Ireland’s latest centurion Diane Caldwell hails Katie McCabe for ‘complete performance’
On a night when she temporarily donned the captain’s armband, new international centurion Diane Caldwell hailed regular skipper Katie McCabe for her role in securing a third consecutive victory for the Republic of Ireland in Group B1 of the UEFA Women’s Nations League.
Following convincing wins against Northern Ireland and Hungary last month, the Girls In Green were expected to record another comfortable triumph in Tallaght Stadium yesterday evening.
A Megi Doci equaliser in response to McCabe’s fourth-minute opener ensured it wasn’t entirely plain sailing, but the Arsenal ace doubled her tally with a deflected effort to leave Ireland 2-1 in front at the interval.
The Kilnamanagh woman operated in a more central attacking role for this game and she proceeded to turn supplier for Kyra Carusa’s quickfire brace just shy of the hour mark. Having bagged a hat-trick in a 9-0 success away to Georgia in a World Cup qualifier in June of last year, McCabe once claimed the match ball by superbly curling a free-kick to the net with nine minutes of normal time remaining.
“Obviously she played in a higher role today, but she just had a complete performance. I saw it in everything she did,” Caldwell remarked in the aftermath of picking her 100th Ireland cap.
“Assisting, scoring. Combining the play, finishing the play, linking the team. Even though she didn’t have the armband, she still had a captain’s performance. She’s fantastic and a key player for us.”
When the game was still in the melting pot during the opening period, Caldwell had a long-distance piledriver that was tipped onto the crossbar by Albanian netminder Viona Rexhepi.
This would have topped off a special night that began with her entering the pitch alongside her niece (Farrah) and nephew (Hakeem), but the Zurich Frauen defender was still elated with how events unfolded in south Dublin.
“Any chance I got, I said to myself just shoot when I got into higher positions in the game. The first one was a bit unlucky, it hit the crossbar. The second one [a second half effort], it came out quick to me, but I should have done better with that one. It would have definitely topped off the perfect occasion for me,” Caldwell added.
“Obviously it was a nice gesture by Katie to give me the captain’s armband and leading out the team with my niece and nephew was really special. I think I was a little bit more nervous about them than I was for myself for the occasion.
“I was worried [whether] they were going to be taken good care of. I was thinking about them a lot. But yeah, a very special moment for my family.
“I obviously think with all the changes of staff and everything, it just seems like the start of a new dawn and it’s just really exciting right now. The mood is great in camp and it’s just a joy to be involved in.”