‘It will be special moment for our family and community’

“IT WILL be a special moment when Katie leads Ireland out for the first game for our family and also our community,” says Gary McCabe, father of Ireland captain Katie McCabe, ahead of the opening World Cup match against Australia in Melbourne tomorrow.

The Kilnamanagh star will become the first women to captain an Irish side in the World Cup and the excitement is building ahead of the biggest competition in world football.

The team played their final friendly match against France in Tallaght Stadium last week and they have quickly settled into their surrounds in Australia.

Katie’s father Gary, who will travel to the finals with Katie’s mother Sharon, is confident and looking forward to the games over the next few weeks.

“We are looking forward to the finals, we can’t wait, it’s going to be great. There has been fantastic support both here in Ireland and in Australia and the demand for the tickets has been huge for the Ireland games,” said Gary.

A young Katie McCabe (back row, third from right), pictured with the Kilnamanagh team in 2008

“We had a great evening last week at the Kilnamanagh World Cup when TV crews came out to the estate and the numbers that turned up was great.

“People are putting out flags and banners in the area and it’s really like the old days which is giving everyone in the country a big lift.”

While Ireland starts their campaign against Australia next Thursday, they also play Canada on Wednesday, July 26 and Nigeria on Monday, July 31 in the other group.

Gary continued: “I’m very confident that we can get through to the knock-out stages. Canada would be one of the strongest teams in the group, but if we can get some kind of a result against Australia I would be confident.

“The team has prepared well and I would be confident enough that the team would get out of the group.”

Playing football with Kilnamanagh AFC and Crumlin United, McCabe later played with Templeogue United and St Francis before making her senior debut for Raheny United in 2011.

Ireland captain Katie McCabe with her parents Gary and Sharon before she headed to Australia on Friday

Gary remembers the early days when Katie started playing football in her hallway at home and he could see from an early stage that she had plenty of football skills.

“You could see it at an early age that she loved playing football. You could see it in the hallway of our house when she played with her brother Gary and then when she was five-years-old she took part in the Kilnamanagh World Cup,” explained Gary.

“She has gone from strength to strength over the years from playing with the boys team in Kilnamanagh to playing with Arsenal.”

On the teams build-up to the final, McCabe will have a key role to play as she leads the squad into their first match.

“She is a great person to have in the dressing room. She is a good motivator and will be fired up for the games.

“She has become more confident playing full time with Arsenal, they have great facilities and training environment and this will stand to Katie.

“But whatever happens, we are all proud of her and the teams achievements,” Gary says with pride.

Katie, who was named Player of the Season at Arsenal this year, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with the Gunners, is certainly going to be a central figure in the Irish team if the team qualifies for the knockout stages.