BREAKING NEWS: Great news of Nations League round-up Republic of……

Women’s Nations League round-up: Republic of Ireland’s Katie McCabe gets a hat-trick, while Jenni Hermoso scored the winning goal on her return from Spain

In her maiden game since the ‘kiss-gate’ controversy involving former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales, Jenni Hermoso scored the game-winning goal for Spain against Italy off the bench; in Hungary, Northern Ireland lost in stoppage time while Wales and Scotland were trounced.

In Dublin’s Tallaght Stadium, the Republic of Ireland easily defeated Albania 5-1 in the Women’s Nations League, led by hat-trick-grabbing Katie McCabe.

With a win in Tuesday’s rematch in Albania, the Girls in Green, who defeated Northern Ireland and Hungary last month, might advance from Group B1 with two games remaining.

After just three minutes, they were ahead thanks to a clever move by Arsenal winger McCabe, who controlled and tucked away Abbie Larkin’s cross from the right at the near post.

But the hosts were pegged back within three minutes after a high ball into the box was met by the unmarked Albania skipper Megi Doci.

But in the twenty-fiveth minute, McCabe scored again with a deflected shot after Albania had only partially cleared a corner.

Ten minutes after the interval, McCabe’s play to set up Kyra Carusa for the third goal gave Ireland some breathing room.

To finish off a respectable performance for the Irish, McCabe had the last word with a superb free kick.