Just as she was for the draw with Slovakia on Thursday, Katie McCabe was again chosen as Player of the Match on Tuesday, this time as Ireland hit a record 11-0 scoreline against Georgia.
There was tough competition for the award. Midfielder Denise O'Sullivan had scored a hat-trick. It gave teammate Ruesha Littlejohn - also McCabe's partner - cause to inject during the Ireland captain's post-match interview with RTÉ and ask a pertinent question.
"Who is picking these Man of the Matches? Is it Katie's mom?" joked Littlejohn.
McCabe was chosen by Ireland international Stephanie Roche, who was on commentary for RTÉ.
"Just to clear things up, I had picked Denise as POTM and it was a last minute change on the spot," Roche tweeted after the game.
"Denise with a great hat trick but overall Katie was part of everything good for Ireland again tonight, I also thought Katie might get a hat trick towards the end!"
Katie McCabe is the player of the match... even if her team-mate and partner Ruesha Littlejohn has her doubts 😂#IRLGEO #RTEsoccer
📺https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📻https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8
📱 https://t.co/s4K86Eg3Fi pic.twitter.com/D9zTUmxgca— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 30, 2021
McCabe more than deserved the award. She had scored twice along with providing assists for others. Littlejohn's mischievousness was just another mark of the feel-good factor around this Ireland team.
"It was an absolutely brilliant performance from everyone, even the impact the subs made in the second half, we kept up the standard and intensity right throughout," said McCabe.
"Setting a record scoreline here tonight in Tallaght with all these amazing fans that came to see us in the wind and rain, it's an absolutely brilliant night.
"A few of us were around for the 9-0 win against Montenegro when Steph and Áine both got hat-tricks. When we hit nine, I kept telling the girls to push for more. They were absolutely brilliant with their discipline throughout the game, the positioning, it was a really good performance."
Ireland 8-0 Georgia
Goals for Katie McCabe are like 46A buses. You wait 70 minutes for one and then two come along at once#IRLGEO #RTEsoccer
📺https://t.co/2W5kFtUgZE
📻https://t.co/QHSJNYlfx8
📱 https://t.co/s4K86Eg3Fi pic.twitter.com/r9znrjd9ys— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 30, 2021
See Also: Ireland Player Ratings As O'Sullivan & McCabe Star In Historic Georgia Win
