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Katie McCabe: The kid with a cheeky smile who became a leader

Katie McCabe over the years
By Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI

Growing up in a city like Dublin can be tough, but it's a place that allows you to dream big.

That's exactly what happened with Katie McCabe.

From the streets of Tallaght to the Women's World Cup, McCabe is the girl with a cheeky smile who would go on to make history.

McCabe is the Republic of Ireland's youngest-ever captain. She has led the team to their first tournament. This is her story.

Short presentational grey line

Growing up just 10 minutes from Tallaght Stadium, where she has so often led the Republic of Ireland out as captain, football was in McCabe's DNA.

With 10 siblings, she already had her team. Family meant everything, and football was not far behind.

She would follow in the footsteps of her brother Gary, who played in the League of Ireland for Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers.

McCabe started her footballing journey with Kilnamanagh AFC and Crumlin United, but it was at Raheny United that she really started to make her name.

The 16-year-old was already in the Raheny team when Casey McQuillan took over as manager in 2013, and he recalls his first impressions of the teenager.

"There were a number of talented young players who didn't have a care in the world, such as Katie, Shauna Newman and Claire Shine," he says.

"Katie is the cheekiest of the lot of them. She has that big smile on her.

"You could see they could play. I wasn't bothered about age. If they play football and are good enough, it doesn't matter if they are 33 or 17."

While McCabe - who has scored 20 goals in 73 Republic caps - showed early promise, she wasn't the finished article everyone can see today.

She had that individual brilliance, including a stunning 35-yard free-kick in the FAI Cup final at the Aviva Stadium, and McQuillan says: "You knew there was something in her game.

"She showed all the potential and all the signs when she was with us.

"Katie just used to go and do her own thing. You could never really give out as a manager, except to say: 'Why did you do that">