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The 42
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The 42
Letter from Lisbon: An Irish Champions League winner on a wonderful occasion
AS THE FINAL whistle sounded, and Arsenal were confirmed as Champions League winners, Katie McCabe simply ran. Bedlam. Roars. Tears. Euphoria. Elation. Disbelief. Some fell to the ground, others swayed and stuttered. Unsure how to react, what to do. Was this real? Most ran. To each other. Katie McCabe ran and ran and ran, as she had done all game. She embraced her team-mates in a flurry of emotion, a haze of technicolour as brilliant Barcelona lay slain. It was real: Arsenal were European champions for the first time since 2007. The Irish captain soon got her hands on a tricolour, and was draped in it thereafter. She ran to do TV interviews, sharing special moments with former team-mates, most notably Emma Byrne, in between. Byrne was there 18 years ago when the Gunners first conquered Europe, with Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy the other Irish legends involved. McCabe took inspiration from seeing an iconic picture of the trio with the trophy and tricolour every day at the training ground. This was her time. Ireland's Katie McCabe celebrating on Saturday. Jose Breton / INPHO Jose Breton / INPHO / INPHO Advertisement Ciara Grant, Emma Byrne and Yvonne Tracy celebrate with the Uefa Women's Cup in 2007. Ireland Football / Sportsfile. Ireland Football / Sportsfile. / Sportsfile. She ran for the trophy presentation, first in line to get her medal and kiss the silverware. She jumped for joy as Kim Little and Leah Williamson lifted it aloft, and led the team's celebrations from Estádio José Alvalade to the Emirates Stadium. As Coldplay's Paradise and U2′s Beautiful Day rang out in the sun, McCabe's family joined her on the pitch. The hugs with her parents, Gary and Sharon, were charged with emotion: all of the highs and lows, ups and downs, and everything they had done for their daughter, from Kilnamanagh to the biggest stage, coming together there and then. Her brother, Gary, and sister, Lauryn — former and future League of Ireland stars — were among the McCabe party, and a brilliant picture of them all was snapped. The McCabe family. Kilnamanagh AFC. Kilnamanagh AFC. While precious memories were made on the turf, a group of Ireland players waited to congratulate their captain. Jessie Stapleton and Grace Moloney, both decked out in 'McCabe 11′ Arsenal gear, were joined by Aoife Mannion, while Clare Shine, a team-mate and friend right through the ranks, squeezed the trip in while home from Australia. Megan Campbell and Anna Patten were there too, as well as several other former Raheny United players. All people and places that shaped Katie McCabe on her extraordinary journey to this point, as mapped by The 42 last week. ***** On Saturday morning, the sense of occasion grew with each and every step towards Praca do Comercio. Lisbon's famous square staged the first fanzone for a Uefa Women's Champions League final, and the huge Barcelona support was striking from early in the day. A sea of red and blue, made up of young and old, marched together; chanting, singing, waving flags, beating drums. But sure, who cares about women's football? No one watches women's sport, we're told. The Arsenal fans, meanwhile, gathered on Rua Nova do Carvalho, aka Pink Street. They painted it red. They rattled through their impressive songbook; 'We've got McCabe' getting several rousing renditions under the colourful umbrellas. Hen party goers were puzzled by the commotion, unable to capture #content for Instagram. Stags joined the fun. Some brave Barcelona fans wormed through the crowds on the pedestrian street only to be met by friendly quips and jeers. The over-and-back continued in the searing heat at Estádio José Alvalade. A wave of guilt hit The 42 amidst a very different matchday. 'I should be working. If Arsenal win, I need to be in the mixed zone for the Katie McCabe interview.' But in this job, it's often difficult to take in the whole experience. To savour an occasion, to fully enjoy a moment. To remember why we all love sport. Related Reads Ireland send-off, future plans, and Katie McCabe's Champions League win 'I'll probably fly out to Ibiza in the morning' - Katie McCabe revels in Champions League glory Katie McCabe: The gifted kid from Kilnamanagh chasing Champions League glory I did my utmost to do that on Saturday. The 38,356 attendance fell well short of the 50,000 capacity billed, but the atmosphere was electric. The Barca noise was spine-tingling, engulfing the stadium, their expectation clear with every decibel. 5,000 Arsenal fans were seated together in one corner, with others dotted around Sporting Lisbon's ground, in full voice, waving red and white scarves. Like their team on the pitch, they rode the wave and picked their moments. Outnumbered but undeterred. McCabe lifts the Champions League trophy. Jose Breton / INPHO Jose Breton / INPHO / INPHO The game itself requires a rewatch, but Stina Blackstenius' winning goal in the 74th minute will live long in the memory: Mariona Caldentey's composure, McCabe's decoy run, Beth Mead's stunning pass, and Blackstenius's touch and finish. Two substitutes combined as Reneé Slegers' master plan came together, and against the odds, Arsenal's rollercoaster season ended on the highest of highs. In the history books forevermore. Katie McCabe's won't be the Irish name in there: Paudie Roche (physical performance lead) and Len Pentony (camera operator) are on the Arsenal Women's staff, while Eoin Clarkin (S&C) works across the club. Their achievement must not be lost in this either. McCabe's certainly won't. An Irish Champions League winner after a decade with Arsenal, and a wonderful occasion befitting of the achievement. From Pink Street to North London, from Kilnamanagh to the biggest stage, the celebrations will run and run and run.
