Katie McCabe says that Ireland ‘can’t feel sorry for ourselves’ after France came back to win 2-1 in Tallaght on Tuesday night.
Ireland had taken the lead within the first 12 minutes through Katie McCabe’s excellent drive low effort. However France fought back and a Melvine Malard brace gave Les Bleues all three points even after a late Irish onslaught.
The Ireland captain spoke to the press after the match and The Halfway Line was there to speak with her.
‘It hurts, but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves’ says Katie McCabe
Ireland fought bravely against the side ranked 20 places above them in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Ireland had more shots on target against France than any side since Brazil in the summer of 2025. McCabe reflected on a bittersweet night,
“Yeah, disappointing result, [we] pushed one of the best teams in the world right till the very end” McCabe said.
“Obviously getting the clearance on the line underneath the shot. So disappointing one, but need to pick ourselves up and go again.
“There’s a lot of growth in the team over the last 12 months, different personnel, players coming in and really stepping up to to the standard of what this league is.
“Yeah, for us obviously there is areas where we need to improve and tidy up, we’re really disappointed with the two goals we conceded, so we need to look at that.
“The result’s really disappointing, but there’s a lot of positives to take, especially going forward in transition moments. It stings, it hurts but for us, we can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we need to pick ourselves up quickly.”
Emily Murphy ‘flying for her country’ relishes captain McCabe
Ireland opened the scoring through McCabe. The Arsenal full back nicked the ball off the foot of Kadidiatou Diani before playing a beautiful through ball in behind for Emily Murphy.
Murphy used all her guile to hold off the French defenders and play through McCabe who slotted home with consummate ease. McCabe lavished praise on Murphy who was the Irish Player of the Match,
“Yeah, look, Murph’s [Emily Murphy’s] done fantastic since coming in” lauded McCabe.
“She’s flying for her country. And she’s really doing a fantastic job of what’s been asked of her. So we need more of it, more from everyone, of course. But yeah, it was a lovely assist from from Murph, and it’s a well deserved Player of the Match.”
Katie McCabe bemoans conceding goals Ireland could ‘avoid’
The match turned on it’s head in the second half, with France gaining the upper hand especially after Melvine Malard was introduced. McCabe reflected on that change,
“Yeah, there’s about for me, 15 to 20 minute period in the second half where I felt like they were just gaining a little bit of momentum” McCabe extolled.
“I feel like, on reflection, we could have dealt with it a little bit better, but these are the learnings we need to take. You’re gonna have to suffer without the ball at times against one of the top teams in the world.
“So it’s about how we can rectify that moving forward. Yeah, for us, we’re really disappointed with the type of goals we conceded because you know, we can avoid it.”
