Wales made history by qualifying for their first major tournament after goals from Hannah Kane and Kerry Jones secured a 2-1 win in the second leg of their Euro 2025 play-off against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Ryan Wilkinson’s side won 3-2 on aggregate as they progressed to next summer’s European Championships in Switzerland.
Leicester striker Kane’s 50th-minute penalty was awarded after a VAR review showed the ball had hit Anna Patten on the arm from Wales’ free-kick.
He kept his cool to put Wales ahead after returning from a second serious knee injury, then substitute Jones struck after 17 minutes.
Patten scored in the 86th minute to secure a nervy finish for Wales, which included a clean sheet against the visitors eight minutes into added time as Ireland dominated, but they managed to spark wild scenes of celebration at the Aviva Stadium.
Wales made two changes from the first leg in Cardiff, with defender Josie Green coming on for Ceri Holland and striker Ffion Morgan being replaced by Kane, while one switch from Ireland saw Jesse Stapleton make the squad.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the opening exchanges, with Wales’ Jess Fishlock having the first shot on target but it was comfortably saved by Ireland keeper Courtney Brosnan.
Ireland captain Cathy McCabe was then booked but Wales came under increasing pressure and Denise O’Sullivan saw her long-range shot hit the post before McCabe was just wide, also from distance.
The home side were denied and Wales goalkeeper Olivia Clarke pulled off a superb save to deny Julie Russell, but the visitors responded impressively.
Lily Woodham’s free-kick was saved by Brosnan 13 minutes before half-time, before Brosnan made another superb stop to deny Rhiannon Roberts as Wales served notice of the quality of their attack.
But back came Ireland and Niamh Fahey fired just wide with a powerful left-footed shot that proved the last attacking moment of an opening half that ended 0-0.
Wales were ahead, however, five minutes after the break when a VAR intervention ruled the ball had hit Patten’s arm and Kane sent Brosnan the wrong way from the penalty spot.
Brosnan then pulled off a superb save to deny Angarad James, before Wilkinson’s double saw Morgan replace Kane and Jones continued with Fishlock, who looked injured.
Jones’ impact was immediate as he scored twice for Wales after Woodham’s excellent pass, but Patten’s 86th-minute effort gave Ireland hope in a frantic finish.
