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Katie McCabe celebrates her first goal. Aleksandar Djorovic/INPHO

Ireland hit Georgia for six in Euro 2025 play-off opener

Katie McCabe (two), Kyra Carusa, Jessie Stapleton, Marissa Sheva and Aoife Mannion all scored in Tbilisi.

Georgia 0

Republic of Ireland 6 

IT WASN’T QUITE 11-0 or 9-0 like before, but Ireland eventually eased to a comfortable Euro 2025 play-off first leg win against Georgia this evening.

The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute, and Eileen Gleeson’s side turned on the style in a five-goal second half to win 6-0 at Mikheil Meskhi II Stadium, Tbilisi. 

Katie McCabe marked her 90th cap with her 27th and 28th international goals — a penalty and a stunning long-range effort – while Jessie Stapleton, Marissa Sheva and Aoife Mannion all scored their first.

Kyra Carusa also marked her return from injury with a brilliant back-heeled finish, while Abbie Larkin starred in a Player of the Match performance.

Tuesday’s second leg at Tallaght Stadium will be but a formality as Ireland look to reach their first-ever European Championships. Then it’s onto another two-legged play-off against Wales or Slovakia, the Slovaks powering into a surprise 2-1 lead tonight.

There was no such upset in Tbilisi, as Ireland — 94 places higher in the Fifa World Rankings — were patient and eventually cut loose in front of a small but lively crowd.

Gleeson, having warned against complacency all week, rang the changes to her XI with several players absent through injury and otherwise. Grace Moloney started in goal, ending a three-year wait for her seventh cap as she replaced suspended number one Courtney Brosnan.

Larkin took her chance at right wing-back, with McCabe on the other side and Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten and Mannion the three centre-halves. Tyler Toland operated in the six with Lily Agg and Denise O’Sullivan ahead of her, while Julie-Ann Russell and Carusa started up top. 

denise-osullivan-with-sopiko-narisa Ireland’s Denise O’Sullivan with Sopiko Narisa of Georgia. Aleksandar Djorovic / INPHO Aleksandar Djorovic / INPHO / INPHO

Ireland assumed control and threatened the Georgia goal from the get-go. O’Sullivan and Russell tried to find their range, but surprisingly, it was Georgia who registered the first shot on target in the 16th minute. Moloney comfortably claimed Maiko Bebia’s free-kick, and that was the height of her involvement throughout.

Georgia sat deep and compact, doing their utmost to frustrate Ireland and run the clock down. Ireland prodded and probed, producing some good build-up play and threatening with crosses but lacking that clinical edge. Goalkeeper Tatia Gabunia kept the visitors at bay, denying O’Sullivan and Russell, though their pressure soon told.

Natia Danelia blatantly, and perhaps needlessly, handled a Larkin delivery from wide and referee Emanuela Rusta pointed to the spot. McCabe was made wait, but coolly slotted into the bottom left-hand corner in the 36th minute. She celebrated in front of the singing section, cupping her ear and giving them a thumbs up.

Breaking the deadlock before half time came as a relief for Ireland, but there were improvements to be made in terms of ball speed and finishing.

The chances kept coming on the restart, and Ireland doubled their lead just before the hour-mark through Carusa. Again, it stemmed from a Larkin cross after she was teed up by O’Sullivan, and the returning San Diego Wave striker finished exquisitely.

Georgia tired, and Ireland began to flex their muscle. McCabe, having moved centrally for the second half after a switch with Russell, made it 3-0 from way out in the 67th minute. The Arsenal star spotted Gabunia off her line and let fly. This time, she celebrated with trademark outstretched arms, running to the bench Gleeson began to empty:

McCabe almost had her hat-trick with a smart swivel and shot just afterwards, but she turned from scorer to provider for Stapleton in the 82nd minute.

The versatile youngster nudged home a corner at the back post, the goal confirmed after a lengthy VAR check followed handball appeals.

Another substitute, Sheva, followed suit, with a brilliant strike from out on the left, and Mannion headed home deep into injury time to compete the rout.