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
How ‘calm' Arsenal dethroned Women's Champions League giants Barca
LISBON – Few gave Arsenal much chance of overthrowing Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final on May 24, but the Gunners insisted it was possible and proved it in Lisbon with a gargantuan performance. Stina Blackstenius' second-half strike on the counter-attack was just reward for Arsenal's superb display at the Jose Avalade stadium as they kept their heads in sweltering heat to win 1-0. Leah Williamson excelled at the back and veteran Kim Little and former Barca midfielder Mariona Caldentey in particular helped shut down the Catalans' star-studded engine room, featuring two-time Ballon d'Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas. 'It was fairly calm (in the dressing room) and that was one of the key things when you get to these big games,' explained Little, who joined the club a year after Arsenal's only previous triumph, in 2007. '(Renee Sleger's team talks were) task-focused, about what we were executing... small details on how we can stop them and some details around set pieces. 'I think that showed in our performance that how we approached the game was very controlled, with little pointers of the belief that we have and the courage we wanted to show.' Slegers was in Arsenal's youth academy as a player in 2007 when they won the competition – back then the Uefa Women's Cup – and said she had spoken to some important figures from that team, including coach Vik Akers and his assistant Emma Hayes, now manager of the United States' women's team. The selfless Dutch coach highlighted the impact of several figures who have been helping the Arsenal women's team to grow over the past 18 years since they last won the trophy. 'I was at the club in 2007 so I have a little bit of an idea of where the club comes from, and I had lunch with Vic Akers this week, and it was fantastic to see him bring the perspective,' she said. 'There's so many people who have been investing for such a long time, I'm just a very small part of it... If you achieve something by yourself that's great, but if you achieve something together that's much greater.' Former Chelsea coach Hayes' side failed to get the better of Barcelona over two semi-final ties in 2023 and 2024, but did win one and draw one of the four matches. They did a good job of shutting down Putellas, Bonmati and Patri Guijarro, and Sleger said that was similarly important in Lisbon. 'They are the conductors, the engine... it's a really big challenge to stop them,' she explained, saying Arsenal's other players chipped in to flood the midfield and help their own central trio. '(I'm) super proud, because you can have all these ideas in your head, show videos, use your tactics board, do it in training, but when the moment is actually there against an opponent that is so good, to then execute in the Champions League final, it says so much about the players.' Slegers was only appointed permanently in January after replacing Jonas Eidevall in October on an interim basis. 'Things weren't going well, but to pick us up as a team and get us to a Champions League final alone, never mind win it, it's pretty incredible,' said Arsenal winger Beth Mead. 'It's exciting, obviously, moving forward to see what we can do next season now with her.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Alex Scott shows off midriff in retro Arsenal kit and sips bubbly with Jess Glynne at Women's Champions League final
Scroll down for more pics of the presenter as her old club taste glory SING GLYNNE IN THE REIGN Alex Scott shows off midriff in retro Arsenal kit and sips bubbly with Jess Glynne at Women's Champions League final Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALEX SCOTT went down memory lane with partner Jess Glynne - as they watched Arsenal Women make history. The football presenter sipped champagne with singer Glynne in the Lisbon stands as they wore retro tops and cheered the Gunners to glory in the Women's Champions League final. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 14 Jess Glynne and partner Alex Scott wore 1980s' Arsenal tops Credit: PA 14 Scott watched her old team win the Women's Champions League Credit: Getty 14 The ex-Lionesses star looked as toned as ever as she balanced the bubbly Credit: PA 14 Glynne and Scott saw history made at the Estadio Jose Alvalade venue Credit: PA Sub Stina Blackstenius's brilliant 74th-minute strike edged out favourites and holders Barcelona 1-0. Scott, 40, was in the Arsenal side on the only other occasion they lifted the crown - in 2007 when it was called the Uefa Women's Cup. And she looked as toned as she did back then - in a cropped yellow shirt revealing her impressive abs. Glynne was seen grinning as the couple looked on in classic short-sleeved tops from 1988-90, midway during Arsenal's JVC sponsorship era. Ex-defender Scott walked down steps with a glass of bubbly in each hand. Yet at times Glynne looked to be enjoying herself even more than the famous ex-Gunner. The 35-year-old smiled and laughed as the couple settled in for the action at the Estadio Jose Alvalade stadium in the Portuguese capital. In fact, they could not have looked more relaxed - in contrast to the tense final that developed below them on the pitch. Barcelona's Irene Paredes slid in to net an own goal - only for VAR to deny Arsenal that opener as crosser Frida Maanum was ruled offside. But although the Spaniards were often on top, Leah Williamson masterminded the Gunners' fierce defending. 