DATE WITH DESTINY

McCabe slams soccer calendar ahead of promotion showdown

- BY STEPHEN BARRY

KATIE MCCABE feels the football calendar needs a major overhaul as Ireland face into tonight's Nations League promotion decider against Slovenia at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Just 10 days ago, the Arsenal stalwart was starring in their Champions League final triumph over Barcelona.

Since then, she has enjoyed a trophy parade at the Emirates Stadium, a player-of-the-match award in Friday's 2-1 comeback victory over Turkey, and now, this key clash on Leeside.

Later this month, Ireland will travel to Colorado and Cincinnati for back-to-back friend-lies against world Nol side USA. McCabe will not be joining them as she takes a well-earned rest.

Last summer, McCabe's club played a post-season friendly in Aus-tralia before she returned home for international duty. Within weeks of the famous French victory in Cork, she was off to America for a pre-season tour.

"It's the whole calendar. I don't know who's in charge of it, but it definitely needs to be looked at," said McCabe. "What it will create over time, and we've already seen it in recent years, is burnout in players and major injuries.