Job done. One step closer. Onto Tuesday. 

IRELAND: Grace Moloney; Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten; Abbie Larkin, Denise O’Sullivan, Tyler Toland (Jessie Stapleton 75), Lily Agg (Marissa Sheva 56), Katie McCabe; Julie-Ann Russell (Izzy Atkinson 93) Kyra Carusa (Leanne Kiernan 75). 

GEORGIA: Tatia Gabunia; Salome Gasviani, Mariam Kalandadze, Nino Chkhartishvili (Lizi Kankia 70), Sopiko Narsia; Nino Pasikashvili, Natia Danelia, Maiko Bebia; Gvantsa Kadgishvil, Irina Khaburdzar (Tinatin Amballia 76), Ana Cheminava (Lizi Mktserakishivi 90).

Referee: Emanuela Rusta (Albania).

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    Mute Aidan Gill
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    Sep 19th 2012, 2:11 PM

    Good piece Ciaran, sums us Mayo’s up to a tee.

    It will be an epic, be it an epic fail or victory for the Red and Green.

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Sep 19th 2012, 1:47 PM

    Donegal all the way man

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Sep 19th 2012, 7:23 PM

    This study has clearly shown, that, based on the proportion of red to green thumbs, twice as many Mayo fans read the Journal than Donegal fans….time to blow the pr budget on the advertising in Donegal….

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    Mute Gillian Cafferkey
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    Sep 19th 2012, 7:27 PM

    MAYO for SAM, donegal for catch!!!

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    Mute FartBox
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    Sep 19th 2012, 8:11 PM

    we can do this… maigh eo abu… :-D

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    Mute r fin
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    Sep 19th 2012, 2:32 PM

    Evokes memories of childhood back home going to those galway matchs – great article! We’re just hoping they can do it, the hype of 1996/1997 has long since passed – Kerry’s cruelty in 04 & 06 put paid to that craze! Losing is unthinkable, but a rational person would have to pick Donegal to win I suppose. But maybe, just maybe Mayo are building quietly to a cresendo this year , and maybe Donegal peaked against Cork and the hype in that county is getting to the players (Apparently thousands turning up to training sessions!?). Surely that has to weigh on these players, no matter how much they’re drilled by Jimmy. Mayo have been in this situation before, hopefully that counts for something?

    Am I clutching at straws? Once bitten, twice shy but F~ck it – MAYO FOR SAM!

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    Mute Aidan Gill
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    Sep 19th 2012, 3:27 PM

    Here is a bag of straws! :)

    Last time GB won an open in the Tennis was 1936.
    Andy Murray won the open in 2012.

    On Sept 23rd 1936 the AI was contested between Mayo and Laois.
    On Sept 23rd 2012 the AI will be contested between Mayo and Donegal.

    A certain Henry Kenny (RIP) played that day, father of an Taoiseach.

    Mayo came out as winners of the AI, their first. :)

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    Mute Orla ni ghabhlain
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    Sep 19th 2012, 3:55 PM

    Up mayo

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    Mute David Hynes
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    Sep 19th 2012, 2:57 PM

    who ever is victorious in this one, there wont be a cow milked for a month will the celebrations that will be had and many a person will be conceived because of Sam going north or west!!

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    Mute Vinnie Bonar
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    Sep 19th 2012, 2:31 PM

    Jimmy’s winning matches, Jimmy’s winning games. Donegal for Sam, Mayo for sandwiches.

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    Mute Paul Cawley
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    Sep 19th 2012, 3:43 PM

    Great piece Ciaran.

    Maybe the famine ends Sunday?

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    Mute Brighid Sheridan
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    Sep 19th 2012, 7:28 PM

    Up Donegal!!!!!

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    Mute FartBox
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    Sep 19th 2012, 8:07 PM

    Brighid, see ya outside coppers at about half 4 Sunday morning… I’ll have a mayo jersey on and a big smile…. I’ll take you for a snack box then we’ll had back to mine… sound??

