Northern Ireland 1-6 Republic of Ireland: Katie McCabe stars as visitors end campaign unbeaten

Katie McCabe scored a stunner as the Republic of Ireland made it six wins from six in the Nations League with a 6-1 victory over Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.

Kyra Carusa netted 50 seconds after the restart before McCabe fired in a superb effort to make it four.

Louise Quinn and Caitlin Hayes scored from corners either side of Kerry Beattie’s 75th-minute consolation.

Hungary’s 4-0 win over Albania means Northern Ireland will face a relegation play-off against a League C team in February.

The Republic had already topped Group B1 and earned promotion to League A but end their campaign and the tenure of interim manager Eileen Gleeson in style.

After a historic first as the Republic of Ireland’s anthem, Amhran na bhFiann, was played at Windsor Park for the first time, the game had a derby feel with plenty of challenges coming in from both sides, albeit with little goalmouth action.

However it was Quinn, who scored the opening goal between the sides in the reverse fixture in Dublin, who broke the deadlock on 36 minutes when she cut inside Sarah McFadden and her strike deceived Maddy Harvey-Clifford as it curled into the net.

Quinn turned into provider when her back post cross found Everton full-back Payne, who started the move and charged up field to fire into the roof of the net just two minutes later.

The Republic made the perfect start to the second half when Carusa got in front of McFadden to head in McCabe’s cross less than a minute after the restart.

Arsenal’s McCabe had the pick of the goals on 50 minutes as she cut inside and let fly on her weaker right foot, with her shot going into the top corner and leaving Maddy Harvey-Clifford with no chance.

Defender Quinn’s bullet header made it five as the Republic turned on the style but Beattie grabbed a consolation with 15 minutes to play as the half-time substitute diverted Rebecca Holloway’s effort into the net.

The Republic would have the final say when Caitlin Hayes slid home Megan Connolly’s corner with four minutes to play.

Clincial Republic

Before the goals, there was little to split the sides as Northern Ireland frustrated their higher-ranked opponents, who had already won promotion to League A and could only create half-chances.

Northern Ireland had efforts of their own through Holloway, whose looping effort dipped over, and Marissa Callaghan, who could not keep a first-time strike down from inside the area.

The Republic’s quickfire double all but ended the game, but the hosts were almost handed a lifeline when Republic goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan almost spilled Marissa Callaghan’s cross into her own goal.

Carusa’s goal 50 seconds after the restart and McCabe’s superb solo goal ended any Northern Irish hopes.

Ruesha Littlejohn curled a free-kick well over and Harvey-Clifford pushed Payne’s long-range effort over the bar and Quinn was on hand to head home from the resulting corner.

Holloway put in a goal-saving block to deny Carusa a second before Beattie touched home a consolation for the hosts, which was only the second goal the Republic conceded in their six matches.

Megan Connolly blazed over from inside the area and Lucy Quinn fired straight at Harvey-Clifford but the visitors got their sixth when Hayes netted.