Lionesses 2, Republic of Ireland 1

Carrow Road bursting to the seams in the pouring summer rain to greet a Norfolk European Championship winner. Quite the surreal start to another season of football at the home of Norwich City.

Johannes Hoff Thorup’s squad open up their friendly campaign on Saturday at Northampton, but it was the Lionesses and Lauren Hemp who took centre stage on a soggy Friday night.

Not even the miserable weather could dampen spirits before, during and after a timely win for England in their quest to defend that Euro crown won on home soil in 2022.

North Walsham’s Hemp was the headline attraction, and the roar that greeted her announcement prior to kick-off eclipsed that reserved for some of the other England World Cup finalists on show in Norwich.

Alessia Russo pounced in the fifth minute, before Georgia Stanway slotted a nerveless second half penalty, after Hemp was hauled down inside the box by Niamh Fahey.

The plucky Republic did pull a late consolation back through Julie Russell but the win ensured the Lionesses will progress if they avoid defeat in Sweden on Tuesday in their final qualifying group game.

Sarina Wiegman’s side started at a furious pace in the slick Carrow Road conditions, as strains of England’s anthem, ‘It’s Coming Home’ rang around this part of Norfolk.

The poise of Keira Walsh in central midfield the counter point to the energy and drive of Stanway and Jessica Park.

The Republic’s midfield were unable to close down the space when Stanway drove forward and snapped a pass into Beth Mead, who superbly cushioned a first time ball for the alert Russo to calmly swerve around Courtney Brosnan and slot into the empty net.

Hemp was first to congratulate the Arsenal forward, and the flyer almost capped her latest homecoming with a swift second goal, but for the reflexes of Brosnan.

The Manchester City ace went for a curling finish from the right hand edge of the area only for Brosnan to produce an agile parry diving to her right.

Park tried a couple of stepovers on another forward burst, to underline the rising confidence from the Lionesses, but Mead’s radar was off as she rifled over.

Brosnan then denied Mead in the 18th minute with a smart smothering stop with her legs, as the Republic increasingly struggled to escape their own defensive third.

England’s full backs, Maya Le Tissier and Jess Carter, were camped inside the Irish half for the majority of the opening period.

But there was an admirable resolve from the visitors not to be breached again as the opening period ebbed to half-time. All the more impressive given they arrived at Carrow Road without a point or a goal from their four previous qualifiers in the group.

Mead was causing havoc finding pockets of space in and around the Republic’s 18 yard box. Russo’s powerful run attracted green shirts before she squared for Mead, but her latest effort was blocked.

Hemp was crowded out, after a slick combination from Walsh and Park, but there was a flurry of activity at the opposite end in the final stages of the first half.

Hannah Hampton had to decisively punch clear a Ruesha Littlejohn corner in front of Leah Williamson, before centre back partner Alex Greenwood slid in with a perfectly-timed challenge to halt a throughball.

Mead tried to pick out Hemp at the far post in the 43rd minute, but Anna Patten had sensed the danger to head clear in front of the Norfolk star.

Weigman made two changes at the interval with captain Williamson making way for Millie Bright, to renew her World Cup partnership with Greenwood at the heart of the Lionesses’ backline. Niamh Charles also replaced Carter.

Hemp turned on the after burners in a bid to close down Brosnan shortly after the restart, but the Republic keeper’s clearance just evaded the Lionesses’ attacker.

Russio was agonisingly close to doubling her tally in the 52nd minute with a desperate sliding attempt to divert Park’s cross home six yards out.

Much like the start of the game that intensity and intent appeared to shake the Republic, and when Hemp appeared on the shoulder of Fahey the panicking Irish defender was forced to haul her down to concede a spot kick.

Stanway sent Brosnan the wrong way to give England a degree of breathing space. Chloe Kelly’s introduction for the excellent Mead prompted a positional switch for Hemp to the left of the Lionesses’ attack.

The 23-year-old’s boundless enthusiasm saw her continue to harry the Irish backline, clipping a cross that dropped for Kelly, but her goalbound shot was blocked.

The night ended as it had started. Norfolk’s own was replaced with two minutes of normal time left to take the acclaim once more, as a burst of ‘Sweet Caroline’ reverberated around Carrow Road.

Although Russell's close range finish in the final act of the game proved a stoppage time blemish.

Lionesses (4-3-3): Hampton, Le Tissier, Carter (Charles, 45), Walsh, Williamson © (Bright, 45), Greenwood, Mead (Kelly, 61), Stanway, Russo (Naz, 71), Park, Hemp (Beever-Jones, 88). Subs (not used): Earps (GK), Keating (GK), Bronze, Toone, Clinton, Morgan, Turner.

Goals: Russo (5), Stanway (57)

Republic of Ireland (4-2-3-1): Brosnan, Fahey (Quinn, 88), Littlejohn (Campbell, 67), Barrett (Kiernan, 45), O’Sullivan, Ziu, Patten, Mannion, Hayes, Agg, Murphy (Russell, 45). Subs (not used): Moloney (GK), Whitehouse (GK), Stapleton, Connolly, Toland, Sheva, Larkin, Atkinson.

Bookings: Fahey (foul on Hemp, 55); Kiernan (foul on Naz, 81)

Goal: Russell (90)

Added on time: 1 minute / 4 minutes

Referee: Catarina Campos

Attendance: 23,003