McCabe scored a goal in each half to help Republic of Ireland to victory in Georgia
Republic of Ireland will take a commanding advantage into the second leg of their Euro 2025 first round play-off against Georgia thanks to a 6-0 win in Tbilisi.
Eileen Gleeson's side had hammered Georgia by a combined 20-0 across two games in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, but initially found goals harder to come by at the Mikheil Meskhi II.
It took 36 minutes for them to open the scoring through a Katie McCabe penalty with the skipper adding an audacious second from more than 40 yards either side of close-range efforts from Kyra Carusa and Jess Stapleton in the second half.
Marissa Sheva and Aoife Mannion added further goals deep into injury time.
Barring an unlikely comeback from Georgia in Dublin on Tuesday night, the Republic of Ireland will face the victor of the tie between Wales and Slovakia for a place at next year's Euros, with the latter taking a 2-1 lead into Tuesday's second leg in Cardiff.
McCabe's second came from just inside the Georgian half
While Denise O'Sullivan had gone close in the opening minutes, bending an effort just beyond the far post, Republic of Ireland were forced to endure a largely frustrating opening half hour.
Julie-Ann Russell had a header tipped over the bar, while Abbie Larkin saw her shot creep wide after a teasing ball from McCabe.
The opening goal, though, was proving elusive.
The belated breakthrough came when Larkin's cross appeared to brush the hand of Nino Chkhartishvili before Natia Danelia needlessly lunged towards the ball with her arm.
While the Georgian players argued the case with the officials, there could be no doubt that the second touch warranted a penalty.
From the spot, McCabe scored to the keeper's right.
Seeking an early goal in the second half, Carusa met McCabe's free-kick but sent the ball just over the bar.
Not to be denied for long, Carusa doubled the visitor's advantage just before the hour mark, scoring with a delightful flick off her heel that went through Tatia Gabuni's legs.
The keeper had a moment to forget soon after when appearing to lose the flight of McCabe's effort from just inside in the Georgian half only for the ball loop over her head and nestle in the net.
Substitute Stapleton added the fourth, nudging home a corner for a goal awarded only after a lengthy VAR check.
With that delay resulting in ten minutes of additional time, Sheva produced a fine fifth with an effort arrowed into the far corner from the edge of the box, before Mannion rounded out the scoring when nodding home McCabe's free-kick with the final touch of the game.
