Republic of Ireland claimed their first points in World Cup qualifying Group A2 as they held on for a 3-2 win over Poland in Gdansk.
Carla Ward's side had come up empty-handed in their first two games, but this time they had the better edge to bank a win that lifts them into third place in the group.
Emily Murphy and a stunner from Katie McCabe had Carla Ward's side two up after 20 minutes but Poland rallied with Tanja Pawollek pulling one back just before the break.
In a frantic start to the second half where a goal seemed imminent, it was Republic of Ireland's Marissa Sheva who delivered to restore the two-goal advantage for her side.
However, Barcelona star Ewa Pajor pulled one back with a perfectly-weighted lob and with McCabe blazing over from the penalty spot two minutes later, it was backs to the wall late on for the Irish in the final minutes, but they held on for a vital win.
Irish deliver with pressure on
With no points from their opening games against France and the Netherlands, there was some pressure on Ward's side to get a result with Poland already banking an opening point against the Dutch.
The teams will meet again in Dublin on Saturday [15:00 BST] so ensuring the Poles hadn't opened a four-point gap was vital in the race for the all-important third place that will guarantee a play-off for a place in next summer's World Cup in Brazil.
That didn't seem to weigh heavily on the Irish on this occasion as they opened brightly and took the game to Poland, rewarded in the 12th minute as Denise O'Sullivan found player of the match Murphy who cut onto her right and shot low to the near post with goalkeeper Kinga Szemik perhaps disappointed she didn't keep it out.
There was no resting on their laurels as eight minutes later, Megan Connolly's corner was nodded out to McCabe on the edge of the box who volleyed home for her third goal in as many games, underling her importance to the side.
While Murphy could have put her side out of sight moments later, Poland sprung to life as they found a rhythm and Anna Patten showed fins defensive instincts to make last-ditch block on Ewa Pajor who looked sure to finish from close range.
When the hosts' pressure was rewarded two minutes before then break by Tanja Pawollek who nodded home from Tomasiak's cross, it could have galvanised them in the dressing room, but it was the Republic of Ireland who came out for the second half with renewed vigour.
The game was a little stretched, but another moment of Irish class came in the 58th minute as Sheva struck an excellent effort into the far corner for her fourth international goal.
Just as it seemed the wind were out of Poland's sails and the Republic of Ireland comfortable, great awareness from Pajor saw her latch onto a long ball and spot Brosnan off her line to loft into the net from the left of the box, giving the hosts a 78th minute lifeline.
McCabe had an opportunity to cancel this out from the penalty spot minutes later, but skied her effort to ensure a tense finish.
While late goals denied the Republic of Ireland points in their opening games, perhaps the lessons had been learned as they saw this one out, ensuring a significant win which puts them in a good position they can make a great one should they repeat against the Poles on Dublin on Saturday.
