Lily Agg is barely a wet week in the Irish set-up, but she gets it.
“This is more than just a night of football, this is history,” she said in the moments after Tuesday night’s win against Scotland at Hampden Park.
Agg made her debut in June, but still had time to contribute a crucial goal on Ireland’s journey to World Cup qualification - the winner against Finland last month.
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“We’ve made history tonight,” continued the London City Lionesses midfielder.
“Hopefully it’s going to leave a legacy for the young girls and boys of today: this team can go to a World Cup.”
Brighton-born Agg has been quick to embrace her Irish roots. Last week she travelled with her mum to Cobh, her late grandmother’s home town, and visited cousins and friends there.
She met with Cobh Ramblers’ women’s Under-17s, girls who today can dream of one day playing at a World Cup.
“Hopefully it takes off,” said Agg. “Hopefully this back in Ireland is going to take off.
“Everyone in Ireland, I think, is going to be over the moon.
“We’re professional footballers working so hard to make things like this happen.
“All those before us who have led the way, we’re just trying to do them proud and do ourselves proud. Honestly, I’m so proud of everyone. I can’t quite believe it.”
Agg thought of her late grandmother before Tuesday night’s game against Scotland, and again after the final whistle.
“Moments like this, I keep closing my eyes and just thinking about it. It’s so special,” she said.
“I said to my Mum earlier, ‘I’ve got to do this for grandma’.
“All you can do before a game is say to yourself, ‘You’re going to work hard, you’re going to give it your all’.
“Look, you’re going to make mistakes, you’re human, but as long as you know you’re going to run your socks off, give it your all, put your heart on your sleeve… hopefully I did that tonight, I know the other girls did.
“Like I say, that’s for my grandma.”
Asked how she felt at the final whistle on Tuesday night, Agg replied: “Honestly I can't sum it up, I'm speechless.
“I feel like I'm dreaming but we're not. This is reality, we're going (to the World Cup).
“I keep saying it; everyone out there, the staff, the team behind the team, it means so much to everyone.
“Everyone was crying, but so happy. You can't even describe the feeling. Goosebumps, a shot of emotions coming over the body.
“Look, we've got to actually wake up in the morning and know that we're actually going to a World Cup. It's not a dream anymore. We're actually going.”
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