Ireland WNT ready to kick off brand new era on Aviva Stadium debut

Only three kilometres separate Liberty Hall from Lansdowne Road, but it has taken the Ireland women's team six and a half years to travel that short distance.

And yet when Katie McCabe leads her side out for today's landmark occasion in the famous old stadium, it will feel like the completion of a journey that started on that seismic April afternoon back in 2017.

The players simply wanted some respect back then, to be treated as a national side should be - to be finally given the stage at the national stadium feels like the last barrier they had to break. And the fact that the FAI is expecting 38,000 at this Nations League encounter only serves to show how far this side have come.

Stephanie Roche, left, of the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team speaks alongside Aine O'Gorman, from centre left, captain Emma Byrne, and Karen Duggan, and other team-mates during a women's national team press conference at Liberty Hall in Dublin. Pic: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

McCabe and interim manager Eileen Gleeson were able to put the long road to here in context during a light-hearted press conference yesterday. Gleeson remembered going to Ireland games where the attendance was mainly family and friends.

It is all so different now. Over the past year, and especially this summer, the women's national team became public property. With increased attention comes increased scrutiny. The departure of Vera Pauw, who remains a cherished figure among the Irish public, played out in full glare, evident in the reaction to Diane Caldwell's comments this week. Thankfully, rumours that the Dutchwoman was going to appear on The Late Late Show last night proved unfounded.

But all the sound and fury around the decision not to renew Pauw's contract has been an unwanted distraction. The sense is that the players can't wait to get on the pitch today and put the issue to bed once and for all.

Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe and manager Vera Pauw after the final whistle following their side's defeat in the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Canada at Perth Rectangular Stadium in Perth, Australia. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

However, they can only do that by delivering a good performance. And more significantly, rediscovering that winning feeling. They have played eight games in this calendar year - and won just once. Even more damning is that they have only scored in two of those games - McCabe's worldie against Canada in Perth and the 3-2 win over Zambia in Tallaght back in June.

Whatever the rights and wrongs about not renewing Pauw's contract, it was hard to escape the feeling that the team stagnated under the Dutchwoman in the final few months of her tenure. What last year would have been hard-fought 1-0 wins had become goalless draws or defeats.

Gleeson and her coaching staff haven't had much time to implement their ideas, so perhaps not a lot will change this afternoon. However, it would be a surprise if McCabe and Denise O'Sullivan weren't played further up the pitch. Of the many frustrations of Ireland's underwhelming World Cup campaign, surely the greatest was seeing O'Sullivan stationed at the base of midfield for the opening two group games.

Interim head coach Eileen Gleeson during a Republic of Ireland women training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

'Wherever you put Denise, you will see the best of Denise,' Gleeson said yesterday. 'But we want Denise on the ball. She is one of our most creative players. I think she can do that from multiple positions. She said she wants to play higher, but she plays deeper at her club, she is very versatile.'

Celtic defender Caitlin Hayes, a Glaswegian with Offaly grandparents, joined the squad this week and may even see some action this afternoon - another new face to strengthen the defence.

'She is a very physical player and what I like about her is her calmness on the ball in terms of if we are looking to build up and establish play,' McCabe said of the new recruit.

Denise O'Sullivan of Republic of Ireland in action against Christy Ucheibe of Nigeria during the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Perhaps the biggest name to leap off the page in the initial squad was Tyler Toland, the young midfielder from Donegal who fell out very publicly with Pauw early on.

Toland hasn't played for Ireland since a Euro qualifier against Montenegro in October 2019 - a game in which she scored. There is a chance that we might see her on the field this afternoon, another indication of a fresh break and a new start.

'She's been great,' McCabe said of Toland. 'Tyler just gets in and gets stuck in. I was chatting to her this morning and she said that she made her debut against Northern Ireland and now she's back in hopefully playing them again after being out of the squad for four years. She has got her head down and she will be giving Eileen a headache looking to get on the pitch.'

UEFA Women's European Championship Qualifier, Tallaght Stadium, Dublin 3/9/2019 Republic of Ireland Women vs Montenegro Women Ireland's Tyler Toland reacts to a missed chance. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Part of the fresh new start is the coaching staff - former Ireland midfielder Colin Healy and Irish goalkeeping legend Emma Byrne, who has been to the forefront of all the fun that the team have had this week.

'Emma has been great. I have been so excited for her coming in and I think it is brilliant that Eileen has brought her in as part of the team, she has so much experience that when she talks, you listen. Her coaching points and level of detail in meetings has been really good,' McCabe said.

Byrne, of course, was at the forefront when the Ireland squad made their stand in 2017. At the time, she said they were doing it for future generations. And some of that next generation will be on the field today.

18 September 2023; Interim assistant coach Emma Byrne, right, and interim head coach Eileen Gleeson during a Republic of Ireland women training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

It promises to be a celebration. But more importantly, Ireland need to get back to winning ways. In a group where they are so much higher ranked than their three other opponents, they need to lay a marker. The best way of doing that is by scoring goals.

Verdict: Ireland 3 Northern Ireland 1