Katie McCabe treks Down Under with Ireland qualifiers around corner

This development will force Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson to reconfigure preparations.

Manchester City's Laura Coombs (right) and Arsenal's Katie McCabe battle for the ball. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA Wire.

Katie McCabe has flown to Australia with Arsenal for an exhibition game on Friday, seven days ahead of her captaining Ireland in the first of two Euro qualifiers against Sweden.

The Ireland skipper wasn’t sure when asked in April whether she’d be obliged to make the gruelling round trip to take on an A League Allstars selection at Marvel Stadium but she’s been included in the squad.