14 Scott celebrated victory as if she was still a player Credit: Getty 14 Glynne might have been even happier than Scott, judging by this pic Credit: PA And Blackstenius came on to fire a first-time winner for WSL runners-up Arsenal following a sublime pass from fellow substitute Beth Mead. Scott was ecstatic at the end after making her way down to the pitch - celebrating with arms as wide as any of the club's current players. It was sheer joy from the BBC star, who as a player won 140 caps for the Lionesses and lifted the WSL crown five times with Arsenal. Scott's relationship with Glynne became public two years ago. She's since called it "special" and has promised to protect it. Meanwhile, the couple have regularly shared blissful snaps - including a spectacular adventure holiday in Costa Rica in January. A glimpse into Scott's glam life... 14 Alex made 148 appearances for Arsenal Women - but since quitting playing has appeared in magazines including Attitude Credit: Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards and Attitude magazine - on sale now 14 The former right-back won 140 England Women's caps Credit: Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards and Attitude magazine - on sale now 14 Scott began dating Jess Glynne in 2023 Credit: Rex 14 She was spotted sharing a kiss with Jess as the couple went public with their romance Credit: PA 14 Scott loves to dress up and went to town on Halloween with this incredible outfit Credit: Getty 14 She also dressed up as a scary clown on October 31 Credit: Instagram @alexscott2 14 Scott was awarded an MBE in 2017 Credit: PA
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal ‘here to win' Women's Champions League after rollercoaster road to final
Arsenal will need 'courage' if they are to beat holders Barcelona in the Women's Champions League final but head coach Renee Slegers believes their rollercoaster journey to Lisbon shows they have the resilience required to pull off the upset. On Saturday evening Arsenal will play in their first Champions League final since winning the Uefa Women's Cup in 2007 - where they become the first, and so far only, English team to become European champions. They will face a strong Barcelona side who are appearing in their fifth final in a row and will be aiming to win a hat-trick of titles in a row after demolishing English champions Chelsea in the semi-finals. 'We want to show courage tomorrow,' Slegers said. 'We respect Barcelona as a team, they are very good football team. We are humble, but at the same time we are here to win. 'We have to find ways to win, but I am confident the game will shift in momentum. For us, it's important we deal with all moments really well. 'We need courage, we need discipline, we need to be switched on, we need to make the right decisions. We believe in our capacity to perform tomorrow.' Arsenal's journey to Lisbon started in the qualifying rounds and they have become the first team to reach the final after overturning a first-leg defeat in three rounds of the tournament. The Gunners came from behind to beat eight-time winners Lyon in the semi-finals also overturned first-leg defeats to progress past Real Madrid in the quarters and Hacken in the second round of qualifying back in September. 'The connection and belief we have in each other, that we know when we are not at our top level that we can get there and pull ourselves into that, I think that's the mark of any great team,' said Arsenal's captain Kim Little. 'You can't play at the top of your game every second but what makes us a great team is those moments where we haven't been, we can take ourselves out of those moments quite quickly, within games as well. That's a really good trait to have and we have shown that on many occasions.' Arsenal's squad were this week visited by some of the members of the 2007 team that won the Uefa Women's Cup and Alessia Russo said the club was back where they belong after reaching their first Champions League final for 18 years. 'I think any player who plays for Arsenal understands that it's a winning club,' Russo said. 'It's a club that wants to be ambitious and competing with the best. I feel like this is where we want to be. 'We'll keep pushing as a group, and we're very away of what came before us as well. Kim has played for the club for so long and she deserves to be here. 'We also had lunch with some of the 2007 winners, to understand how much it means to them. How much they still feel part of the club is special for the current players.'
