Time can’t stand still unless your two world-class operators tip over 30.

Katie McCabe’s 30th birthday was celebrated in the knowledge she’s just reached another milestone of being a Champions League winner.

Eighteen months earlier, her fellow star Denise O’Sullivan passed that age threshold. By the time of the 2031 World Cup in USA and Mexico, the Corkwoman will be 37. McCabe’s 36th birthday will be within sight.

Granted, longevity is commonplace in the women’s game, the latest example being Jess Fishlock bowing out for Wales this week at 38. They are the exceptions. 

For McCabe and O’Sullivan, their time is now. In the case of Ireland, given the paucity of glitter next in line, they need that time to be now.

World Cup 2027 in Brazil is the target consuming Irish women’s football. It all begins tonight against Belgium at Lansdowne Road, only the fifth time HQ has hosted a women’s international.

That breakthrough was made possible arising from the major tournament ceiling being smashed, the 2023 debut against Northern Ireland coming two months after Ireland graced the World Cup in Australia.

No more than a third of that 35,944 attendance is expected in Dublin 4, primarily due to the absence of a prize at the conclusion of a playoff. However there is a prize — just not entirely visible or appreciated until next year.

Once Ireland sunk to a 4-0 loss in Slovenia in February, their route into the top tier of 16 nations for the World Cup qualifiers was an uphill task.

Settling for second in their Nations League group led to this playoff, part of Uefa’s masterplan to replace meaningless friendlies with jeopardy.

Should Ireland bely the gap of seven places in the world rankings by liquidating the Red Flames over the two legs, their road to Brazil becomes that bit less rocky. Crucially, it assures them entry into a convoluted playoff quagmire after the regulation qualifiers finish next June.

Fail and they’ll be rerouted back to the League B passageway, initially favourable until the bigger guns lurk in the playoffs given the bias towards League A.

Ireland’s dynamic duo will be instrumental to where they go next from this fork in the road. It doesn’t help that McCabe’s endured a fitful start to the season, both in terms of Arsenal’s results and being demoted to the bench for the past two matches.

Neither is O’Sullivan in tip-top condition. A knee injury sustained for her club North Carolina Courage included a timetable that ruled her out but she defied the medics to return last week, performing a 20-minute cameo against Bay City.

McCabe is reluctant to think of this stage as her twilight, yet unable to block it entirely from her conscience.

“I’m turning 30 but I still feel only 24,” the Ireland captain said with a grin. “That’s the main thing. I keep myself well. I keep myself fit. My day-to-day routines are so important to make sure I’m able to play at the top level.

“That I train with the best players in the world every day, perform every weekend for a massive club and get to represent my country.

“I need to be at my best, as much as I’ve turned 30. Of course, in the back of your head in a few years, you’re thinking, what’s next?

“Right now, I’m just so focused on club and country and to give 100 percent as much as I can.” Three wins from six isn’t the type of WSL form that’ll have domineering champions Chelsea jittery. 

McCabe is adamant it’s irrelevant to her international readiness.

“It’s not been ideal in terms of results,” she admitted. “I think we’ve wanted more from the games we’ve played but, for me coming in with Ireland, no matter where I am in the season, it’s always such an exciting 10 days. Whether or not I’m flying at club level, I’m still really excited to always come in and see the girls.” 

Neither form nor fitness will be an inhibitor for O’Sullivan, according to Ireland boss Carla Ward.

“I think Denise is Denise O’Sullivan,” she asserted. “She’s got an abundance of energy, quality and experience.

“While she’s only played 25 minutes in the last couple of months, we’ll get as much as we can get out of Denise O’Sullivan over these two games.” 

That’s a minimum for Ireland to re-navigate their tournament course.