Three weeks Down Under: Reflections on a World Cup

The Republic of Ireland's first FIFA Women's World Cup adventure is over. Half the players and management team arrived in Dublin on Wednesday, with the rest due to touch down today, ahead of a homecoming presentation on O'Connell Street this evening.

It was an intense three weeks in Australia. From an abandoned friendly to a zipped-mouth emoji and everything in between, we reflect on the main talking points Down Under.

Katie McCabe was magnificent against Canada, Abbie Larkin sparkled off the bench in the Australia clash, but Ireland's most consistent performer was Ruesha Littlejohn.

She covered huge ground in all the group games, helping to nullify three of the tournament's most technically gifted players - Katrina Gorry, Jessie Fleming and Toni Payne.

Littlejohn didn't just work hard; her use of the ball was intelligent and clean. Rarely did the Glaswegian cough up cheap possession. She's a free agent after being released by Aston Villa in June, but the 33-year-old will surely have more than one club knocking at her door this month.

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After the narrow opening-night loss to the Matildas, Ireland needed a special result against reigning Olympic champions Canada to ignite their World Cup. When Katie McCabe's fourth-minute corner drifted into the net, it genuinely looked like they would pull it off.

It wasn't to be, but the release of emotion in Perth after the captain's goal was a special moment.

Other notable mentions: 18-year-old Abbie Larkin's cameo against the