Match Report | Ireland Hit Kazakhstan for Eight in Astana
October 9, 2026
The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team made a huge statement in their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off, recording an emphatic 8-0 victory over Kazakhstan at Astana Arena.
Carla Ward’s side were outstanding in the first leg of the Round One play-off, scoring five times before half-time before adding three more goals after the break to take a commanding advantage into Tuesday’s return fixture at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Kyra Carusa scored twice, while Chloe Mustaki, Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin, Jamie Finn, Shanade Hopcroft and Jessie Stapleton were also on target in a dominant Irish display.
Clinical Ireland Take Control
Ireland made the perfect start, opening the scoring in the seventh minute. After Nazym Ismailova saved Megan Connolly’s free-kick, Chloe Mustaki delivered an excellent cross for Carusa to head home.
Mustaki doubled the advantage in the 16th minute, reacting quickest after Abbie Larkin’s effort was spilled and Emily Murphy struck the woodwork. The defender fired home to register her first international goal.
Carusa then claimed her second of the afternoon on the half-hour mark, meeting another Mustaki delivery with a downward header to make it 3-0.
Kazakhstan’s task became even more difficult in the 33rd minute when captain Yulia Myasnikova was sent off following a VAR review for a professional foul on Larkin.
Ireland made their numerical advantage count before the break. Murphy converted a rebound in the 43rd minute before Larkin got the goal her performance deserved in first-half stoppage time to send the visitors in 5-0 ahead.
More Goals After the Break
Ward introduced Amber Barrett, Leanne Kiernan and Tyler Toland at half-time, and Ireland continued to dictate proceedings.
Jamie Finn made it six in the 58th minute, finishing a well-worked move involving Anna Patten and Aoife Mannion. It was Finn’s first goal for the senior international side.
There was a memorable moment for debutant Shanade Hopcroft, who came off the bench in the 70th minute and found the net just two minutes later, finishing a cross from Larkin.
Jessie Stapleton completed the scoring in the closing stages, looping a header into the net to round off an impressive performance from the Girls in Green.
Mustaki was named Sky Player of the Match after a superb display, contributing a goal and two assists.
Return Leg in Cork on Tuesday
The result gives Ireland an eight-goal advantage ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where kick-off is scheduled for 7.30pm.
With a place in Round Two at stake, Ireland will look to complete the job in front of the Cork crowd. The winners of the tie will face either Belgium or Poland in the next stage of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Tickets for Tuesday’s game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh are available through Ticketmaster.
Buy Match Tickets
Team Line-Ups
Kazakhstan: Nazym Ismailova (Angelina Portnova 39); Alexandra Burova, Yulia Myasnikova (C), Bibigul Nurusheva, Anastassiya Vlassova; Yekaterina Babshuk, Anastassiya Nizamutdinova (Kazyna Norbayeva 62), Karina Zhumabaikyzy (Valeriya Popova 75); Aida Gaistenova, Amina Bibossynova, Asselkhan Turlybekova (Leila Sadykova 75).
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan (C); Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes (Hayley Nolan 70), Anna Patten (Shanade Hopcroft 70), Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki; Megan Connolly (Tyler Toland 46), Jamie Finn; Abbie Larkin, Emily Murphy (Leanne Kiernan 46), Kyra Carusa (Amber Barrett 46).
Referee: Karoline Marie Jensen (Norway).
Sky Player of the Match: Chloe Mustaki.
“`
Thank you Séamie
Cork GAA wishes to pay tribute to Séamus Harnedy of St Ita’s, who has announced his retirement from intercounty hurling after 15 years of distinguished service to the Cork senior hurling team.
Séamus’s retirement brings to a close an outstanding career with Cork. After appearing for the first time with Cork in 2011, he won four Munster senior titles, captaining the victorious team in 2018. Séamus played in the All-Ireland Finals of 2013, 2021, 2024 and 2025. He won a National League medal in 2025 and won All-Star awards in 2013, 2018 and 2024. Séamus also featured prominently in four Imokilly county championship winning teams, winning three as captain. His reputation was characterised by his bravery and tenacity, with his ball-winning ability and scoring prowess a feature of so many memorable Cork games over the years. His warrior-like commitment to the cause earned him huge admiration from Cork supporters, and hurling fans more widely.
