The events at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night were akin to a snapshot of Megan Campbell’s Republic of Ireland career. There was her specialised subject, the long throw-in, which almost led to an Irish goal.

Kyra Carusa’s goal deep into first-half stoppage time gave Ward a winning start to her reign, and to Ireland’s Nations League campaign. But the new boss admitted that the game was “scrappy” as her players adjusted to a new system.

A month on from her appointment as Eileen Gleeson’s successor, Carla Ward will get her reign as Republic of Ireland head coach under way against Turkey in Tallaght on Friday evening in the opening game of the team’s Nations League campaign.

As Emily Murphy is one of the few current players in the Republic of Ireland women's set-up to have worked directly under new head coach Carla Ward, she has

Carla Ward couldn’t hide her frustration on the touchline as Ireland made a meal of their Nations League win against Turkey on Friday night. Kyra Carusa’s goal decided the tie, but the performance was a few notches below what the new Girls in Green gaffer would have expected on her first 90 minutes in the job.