AMBER BARRETT last night fired Ireland to a first ever World Cup - and celebrated her history-making strike with a tribute to the victims of the Creeslough tragedy.
The Donegal native was sprung from the bench on 66 minutes for the injured Heather Payne and she took just seven minutes to write her name into the record books.
Barrett, who hails from Milford, has a granddad from Creeslough.
READ MORE: Recap as Ireland qualify for World Cup at Scotland's expense
As her shot settled in the Scottish net, she fell to her knees and pointed to the black armband that she and her teammates wore last night in memory of the 10 victims of the explosion that ripped through the town’s service station.
Prior to kick-off, a minute’s silence was held, just as it was across Glasgow where Celtic were in Champions League action.
At the final whistle an emotional Barrett pointed to the sky as all around her players in orange jerseys celebrated a night that will be remembered forever.
The men had Malta in 1989 and a John Aldridge double, which took them to Italia ‘90.
It’ll be the other side of the world for the Girls in Green, where they are sure to have a massive backing from travelling fans and the large expat community in Australia and New Zealand.
For years there were hard luck stories - a play-off defeat in 2008 and a heartbreaking loss in Ukraine that denied them a spot at the recent European Championships.
But they are no longer nearly-women - thanks to Donegal’s finest.
She showed composure with her finish that had been lacking in a helter-skelter match - one in which Ireland’s best chance of a goal seemed to be from Megan Campbell’s incredible throw-ins.
Aine O’Gorman was back in the starting-11 in a competitive match for the first time in almost a year, playing in an advanced right-wing role.
She had a couple of goalscoring opportunities but couldn’t find the target.
Meanwhile, the midfield battle between Caroline Weir and Denise O’Sullivan was one for the ages, with the presence of the Real Madrid ace blunting O’Sullivan’s attacking instincts.
However, the Cork ace still had the class to come up with the assist for Barrett’s winner.
Campbell’s throws, the first of which caused panic inside the Scottish area after just one minute, led to opportunities for Lily Agg, Niamh Fahey and others.
One even ended up in the back of the net, but was ruled out as it didn’t get a touch along the way.
The Scots struggled under the high Irish press and weren’t given a moment to relax on the ball, but grew into the game and had a chance to lead from the spot.
Courtney Brosnan has been nothing short of heroic in the Irish goal throughout the campaign, however, and she came up with a brilliant penalty save on 14 minutes.
Caroline Weir won the spot-kick when her shot cannoned off Niamh Fahey’s arm and onto the bar, but when the Madrid ace went to her right, Brosnan guessed right and saved.
Brosnan’s heroics deflated the hosts and their inspirational attacking star Weir, who at that point was beginning to dictate play.
Momentum turned again in Ireland’s favour and they threatened again with a couple of Campbell throws from the right.
Katie McCabe came up with a couple of inspired moments down the left to twice tee up O’Gorman, who should have done better with a first, a stooping header from five yards that sailed high over the bar. The second, a shot on the turn, flashed just wide.
The half ended with more Campbell throw-in related chaos inside the Scottish area.
Payne’s strike on the turn cleared the crossbar, before Scotland somehow managed to clear their lines three times in quick succession moments before the break.
Fahey’s back-post header was cleared off the line, Agg’s follow-up was parried by goalkeeper Gibson and Diane Caldwell’s bid to make it third time lucky was headed clear.
Ireland were first out for the second-half by a good minute and they gathered in a huddle, but it was the Scots that made the stronger start.
Ireland survived unscathed and a Katie McCabe free-kick on 65 minutes made it all the way to the back post, where Agg was unable to bundle it home.
Ireland had to wait just seven more minutes before they went ahead.
Fahey cleared the ball to O’Sullivan, who strode forward and played an inch-perfect pass into the path of Barrett.
Barrett’s brilliant first touch and pace took her clear of the last defender, and as goalkeeper Gibson advanced, she produced an outstanding finish to poke the ball inside the right-hand post.
The goal encouraged a strong reaction by the Scots and Erin Cuthbert was denied by Brosnan. Caldwell then blocked Lucy Graham’s back-post effort and Sophie Howard somehow headed wide on 88 minutes with the goal at her mercy.
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