Cork GAA chairperson Pat Horgan noted Séamus’s contribution to Cork hurling, saying
Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan said,
Match Report | Ireland Hit Kazakhstan for Eight in Astana
Match Report | Ireland Hit Kazakhstan for Eight in Astana
October 9, 2026
The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team made a huge statement in their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off, recording an emphatic 8-0 victory over Kazakhstan at Astana Arena.
Carla Ward’s side were outstanding in the first leg of the Round One play-off, scoring five times before half-time before adding three more goals after the break to take a commanding advantage into Tuesday’s return fixture at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Kyra Carusa scored twice, while Chloe Mustaki, Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin, Jamie Finn, Shanade Hopcroft and Jessie Stapleton were also on target in a dominant Irish display.
Clinical Ireland Take Control
Ireland made the perfect start, opening the scoring in the seventh minute. After Nazym Ismailova saved Megan Connolly’s free-kick, Chloe Mustaki delivered an excellent cross for Carusa to head home.
Mustaki doubled the advantage in the 16th minute, reacting quickest after Abbie Larkin’s effort was spilled and Emily Murphy struck the woodwork. The defender fired home to register her first international goal.
Carusa then claimed her second of the afternoon on the half-hour mark, meeting another Mustaki delivery with a downward header to make it 3-0.
Kazakhstan’s task became even more difficult in the 33rd minute when captain Yulia Myasnikova was sent off following a VAR review for a professional foul on Larkin.
Ireland made their numerical advantage count before the break. Murphy converted a rebound in the 43rd minute before Larkin got the goal her performance deserved in first-half stoppage time to send the visitors in 5-0 ahead.
More Goals After the Break
Ward introduced Amber Barrett, Leanne Kiernan and Tyler Toland at half-time, and Ireland continued to dictate proceedings.
Jamie Finn made it six in the 58th minute, finishing a well-worked move involving Anna Patten and Aoife Mannion. It was Finn’s first goal for the senior international side.
There was a memorable moment for debutant Shanade Hopcroft, who came off the bench in the 70th minute and found the net just two minutes later, finishing a cross from Larkin.
Jessie Stapleton completed the scoring in the closing stages, looping a header into the net to round off an impressive performance from the Girls in Green.
Mustaki was named Sky Player of the Match after a superb display, contributing a goal and two assists.
Return Leg in Cork on Tuesday
The result gives Ireland an eight-goal advantage ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, where kick-off is scheduled for 7.30pm.
With a place in Round Two at stake, Ireland will look to complete the job in front of the Cork crowd. The winners of the tie will face either Belgium or Poland in the next stage of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-offs.
Tickets for Tuesday’s game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh are available through Ticketmaster.
Buy Match Tickets
Team Line-Ups
Kazakhstan: Nazym Ismailova (Angelina Portnova 39); Alexandra Burova, Yulia Myasnikova (C), Bibigul Nurusheva, Anastassiya Vlassova; Yekaterina Babshuk, Anastassiya Nizamutdinova (Kazyna Norbayeva 62), Karina Zhumabaikyzy (Valeriya Popova 75); Aida Gaistenova, Amina Bibossynova, Asselkhan Turlybekova (Leila Sadykova 75).
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan (C); Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes (Hayley Nolan 70), Anna Patten (Shanade Hopcroft 70), Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki; Megan Connolly (Tyler Toland 46), Jamie Finn; Abbie Larkin, Emily Murphy (Leanne Kiernan 46), Kyra Carusa (Amber Barrett 46).
Referee: Karoline Marie Jensen (Norway).
Sky Player of the Match: Chloe Mustaki.
“`
McCarthy Insurance Group Football Championship | Friday Night Semi-Finals
The McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Football Championships continue on Friday night with two semi-finals, as four clubs look to secure their place in county final day.