The 42
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Katie McCabe: The gifted kid from Kilnamanagh chasing Champions League glory
IRELAND'S KATIE MCCABE is playing in the Champions League final tomorrow. Read that again. This is a huge deal. A truly exceptional achievement. It doesn't often happen that an Irish player features on the biggest stage, let alone stars. McCabe is a key cog on an Arsenal team contesting their first European final since 2007. Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy won the Uefa Women's Cup with the Gunners 18 years ago, overcoming Swedish heavyweights Umeå en route to an unprecedented quadruple. McCabe will now hope to follow in their footsteps, as back-to-back champions Barcelona await in the decider in Lisbon [KO 5pm Irish time, TNT Sports 1]. In her tenth year at Arsenal, the Dubliner will become the first Irish international to play in a Champions League final since John O'Shea with Manchester United in 2009. Caoimhín Kelleher was Liverpool's reserve goalkeeper in 2019 and 2022. But McCabe is a mainstay for this Arsenal team. One of the first names in the XI, she is a totemic figure on and off the pitch, and will have a huge say in proceedings if she is to etch her name into history. How someone has emerged from the much derided Irish system, which has failed to produce many elite players in recent years, with international teams often struggling, is truly remarkable. Somehow, some way, here we have one who has become a linchpin for a leading club in world football, competing on one of the biggest stages of them all. ***** It all began in a busy family home in Kilnamanagh. One of 11 siblings — somewhere in the middle of seven girls and four boys — McCabe was always part of a team. Football was a staple, played everywhere and anywhere, with their father, Gary, often involved. The oldest brother, also Gary, was a budding young talent, and Katie — seven years his junior — really caught the bug when she first watched him play an organised game for local club, Kilnamanagh AFC. McCabe celebrates after scoring for Raheny United in 2013. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO As the future League of Ireland winger rose through the ranks at Crumlin United, he'd regularly bring his five-year-old sister to the field for a kickabout. She was 'really good for a girl,' Gary would say. Similar remarks followed when she joined the boys' team at Kilnamanagh aged seven or eight. McCabe was one of two girls involved. 'Katie was always well able to get stuck in,' as Eamon Connaughton, the coach of her first team, once told The 42. 'When we went out to play games, the other team would be looking at each other going, 'There's girls on this team, they must be crap.' By the end of the game, they'd change their mind.' Her potential was immediately clear, that left foot striking. Connaughton saw shades of Liam Brady in how the young winger shielded the ball and held others off. Unsurprisingly, she'd never pull out of a tackle, and was 'an old head on young shoulders' in terms of control and game intelligence. 'It was a natural thing in her, it wasn't something you had to teach her. I think it was always in her to go far in football, it was just instilled in her from the start.' Whether on the road outside her house or on the pitch in Kilnamanagh, early in the morning or late at night, McCabe was always out kicking a ball. An all rounder, she was also a talented Gaelic and basketball player in primary school, but football had her heart. McCabe (top left) with her Tempelogue United team. Caroline McCaul. Caroline McCaul. After a stint with Crumlin, the move to girls' football came at Under-12 level with Templeogue United. When Dad Gary wasn't available to take her to training, coach Caroline McCaul did the honours. Every collection time, without fail, McCabe would be waiting at the door, boots in hand. 'Ball, Katie, off you went,' as she told The 42 in an interview before the World Cup. Like Connaughton, McCaul was bowled over by her raw talent. 'Katie came fully formed. What coaching can you do on somebody who's just naturally gifted?' Advertisement For all of her aptitude and ability, her humility, will to learn and unselfishness always stood out as open goals were passed up to assist team-mates. 