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    Mute Hughie Keating
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    Sep 19th 2012, 2:33 PM

    I don’t think there has ever been a piece written that mentions St Jarlaths and Milltown so many times without mentioning John Scan Concannon …. could you not of stuck it in some how Murf ??

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    Mute Robert O'Sullivan
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    Sep 20th 2012, 12:47 AM

    From a corkman, COME ON MAYO!!!!

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    Mute Brighid Sheridan
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    Sep 19th 2012, 10:40 PM

    Lmao fartbox, thanks but no thanks! Only one man for me-a Donegal one. There will be plenty of good looking Donegal dolls about coppers I’m sure. Go on Donegal ;)

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    Mute Chuck Farrelly
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    Sep 19th 2012, 5:08 PM

    “I’ve said in this column before I believe that no All-Ireland final in the 128-year history of the GAA has thrown up a pairing as emotive and unique as this one”

    I dunno about that. In 1998 Galway & Kildare hadn’t won the All-Ireland in 102 years between them, compared to a mere 81 this time. That made it fairly emotional & unique. Imagine the emotion in Kildare after waiting 70 years & beating the three previous All-Ireland winners, including Micko’s win over Kerry.

    The ’89 hurling final was certainly unique & emotional. It involved Tipp ending their All-Ireland famine against a team who had grown up hurling against the backdrop of the Troubles when, as Terence McNaughten said (I’m paraphrasing), walking to training with a hurl in your hand essentially put a target on your back. Wexford and Limerick were fairly into it in 1996 but that didn’t seem like such a big deal after the dam of emotion that burst in 1995. And what about the first all Munster final in 1997? Mutual loathing, the haves vs the have-nots, the country’s first taste of the back door – the lot!

    What’s the big deal this time? Mayo have lost a few big games? Well boo-hoo, at least they got there. If they played in a tougher province then they’d have been culled before they got to the big stage in a lot of those years. A ratio of 3 All-Irelands from 51 Provincial titles tells it’s own story on that front. Losing some matches hardly compares to Tyrone’s emotional state in 2005.

    Still, thanks for coming

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    Mute Tomas Devers
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    Sep 19th 2012, 8:17 PM

    Put us in a tough province then. We’ll happily go in. Or better still put the so called weaker counties in connacht, they wouldn’t have a hope of winning it. Leinster is full of weak teams and is a 2 team challenge-same as connacht. Ulster is a one county championship most of the time, or sometimes 2-same as connacht.

    Munster with just cork and Kerry is the hardest province there is. So what’s your point?

    When mayo get out of connacht they have to play teams from other provinces and quite often beat them. We beat the all Ireland champions 2 years in a row, is that because we have it easy?

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    Mute Gemma McGrory
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    Sep 20th 2012, 1:12 AM

    Tomas, the Ulster Championship is far more competitive than it’s counterparts in Connacht and Leinster. It has very rarely been won by the same county back to back. Donegal made history when we lifted it this year, our 2nd is as many years, that win broke a record. That says it all.

    I think throughout this season people have written off Donegal. They all said we’d never beat Tyrone and then we did, then they said we’d never beat Down and then we did, then they said we’d never beat Kerry and then we did, then they said we’d definitely get sent home by cork and we ran rings around them in the 2nd, albeit we dropped the ball towards the end, but we’ve no fear of being underdogs. We’ve spent the entire season proving the country wrong. We like a challenge and I’ve no doubt that Jim and the boys will prove everyone wrong again on Sunday. There’s only one place Sam’s going on Sunday and that’s to the fair hills of Donegal! Dún na nGáll abú!

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    Mute r fin
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    Sep 21st 2012, 8:35 AM

    Yeah except you’re not underdogs this time around! Its all different now, no critics to prove wrong, the weight of expectation on your shoulders. You’d nearly prefer Dublin to have something to aim at, but its Mayo, and we’re in your position now, underdogs, hungry to prove teh pundits wrong. Its going to be interesting thats for sure!

    MAYO FOR SAM!

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