The Republic of Ireland have lost 2-1 (3-2 aggregate) to Wales in the second leg of their Euro 2025 play-off in Dublin.
Hannah Cain gave Wales the lead with a controversial penalty early in the second half before substitute Carrie Jones doubled the visitors' lead in the 67th minute.
Anna Patten pulled a goal back for Ireland in the 86th minute, but the Girls in Green could not find a second goal in the dying minutes at the Aviva Stadium.
The result sees Ireland's campaign end in heartbreak after last week's 1-1 draw in Cardiff in the first leg, while victory for Wales sees Rhian Wilkinson’s team qualify for a major tournament for the first time in their history.
Match report
Ireland manager Eileen Gleeson made one change to the team from the draw in Wales, with Jessie Stapleton replacing Lily Agg in midfield.
Wales made a bright start in the Dublin drizzle, with Ireland coughing up possession cheaply and making a plethora of avoidable mistakes in the opening quarter. The Girls in Green settled into the game and began to dominate possession
There was plenty of verbal sparring and use of mind games in the buildup to the second leg, and Ireland captain Katie McCabe was booked in the 17th minute for a foul on Josie Green.
Denise O'Sullivan almost opened the scoring in spectacular fashion in the 24th minute, hitting the crossbar with a bending efffort from distance after being picked out by Kyra Carusa. Heather Payne narrowly missed out on the rebound.
McCabe went close a few minutes later, flashing a shot wide. Then Julie-Ann Russell tested Wales 'keeper Olivia Clark with a curling effort as Ireland cranked up the pressure in front of the 25,832 fans inside the Aviva.
Courtney Brosnan had to be alert at the other end, making an important save to deny Lily Woodham from a free kick and then another smart stop to deny Rhiannon Roberts.
It was scoreless at the interval, but Wales were in front five minutes into the second half.
Spanish referee Marta Huerta De Aza pointed to the spot after a free kick was adjudged to have been handled by Patten inside the area. De Aza consulted the VAR monitor before awarding the penalty, which looked harsh on Patten. Cain sent Brosnan the wrong way to give Wales a 1-0 lead.
She almost doubled the away side's lead soon afterwards, but just couldn't reach the excellent Rachel Rowe's teasing cross. Brosnan made a brilliant save on the hour mark to deny Wales captain Angharad James-Turner in a one-on-one.
The next goal would be crucial, and it was Wales who grabbed it. Jones, who had only been introduced four minutes earlier, evaded Caitlin Hayes and slotted past Brosnan after Lily Woodham's threaded through-ball.
Gleeson made a triple change in the 72nd minute, bringing on Megan Campbell, Megan Connolly and Leanne Kiernan for Niamh Fahey, Ruesha Littlejohn, and Russell. Abbie Larkin then replaced Carusa in the 84th minute as Ireland hunted desperately for a lifeline.
It was Aston Villa defender Patten who finally found the net for Ireland in the 86th minute, finishing at the second attempt after her initial header was cleared off the line.
Roared on by the crowd, Ireland pushed frantically for a late equalizer, and there were cheers around the ground at the announcement of eight additional minutes.
There was a heart-in-mouth moment for Wales when substitute Ceri Holland almost diverted the ball into her own net in stoppage time, only for the ball to be cleared off the line.
Campbell's long throws caused chaos in the Wales box, but Wilkinson's team threw their bodies at every loose ball and defended valiantly in the dying minutes.
Irish players collapsed to the ground at the shrill sound of the final whistle, while Wales celebrated their historic victory wildly.
They have next summer's tournament in Switzerland to look forward to.
It will be a bitter pill for Ireland to swallow. The Girls in Green will return to action against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League in February.
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Anna Patten, Niamh Fahey (Megan Campbell 72), Caitlin Hayes; Heather Payne (Izzy Atkinson 84), Ruesha Littlejohn (Megan Connolly 72) Jessie Stapleton, Denise O'Sullivan, Katie McCabe (C); Julie Ann Russell (Leanne Kiernan 72), Kyra Carusa (Abbie Larkin 84).
Wales: Olivia Clark; Gemma Evans, Hayley Ladd, Rhiannon Roberts; Lily Woodham (Ceri Holland 72), Angharad James-Turner (C), Alice Griffiths (Ella Powell 82), Josephine Green; Jess Fishlock (Carrie Jones 63), Rachel Rowe, Hannah Cain (Ffion Morgan 63).
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