Played in 25-degree heat, goalkeeper Katie Keane was the stand-out performer as La Roja recorded a whopping 29 attempts to Ireland’s zero in Marijampole, Lithuania.
Dave Connell’s side have been handed a hugely challenging group featuring the defending champions, Germany and the Netherlands.
It is 10 years since the Girls in Green qualified for this tournament, their first time qualifying, when a squad featuring future senior internationals Katie McCabe, Megan Connolly, Chloe Mustaki and Clare Shine reached the semi-finals against the odds.
Today’s Sports News in 90 Seconds – 15th July
Connell was also the manager back then as Shine bagged the only goal of the game in a famous win over the Spanish, and this was another valiant display.
Ireland set up in a 4-5-1 formation to contain their opponents – with Joy Ralph working tirelessly as the lone striker – and were clearly well-drilled from the off.
Athletic Bilbao winger Daniele Agote caught the eye throughout, taking on Jodie Loughrey at every opportunity and forcing Keane into her first save with a flicked volley.
Ireland conceded a corner on 16 minutes, which led to Pau drilling a ferocious shot goalward that had Shelbourne’s Keane at full stretch.
The Girls in Green then needed some last-ditch defending to prevent the opening goal as Aoife Kelly and Maebh Russell combined to clear off the line after Agote’s cut-back to Cris Libran.
Spain continued to knock on the door after the break and Real Madrid forward Pau was unlucky to see her powerful effort crash off the post on the hour mark.
But Ireland kept their discipline to pick up a valuable point, with Keane claiming a high ball to prevent substitute Marisa from bagging a winner in injury time.
Next is a meeting with Germany in Jonava on Thursday (12pm Irish time).
SPAIN: Astralaga; Noemi (Rubio 75), Camara, Ranera, Judit; Alguacil, Arques, Libran; Agote (Marisa 75), Lopez (Eguiguren 46), Pau (Gil Villar 84).
IRELAND: Keane; Russell, Thompson, Kelly, Dossen, J Loughrey; Fitzgerald (Healy 65), Morrin (Phillips 78), O’Leary, Dolan; Ralph (Olusola 87).
REF: Michalina Diakow (Poland)
