Niamh Fahey will make her 100th appearance for the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team today when they take on Poland in their opening game of the Pinatar Cup on in Spain.
Having made her senior debut in 2007, Fahey is now set to become just the fourth female player in Ireland’s history to become a Centurion, following behind Emma Byrne (134), Áine O’Gorman (111) and Ciara Grant (105).
Galway native Fahey was presented with a special gold cap by FAI President Gerry McAnaney and Manager Vera Pauw at the team hotel in La Manga, Spain.
She played home games in eight different stadia here, from Tolka Park to Turner’s Cross, before the team settled on Tallaght Stadium as its regular home base.
Fahey has played the full 90 minutes of each of Ireland’s four games in a bright start to the qualification campaign for the FIFA World Cup in 2023.
She came to football after a successful stint in Ladies Football, winning an All-Ireland title with Galway in 2004.
Joining Salthill Devon as her first club she won an FAI Women’s Cup with Galway, scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot, in 2007 and then moving to Arsenal.
She has played for Chelsea and captained Liverpool in the English Leagues and is one of the real stars of the Women’s game.
Ireland go into their tournament opener hopeful of continuing their good run of form, with their last outing being the record 11-0 win over Georgia.
Fahey was a special guest at the Sport for Business Annual Women in Sport Conference in 2021.
