED

The team were favourites and expected to go all the way to Switzerland, and they justified that tag by dominating the first half in front of 25,000 spectators in Dublin.

The Girls in Green started fast and won a corner inside 30 seconds, which went straight into the hands of Olivia Clark.

That was one of many moments in a prolonged spell that included Denise O’Sullivan scraping the crossbar.

Wales always carried their threat and they justified that with two goals at the start of the second half.

Connolly was part of the rescue mission, but it wasn’t to be for the Turner’s Cross native and her team-mates.

"Coming into the game everyone was ready, we had a good feeling, we wanted to put our best foot forward," she said.

"It was a tough first half but the second half was even and Wales getting the goals gave us a bit of a mountain to climb. 

"Players came on and tried to make an impact, and on another day we could have got another one but we’re just devastated.

"It was unfortunate and then the second goal came against the run of play, we were pushing trying to get an equaliser and then Wales got the goal. 

It was a mountain to climb then, they were time-wasting, we’d do the same. 

"We almost got there."