WALES women’s manager Rhian Wilkinson says qualifying for a major tournament for the first time will 'change everything' for Welsh football.

Second-half goals by Hannah Cain and Carrie Jones earned Wales an impressive 2-1 win in Dublin in the second leg of their Euro 2025 qualifying play-off final.

The 3-2 aggregate victory means the women’s side will head to Switzerland next summer to experience tournament football for the first time.

“This team found a way. They never broke for each other, they stayed strong. I’ve never been prouder of a team,” said Wilkinson.

“This is a special team. My staff are another level and this team, how they don’t quit... they never do things the easy way.

“This team stands on the shoulder of giants who came before, and now they’ve proven how good they are.

“They’re better than they think, and they just have to see it and live it and experience it.

“Those boys and girls back home are seeing a generation of football that’s going to change everything.”

Wales’ most-capped player and record goalscorer Jess Fishlock says the achievement is 'the proudest moment' of her life.

It was probably the final chance for the 37-year-old to play on the biggest stage in a Wales shirt.

She has seen all the highs and lows on Wales’ journey to major tournament football and she could only watch on as her teammates finally got over the line, having left the field with a hamstring injury and in tears, midway through the second half at the Aviva Stadium.

“I can’t put it into words. This is 20 years in the making. I wouldn't change a second of it,” Fishlock told Match of the Day Wales.

“The ups and downs are part of the process and the journey. It all led to this moment with this group of girls.

“This is by far the proudest moment of my life. My hamstrings are shot, but that doesn't matter right now.”

Wales’ goalscorer Cain, who has recovered from two knee surgeries after ACL tears, admits she struggled to contain her emotions before putting her side ahead from the penalty spot.

“Honestly, I’ve got no words,” she said. “There’s nothing that will ever compare to this feeling.

“You can see what it means to everyone. I was crying when I scored.

“It’s pretty emotional. I'm glad to be back doing that. I’m not going to lie; I was a bag of nerves. But this is what dreams are made of.”

Former Wales defender Danny Gabbidon agrees that qualification for a first major tournament can be a seismic moment for sport in Wales.

Cwmbran-born Gabbidon, who won 49 caps for the men’s side, says the impact of the win can be similar to when Chris Coleman’s side reached Euro 2016 – their first major finals in 58 years.

“It’s amazing. It’s taking me back to 2016 when the lads did it,” he added. “It's that same kind of feeling.

"We have had so many disappointments so for us to be in that draw, for little old Wales... we are going to showcase Wales.”