IRELAND TO THE FOUR AT AVIVA

McCabe puts Girls in Green on course for Nations League promotion

- BY RORY TALLON

KATIE McCabe's heroics at the Aviva Stadium last night put Ireland on course for promotion in the Nations League.

The Arsenal captain scored twice and created a third as Carla Ward's side cruised past Belgium in their promotion/ relegation playoff.

Ireland really got going after ten minutes when a chance fell to 22-year-old Emily Murphy.

A ball through to Kyra Carusa gave the striker the opportunity to let one fly, but she squared it to Murphy who only got a toe on the ball as it trickled past the Belgian net.

Belgium were constantly broken down by the three Irish in midfield, led by Ruesha Littlejohn, who decided to drill one towards goal and just wide.

Twenty minutes in and Ireland would come under sudden, immense pressure, as Belgium unleashed three shots from just inside the box.

The first two were blocked and the third went wide of Grace Moloney's goal.

The Girls in Green's tenacity was in full force, and it started with Kyra Carusa putting in a defensive, hassling masterclass up front.

She pushed and shoved her way through two Belgian defenders into space down the wing before being fouled and forcing the Belgian right-back onto a yellow card with 75 still to play.

One-twos were extremely effective for Ireland, breaking down the Belgian defence with ease all throughout the first half.