'Katie was always very quiet. There was no, 'I'm gonna be rich and famous or a star,' or anything like that.' But she was intent on being a footballer. When asked about future careers in school, her classmates spoke of wishes to be doctors and nurses, and despite teachers' best efforts to temper expectations, McCabe gave only one answer. Her star continued to rise and she first announced herself on the national stage at the 2008 Gaynor Cup, helping a south Dublin selection to victory and landing the Golden Boot. Gary was soon driving her to Ireland trials, and she was called up to the U15s. McCabe (third from right, front row) with her 2008 Gaynor Cup winning team. Chloe Mustaki is bottom left. Caroline McCaul. Caroline McCaul. Around that same time, following a spell with St Joseph's, McCabe began training with Raheny United, who later amalgamated with Shelbourne. She couldn't sign or play until she was 16, but was involved from 15 on. Former Pandas manager Casey McQuillan recalls a cheeky and confident youngster, who lit up the Women's National League from its inaugural season of 2011. Across three campaigns, she scored a shedload of goals, often in a free role, to help Raheny to two league titles, three successive FAI Cups, and some memorable Champions League days. Little did she know what lay ahead a decade or so later. . . The major breakthrough arrived in 2014 — after a nasty leg break. McCabe recovered as her Ireland U19 side made history and reached the semi-finals of the European Championships that summer, and in the November, her first viral 'banger' helped Raheny to FAI Cup glory at the Aviva Stadium. That sensational 35-yard free-kick further commanded the attention of English clubs and American colleges: this kid from Kilnamanagh was special. A call from Chelsea — the club she grew up supporting, idolising Damien Duff – left her 'freaking out,' while interest from Arsenal was similarly insane. Not long beforehand, McCabe watched her first women's football game on TV and thought, 'I want to do that'. It was the 2013 FA Cup final: Byrne, Grant and Tracy triumphant with the all-conquering Gunners. A mind-blowing trip to the Emirates Stadium and London Colney with the Ireland U17s was another foreshadowing experience. But Raheny (later Shels) was her focus, as well as a FÁS course after finishing school and taking a part-time job in Nando's in Tallaght, grilling chicken. International ambitions burned bright too, and she made her Ireland senior debut under Sue Ronan in March 2015, against Hungary at the Istria Cup. Emma Byrne became a team-mate, mentor and friend, and as Arsenal's interest intensified, she sold the North London dream. 'Keep your phone on' the legendary goalkeeper urged, a statement which confused McCabe until Pedro Martínez Losa called mid pre-match pitch walk in Castlebar one Saturday. Just before Christmas 2015, McCabe signed for Arsenal at the age of 20. She turned down offers from Chelsea, Manchester City and Glasgow City to agree a two-year deal. Losa welcomed 'a fantastic young talent, who is full of potential,' while the new arrival told The 42: 'I'm confident enough to believe I'm capable of succeeding so I'll give it my best shot and see where it takes me.' McCabe with Arsenal boss Pedro Martínez Losa. Arsenal FC. Arsenal FC. Byrne was a constant through the early transition: Arsenal's number one picked her up at Luton Airport and brought her for her first food shop, as she moved into a house of five or six in St Alban's, which included Jordan Nobbs. Excitement was the feeling early doors, but apprehension soon set in in a dressing room stacked with Arsenal and England legends. McCabe has said it many times through the years: she went from a big fish in a small pond, to a small fish in a big pond. And she was drowning at times. 'I hated it,' McCabe recently told former team-mate Farah Williams on her podcast Boots, Balls & Bras, detailing her struggles with homesickness and expectation. Professional football was a whole different sphere. She made her debut away to Birmingham City in March 2016, but couldn't break into the team, and often the squad, due to inconsistency and injury. Six or seven months in, her older sister Vanessa received a call with one simple message: 'I'm coming home.' She was talked out of that, but did consider leaving Arsenal. Options were weighed up by player and club, and a crucial loan move to Glasgow City followed in August 2017. That same month, McCabe became Ireland's youngest-ever captain, succeeding Byrne in the role. She first thought she was in trouble when Colin Bell rang while on holiday, and there was no hesitation answering the unexpected question. McCabe walking out as Ireland captain in 2018 with her sister, Lauryn, who is rising the ranks at Bohemian FC. