'Pretty wild' - Ireland relieved to weather the storm

Izzy Atkinson and Kyra Carusa admitted the torrential rain in Albania presented the Republic of Ireland players with a challenge unlike anything they'd ever encountered before on Tuesday evening.

An incessant downpour made conditions unplayable as both teams slipped and stumbled through increasingly large pools of water.

The game was suspended for over an hour and a half to allow for ground staff to sweep swathes of water off the pitch. On the resumption, Ireland just about dug out a 1-0 victory that sealed promotion to League A of the UEFA Nations League.

"I've never seen anything like it... oh my god"

Ireland wing-back Izzy Atkinson speaks to @DAVEKELLY4 following tonight's weather-disrupted win over Albania #COYGIG #IRLWNT #ALBIRL pic.twitter.com/o2LaBSR0C4

"I don't know how many chances we had in the second half, but just with the conditions and everything we're all just buzzing to get the three points," Atkinson told RTÉ Sport.

"I've never seen anything like it to be honest. Oh my God, I don't know how they got it played. We were just ready to go, hoping it was going to be played. I don't think we thought it was going to be played, but it was, and we were just happy to get back out.

"It was sloppy [in the first half]. We didn't pass the ball in the conditions. In the second half once we started to play our game, move the ball and stuff, it suited it us much better."

Atkinson was introduced as a half-time sub and had a real impact on the left, offering genuine width while allowing Katie McCabe to play more centrally. On the right, Heather Payne was also influential in grinding down a stubborn Albania.

It took until the 89th minute for the breakthrough to arrive, when Kyra Carusa's cutback was swept home by Denise O'Sullivan.