Five Limerick women honoured on 45th anniversary of Rep of Ireland's stunning win over Belgium

ON OCTOBER 27, 1980, the Ireland WNT faced off against Belgium for the first time in a women's senior international.

The game in Dalymount Park came on the back of the Belgians beating England and Northern Ireland.

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Coincidentally, the Ireland men's senior team had held Belgium to a 1-1 draw in the same venue just 12 days before but the WNT went one better by claiming a 1-0 victory courtesy of a goal from Limerick's Gráinne Cross.

Among those on that illustrious team were Limerick natives Gráinne Cross (Limerick City), Denise Lyons (Newcastle West), Marrita Murphy (Knockaderry), Jean Cowley (Limerick City) and Mairead Sheehan (Glin). 

Limerick ace Cross - who earned her first WNT cap as a 15-year-old - came off the bench as a substitute to head in the all-important goal. Unfortunately she clashed with the opposing goalkeeper and had to be taken to hospital, but it proved to be the decisive action of the game.

The WNT have since played Belgium on five other occasions but yet to replicate that winning feeling. Now, the current squad have the opportunity to break that trend by looking back to what Tony Kelly's team achieved 45 years ago.

Ahead of their UEFA Nations League Promotion / Relegation Play-Off First Leg on Friday, October 24, the WNT were sent good luck messages by members of that 1980 team who were reunited for a special event in the Aviva Stadium.

Mairead Culhane, Elizabeth Hanney, Cassandra Lawless, Pauline Boland, Linda Gorman, Pauline Bolger, Breda Hanlon, Marrita Murphy, Grainne Cross, Denise Lyons and Jane Cowhey were all in attendance, while Eileen Brennan, Mary Cleary, Catherine Fitzpatrick, Margaret O'Connell, Janice Mooney and Philo Robinson were unable to make it along.

The 1980 team are amongst over 300 former WNT players who have been offered complimentary tickets to the Belgium game to cheer on the Girls in Green as they attempt to get that victory and boost their chances of achieving promotion to League A.