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO The Irish team was always a safe haven, and Glasgow became one too. She found enjoyment again at the Scottish heavyweights, feeling at home alongside former Raheny and Shels team-mates Noelle Murray and Keeva Keenan, and Savannah McCarthy. An 11th consecutive league title and further Champions League experience were highlights, but rediscovering her love for football was the big takeaway. The recall to Arsenal in November 2017 came with a two-week window to prove herself to new manager, Joe Montemurro, and earn a contract extension. Against the odds, and despite the doubts, she secured her club future. And much more. Montemurro transformed McCabe from a winger to a left-back, and her versatility became a key asset for the Gunners. She matured greatly under the Australian, and began to establish herself as one of the top players in the Women's Super League. Goals, assists and recognition flowed, the Arsenal fan favourite repeatedly lavished with chants of, 'We've got McCabe'. Her passion, and tendency to play on the edge, is embraced by the North London faithful, but often berated by others. McCabe played every single game as Arsenal won the 2018/19 title, with Louise Quinn also involved, while the FA Cup (2015/16) and League Cup (2018, 2023 and 2024) are other team honours won. The individual ones are plentiful; 2022/23 Champions League Team of the Season, and Ballon D'Or and Fifa Best nominations among the top-end accolades, while bids have reportedly come in from Chelsea and Lyon through the years. Champions League semi-final celebrations after overcoming Lyon. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo McCabe's Arsenal rise has been enthralling, and while she further developed as a player, person and leader under Jonas Eidevall and Renée Slegers, much of it is down to Montemurro's positional switch. Before departing in 2021, he paid a glowing tribute. 'Katie McCabe is one of the highlights of the last three or four years here. It's been a project which has been an exciting one. 'She's been thrown every challenge from the day that we brought her back from her loan, and I think she's just developed into a world-class left-sided player. All credit to her, she personifies exactly what we want from our squad.' Aside from a period where she was out of favour under Eidevall, McCabe has been a mainstay for Arsenal through good times and bad. Same applies for Ireland, with the highs and lows on that front — and her importance to the team — well documented. From Liberty Hall to a first World Cup in Australia in 2023, the journey has been unparalleled. She is closing in on centurion status, with 95 caps and 29 goals to her name, and a legacy cemented regardless of what follows. ***** The Katie McCabe Effect is evident across Ireland and beyond, but particularly tangible in Tallaght. While there were just two girls on her team back in the day, Kilnamanagh AFC fielded 14 girls' teams in 2022. That number is likely higher now. Connaughton, her former coach, put much of the growth down to McCabe, who he says, never forgets her roots. 'She's an idol. It's like a film star coming home when she's down at the ground!' The same goes for at Ireland and Arsenal games, the adoration from most fans unquestionable. Stadiums are awash with 'McCabe 11′ jerseys, and her name is routinely met with the loudest cheer when the teams are read out pre-match. But her divisiveness is undeniable. Social media commentary is staggering at times, ramping up in the aftermath of the 2023 World Cup and Vera Pauw's controversial exit. Her persona and behaviour, on and off the pitch, is regularly under the microscope, and it's fair to say she splits opinion. McCabe has scored some memorable goals for Ireland. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO McCabe has been open about her sexuality and relationships, and it's used against her in some quarters, but enhances her role model status in others. Her aggressive, heart-on-the sleeve approach polarises — and is consistently central to refereeing decisions and game talking points. Parallels are often drawn with Roy Keane, and those comparisons heightened amidst the World Cup fallout. Whatever your thoughts, playing in a Champions League final is an undeniable vindication of McCabe's talent and dedicated nature. It's something that happens for so few footballers, in particular ones from this island where the opportunities to develop into an elite-level player are not plentiful. Yet there is one absurdly skilful kid from Kilnamanagh who has managed to graft and hustle and elevate herself to the very pinnacle of the global game. The odds of McCabe making it from there to here you couldn't even begin to calculate. Who would bet against her now?
