Katie McCabe: October the first step on stairway to '27

RTÉ News​

6 days ago

It's been a whirlwind year for Katie McCabe at club and international level but as the dust settles, the Republic of Ireland captain has her attentions laser-focused on October.
That month will see the Girls in Green face Belgium over two legs in the UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation play-off.
Victory would see Ireland promoted back to League A while defeat would see Carla Ward's side remain in the second tier League B going into the qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.
After getting a taste of major tournament life two years ago at the 2023 World Cup, going to Brazil in two years' time is a dream scenario, especially after missing out on Euro 2025 following last winter's play-off loss to Wales.
"I know we missed out over the summer and losing to Wales last year and we need to look at how we can be better and move forward from that," McCabe told RTÉ Sport on Thursday during a visit to Children's Health Ireland Crumlin.
"We've got two games coming up against Belgium, that's the first step in the next qualification - qualifying for League A if we beat Belgium - so it's going to be a step-by-step process but one we're really looking forward to."
Beating Belgium, who featured at the recent Euros, will be difficult task but McCabe is keen to see as close to a full house as possible for the first leg at Aviva Stadium on Friday, 24 October.
"They're massive. We want the Aviva absolutely rocking on that Friday night, we want supporters to come out and get behind us," she said.
"Even if you may not be a fan of the women's game and you only go to the men's game, but if you're a football fan, you'll come and support us. It's going to be a fantastic night.
"It's going to be a massive game. Belgium are a serious, serious team. I was watching them in the Euros over the summer and it's going to be difficult but hopefully the fans can get behind us and help us through the game."
'It's definitely a transition period'
Carla Ward has been in charge of Ireland for just over six months and the early part of her tenure has seen a mixed set of results in the Nations League and friendlies, including a 4-0 defeat in Slovenia back in February.
But McCabe feels the Englishwoman is getting to grips with the task of evolving the team on the path towards October's play-off and beyond.
"I think it's definitely a transition period," she said.
"I think Carla has come in off the back of a coach leaving and I think she's understanding what she wants to do, how she wants to set up the team, the players, the structures.
"So I think over the course of that Nations League campaign we had, she's figuring those things out.
"But ultimately going forward in October, we'll get a real understanding of who we want to be going forward and how we're going to achieve success together."
Success is something McCabe has tasted. In May, she became the first Irish player to win a Women's Champions League medal after helping Arsenal to victory over favourites Barcelona in the final in Lisbon, a feat that has been sinking in over the last couple of months.
"It's been a crazy few months to be honest with you," she said.
"I think for us to go to Lisbon and perform the way we did together and the fans supporting us, and just the whole journey within the Champions League campaign for the club was incredible.
"But after having a few weeks off and going back to look at the medal at home, it sinks in and it's so special looking back on the memories of it now.
"But for us as a club and players, it's made us even hungrier going forward."
Apart from the individual thrill of being a Champions League winner, the 29-year-old is also conscious of the symbolic nature of the achievement when it comes to inspiring the next generation of Irish footballers.
"For me, knowing I was representing Ireland as the only Irish player out there, I knew there would be little girls and boys back home watching the game and hopefully one day aspiring to be like me, lifting the Champions League," she said.
"So for me, it's such a privilege to be in this position and I always just want to continue to do things to the best of my ability and be the best role model I can be for young kids around Ireland.
"It hopefully gives young kids ambition and gives them dreams to be a professional footballer one day and it has gotten better over the last few years.
"We can see an increase in young girls at grassroots level, playing football. So we want that to continue right the way up the chain of the structure in Ireland, and we want young girls coming over to England and representing big clubs and really pushing themselves and getting Ireland's football to where it should be."