KATIE OFF THE BENCH TO KO KAZAKHSTAN.

Women's World Cup Ireland 2 Kazakhstan 1 IRELAND'S women's team resurrected their World Cup hopes with a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan at Turner's Cross in Cork last night.

Noel King's side, who lost their opening fixture 2-0 to Switzerland, regained their pride with a win last night.

Ireland dominated the opening half but had to wait until just before half-time to take the lead when Fiona O'Sullivan, who plays for Sacramento Storm, opened the scoring with a right-footed finish after 43 minutes.

It was third-time lucky for the Irish striker, whose grandmother is a native American Indian, as the Irish No.10 had a goal disallowed for handball after 28 minutes and then, seconds later, had another goal disallowed for offside.

Ireland made three changes during the second half with world boxing champion Kate Taylor stepping off the bench and another of Ireland's substitutes Stephanie Roche, also from Dublin, proving to be the match-winner.

Kazakhstan, something of an unknown quantity for the Irish, equalised midway through the second half through Yekaterina Krassyukova when she beat Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne from 30 yards before Roche scored the winner with a close-range finish three just minutes from time.