Ireland secured promotion to League A of the Women's Nations League with a 1-0 win away to Albania on Tuesday, but had to come through torrential rain, thunderstorms, and a pitch which resembled a lake. "Wettest game in history but job done and top of the group with the girlsss," Ireland captain Katie McCabe posted on Instagram after the match in Shkoder.
A post shared by Katie McCabe (@katie_mccabe11) "Ballon Pour," Ireland team mate Louise Quinn commented under the post, a reference to McCabe, like many others, missing the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday despite her nomination.
McCabe scored a hat-trick when these two sides met in Dublin last Friday as Ireland romped to a 5-1 win, but it was a whole different ball game in Albania, and water polo would probably have been more appropriate.
After 20 minutes of play the first rumbles were heard, accompanied by torrential rain. The surface soon suffered with the ball constantly stuck under players' feet, and any attempt at a pass along the ground rarely reached its target.