Canovee face Inniscarra in the Premier Junior Football Championship in Macroom, while Kilmurry and Boherbue meet in Mourneabbey in the Intermediate A Football Championship.
Canovee v Inniscarra
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Canovee and Inniscarra meet in Macroom with a place in the Premier Junior Football Championship county final at stake.
Canovee have produced some impressive attacking displays during the group stages, while Inniscarra arrive following a convincing quarter-final victory.
Road to the Semi-Final
Canovee recorded group-stage wins over St Nick’s and Na Piarsaigh, the latter a commanding 4-16 to 0-8 victory. They also drew with Kilmacabea, helping them secure their place in the knockout stages.
Inniscarra recorded group-stage victories over Urhan and Glenville before facing Millstreet in the quarter-final. They produced a strong performance to win 1-16 to 1-6 and book their place in Friday night’s semi-final.
Kilmurry v Boherbue
McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A Football Championship Semi-Final
Kilmurry and Boherbue go head-to-head in Mourneabbey on Friday night, with a place in the Intermediate A Football Championship county final the prize.
Kilmurry earned direct entry to the semi-finals after finishing top of Group A, while Boherbue progressed through the quarter-finals.
Road to the Semi-Final
Kilmurry secured top spot in their group with victories over Buttevant and Glanworth. Their final group victory, a 2-11 to 0-7 win over Glanworth, confirmed their position among the leading teams in the competition.
Boherbue finished as runners-up in Group C after recording wins over Kildorrery and Bandon. They then faced Dromtarriffe in the quarter-final, where a 0-15 to 0-12 victory secured their place in the last four.
Friday’s Fixtures
Premier Junior Football Championship Semi-Final
Canovee v Inniscarra
📅 Friday, October 9 | ⏰ 7.30pm
📍 Macroom
Intermediate A Football Championship Semi-Final
Kilmurry v Boherbue
📅 Friday, October 9 | ⏰ 7.30pm
📍 Mourneabbey
Tickets
Tickets are available at gaacork.ie/tickets.
Under-16s are free and do not require a ticket.
Best of luck to all four clubs ahead of Friday night’s action.
Cork GAA Club Championship Tickets Now on Sale in SuperValu & Centra Stores
Supporters can now pick up tickets for the Cork GAA Club Championship at select SuperValu and Centra stores across the county.
With outlets stretching from Castletownbere to Youghal and from Newmarket to Kinsale, there’s a stop near you whether you’re following your club in the city or out in rural Cork. Pick up your tickets during your weekly shop and get behind your team at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Where to buy tickets
Ballincollig: Quish’s SuperValu, Quish’s Centra
Bandon: SuperValu
Bantry: O’Keeffe’s SuperValu
Bishopstown: Herlihy’s Centra
Blarney: O’Leary’s SuperValu, O’Leary’s Centra (Tower Shopping Centre)
Boherbue: SuperValu
Carrigaline: Collins’ SuperValu
Carrigtwohill: Ahern’s Centra
Castletownbere: Murphy’s SuperValu
Clonakilty: Scally’s SuperValu, Keane’s Centra
Cobh: Garvey’s SuperValu
Dunmanway: Healy’s SuperValu
Fermoy: Riordan’s SuperValu, Ryan’s Centra
Glanmire: Ryan’s SuperValu
Grange: Ryan’s SuperValu
Hollyhill: Singleton’s SuperValu
Kanturk: Twohig’s SuperValu
Kinsale: Smith’s SuperValu
Macroom: O’Leary’s SuperValu
Mallow: Dano’s SuperValu
Mayfield: Higgin’s SuperValu
Midleton: Hurley’s SuperValu
Millstreet: O’Keeffe’s SuperValu
Mitchelstown: Farrell’s SuperValu
Newmarket: O’Keeffe’s SuperValu
Skibbereen: Field’s SuperValu
Togher: Ryan’s SuperValu
Watergrasshill: Ross’s Centra
Youghal: Brooke’s SuperValu
County Committee Bulletin October meeting