‘Just an unbelievable feeling’ - Katie McCabe hails Arsenal’s shock Champions League final victory over Barcelona

Katie McCabe of Arsenal, left, celebrates with team-mate Chloe Kelly after the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between Arsenal and Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

Katie McCabe of Arsenal, centre top, celebrates with team-mate Leah Williamson after their Women's Champions League final win over Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

Katie McCabe of Arsenal during the Women's Champions League final match against Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

Katie McCabe of Arsenal celebrates with the Women's Champions League trophy after their final win over Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

Katie McCabe’s Champions League dream became a glorious reality in Lisbon as Arsenal lifted the biggest prize in women’s football for the second time in their history.

Stina Blackstenius scored the 75th-minute goal that allowed McCabe and her team of Gunners heroes to secure the win that will ensure their names join the list of champions who have led the revolution of women’s soccer, as they took their place alongside the Arsenal icons.

Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant and Yvonne Tracy were the Irish trailblazers who inspired a generation of Irish girls to believe they could forge a career in soccer as they were part of the first Gunners team to be crowned as queens of European football 18 years ago.

Now, a new generation of Arsenal heroes has secured their place in the club’s Hall of Fame, as they defied the odds to defeat a fearsome Barcelona side in a thrilling final.

A clearly emotional McCabe was among the first Arsenal players to offer condolences to the crestfallen Barcelona player at the final whistle, as the magnitude of a long and arduous journey in this competition ended in the most glorious manner possible for Arsenal.

Katie McCabe of Arsenal, centre top, celebrates with team-mate Leah Williamson after their Women's Champions League final win over Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

Renee Slegers’ team had played 14 matches to get to this stage of the Champions League, but this was always going to be the biggest test against a Barcelona side widely recognised as the best team in European football.

“We suffered together,” said a euphoric McCabe. “Barcelona threw everything at us, but we fought together and we got there.

“We deserved to be in this final. We bounced back in the knock-out stages of the competition and we needed to be resilient.

Katie McCabe of Arsenal celebrates with the Women's Champions League trophy after their final win over Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

Katie McCabe bids to make Champions League history with Arsenal

“When I first came to the club, I was a young, naive kid who came over from Dublin. To be here now is just an unbelievable feeling.

“This was for our fans today. We are all European champions. It’s amazing.”

McCabe had to apologise for dropping a swear word into her emotional post-match interview, but such a slip was understandable as her ten-year adventure at Arsenal had finally reached its ultimate moment.

With U2’s Beautiful Day screaming out on the PA system in Lisbon’s Estadio Jose Alvalade, this felt like the perfect moment for the girl from Kilnamanagh.

Katie McCabe of Arsenal during the Women's Champions League final match against Barcelona at Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo: Pedro Loureiro/Sportsfile

She has given so much to Irish soccer, so much to Arsenal and now McCabe has the golden medal that will forever mean she is a champion.

This was a win Arsenal deserved after a battling performance that limited a threatening Barcelona attacking unit to a handful of half-chances.

With 44 goals in this season’s Champions League, the Catalan giants have highlighted their scoring threat, with that total a massive 19 more than Arsenal in the competition.

Yet it was Slegers’ Gunners who reached the break reflecting on what might have been, after they weathered an early burst of pressure to carve out the best chances.

While Aitana Bonmati was a threat every time she got on the ball for Barcelona, the Spanish side were relieved to reach the break on level terms as Arsenal squandered a host of presentable chances.

Arsenal believed they had taken the lead after 23 minutes as Irene Paredes’s attempted clearance ended up on the back of the Barcelona net, with a narrow VAR offside decision saving her from the ignominy of an own goal in a Champions League final.

Frida Maanum then went close for Arsenal as her long-range shot needed to tipped over the bar by Barcelona keeper Catalina Coll.

The half-time whistle sounded with the most feared team in European football pondering a change of approach as an Arsenal backline featuring the always reliable McCabe were handling everything coming at them.

Barcelona started to gain momentum in the second half and they so nearly snatched a lead as Claudia Pina looped onto the crossbar via a deflection from Arsenal’s Emily Fox.

The always threatening Bonmati then drew a fine save from Gunners keeper Daphne van Domselaar as her low shot was kept out and with the Barcelona pressure mounting, Arsenal so nearly snatched the vital opening goal on the break as Blackstenius broke at pace and forced a fine save from Coll.

Blackstenius must have been pondering whether she would get another chance as good as that, but it came just five minutes later and this time, she fizzed a shot back Coll to score the goal that would be etched into Arsenal folklore.

“We worked so hard and it just feels amazing. Just amazing,” said Arsenal forward Alessia Russo.

“We had to suffer a lot, they are a top side. We knew coming into the game we would have to suffer and there would be moments where we wouldn't have the ball. We had to be content and happy with not having the ball, knowing our moment would come.

“Everyone just wanted it so badly. I can't say enough.”

Whatever McCabe achieves from this point forward in her remarkable career, this will be the night that shines through.

Ireland has a Champions League winner and like her boxing namesake Taylor, this Katie will forever be listed among our nation’s sporting greats.

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