After producing a couple of magic moments for Irish women’s football in their World Cup qualification campaign to date, Áine O’Gorman wants the team to deliver a meteoric one in the Norwegian coastal city of Stavanger this evening.

After the spotlight shining on the Ireland women’s team at the start of the campaign for unusual reasons, Diane Caldwell feels it only fitting the same should apply at the business end approaches.

A late victory over Slovakia last night keeps Ireland’s women firmly in the hunt to challenge European champions the Netherlands for a place at next year’s World Cup.

They may have survived some scares in Nijmegen last night but Ireland remain well in the mix to challenge for World Cup qualification after preventing the Netherlands from extending their winning run to 12 matches.

Tonight’s World Cup qualifier in Nijmegen could feature six Arsenal players with Ireland’s Gunners pair Louise Quinn and Katie McCabe hoping to have the measure of their Dutch comrades.

Cork City 1 - UCD Waves 0: Clare Shine showed why she’s rated so highly in yesterday FAI Women’s Cup final but she’s no intention of deserting Cork City as their tide continues to rise.

Northern Ireland 0 Republic of Ireland 2: Megan Campbell starred for Ireland last night as they easily overcame Northern Ireland in Lurgan to begin their 2019 World Cup quest with victory.

One day short of the first year anniversary of their last competitive game, Ireland’s women’s team open the World Cup qualification quest tonight against neighbours Northern Ireland at Mourneview Park in Lurgan (7.30pm).

Megan Campbell has enjoyed some major football occasions during her blossoming career but the Ireland women’s international will forever savour her role in Manchester City’s FA Cup win last month.

Cork IT 1-14, DCU-St Patrick’s 0-6: A good start and composed finish was key for Cork IT yesterday as their 10-point half-time lead provided the basis for an 11-point victory over DCU-St Patrick’s at the latter’s Drumcondra grounds in Round 2 of the Fitzgibbon Cup.

Thurles CBS 0-18 St Peter’s College 1-12:

Dr Harty Cup quarter-final

Thurles CBS (Tipperary)3-12 Ardscoil Rís (Limerick)0-12

Thurles CBS 5-26 St Flannan’s College, Ennis 0-06

Republic of Ireland 1 Croatia 0

Abbeyside 2-11 Dungarvan 0-16

Clare 2-17 Waterford 2-12, Fraher Field, Dungarvan

TONIGHT it’s a Munster U21 hurling decider with a twist. The heavyweights of Cork and Tipperary are both marked absent ensuring the first final without either of the Old Firm in fifteen years. It promises to be a unique evening in Dungarvan.

Imokilly 2-19 Avondhu 2-13

STEPHEN IRELAND might still be on a self-imposed exile from international football but that hasn’t stopped him being nominated for a Young Player Of the Year gong in the 18th eircom/FAI International Awards, which will be broadcast live on RTÉ in February.

Courcey Rovers 1-14 Ballincollig 1-9

Dromina 1-15, Ballygiblin 0-14