The eircom sponsored Republic of Ireland women's team continues to rise through the ranks of women’s football. The team competed for the first time ever in the 2005/2006 qualifying tournament for the World Cup Finals.
Women's international football is split into two divisions with the top teams competing for tournament qualification while the lower ranked countries compete for promotion to the top flight
Under manager Noel King, Ireland was ranked as a second division team up until 2004 when they finished top of the European Championship group, five ahead of Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta to win promotion to top flight for the first time.

Ireland's involvement in the World Cup qualifying tournament in 2005/'06 was a great learning experience. Ireland were drawn in Group four alongside the Number one ranked team in the world in Germany as well as Russia, Switzerland and Scotland.
The most encouraging result for the Irish was their achievement in restricting a powerful Germany side to a 1-0 win in Cottbus. Ireland finished that qualifying campaign with a game against Germany at Richmond Park on Saturday, August 26, 2006.
Ireland were defeated 3-0 by the powerful German team in that game and manager Noel King was unable to use several regular first-team players due to injury.

Ireland then played Italy in a friendly match at Richmond Park, Dublin, on September 9, 2006 and lost 0-1. But, soon afterwards they received the welcome news that a win for Russia over Switzerland by 2-0 in the World Cup qualifiers meant Ireland finished fourth in their group.
This meant that Ireland held on to their ranking amongst the top 20 nations for the upcoming UEFA Championship. It was a creditable achievement to retain their ranking in their first ever World Cup tournament.
King expressed his delight at the achievement of the players and he thanked the players, the staff and the officials for their part in helping Ireland produce top-class performances in their eight qualifying matches.

"It was a great learning experience for everybody" he commented, "and it was important we held on to the ranking. There are lots of young players coming through the under-age sections who will be encouraged by this achievement and I want to pay tribute to the work of the many volunteers who do so much to foster the game on a nationwide basis. The future for Ireland's women footballers is good."
Ireland went on to compete in Portugal in the Algarve Cup in March 2007 under King.The matches were an important part of the team’s preparations for forthcoming qualifying matches in the UEFA Championship.

Results of the Algarve Cup

07/03/07: Portugal 1 – 1 Republic of Ireland. Estadio Municipal, Lagos.
Stephanie Curtis 7

09/03/07:Republic of Ireland 1 – 1 Iceland, Estadio Municipal, Lagos.
Olivia O’Toole 72

12/03/07: Italy 4 – 1 Republic of Ireland, Estadio Dr. Francisco Vieira, Silves
Susan Byrne 35

14/03/07: Portugal 0 – 0 Republic of Ireland, Estadio da Nora-FerreiresIreland won 5-4 on penalties