The Republic of Ireland have been promoted to the League A of the UEFA Nations League after an 88th-minute Denise O'Sullivan strike saw them overcome a weather-enforced delay and atrocious conditions to dig out a 1-0 win in Albania.
The game descended into farce from 15 minutes on as incessant rain turned the pitch into an ice rink.
At half-time the match was suspended, with groundstaff sweeping pools of lying water off the pitch for about 90 minutes.
The game did finally resume, and though Ireland never truly found their rhythm on a dour evening, O’Sullivan pounced late to maintain their 100% record in the UEFA Nations League.
Northern Ireland’s subsequent draw with Hungary in Belfast means the Girls in Green have won the group with two games to spare.
It was no classic, but Ireland did enough to escape with a soggy, hard-earned victory that lifts them into elite company.
Eileen Gleeson made two changes to the side that won 5-1 last Friday. Striker Erin McLaughlin was handed her first senior start and Sinead Farrelly came into the midfield as Izzy Atkinson and Megan Connolly dropped out.
The players' cries echoed around the sparsely attended Stadiumi Loro Borici during an open start.
Albania, just as they did in Tallaght, sporadically threatened to expose Ireland's 3-5-2 shape down the flanks, primarily through the eye-catching pair Mimoza Hamidi and Megi Doci.
Gleeson switched McCabe out to the left to give Mclaughlin an opportunity up top alongside Kyra Carusa, but in a scratchy opening period, Ireland missed the verve she provides when used centrally.
Cracks of thunder preceded intensely heavy rain in Schkoder. And as the heavens opened, Ireland plodded along without much pace or imagination.
O'Sullivan's close-range effort was smothered and half cleared, with Louise Quinn slicing a 15-yard effort wide; then O'Sullivan's shot on the swivel caught an Albania leg and trickled wide.
But as conditions worsened, the game descended into a complete slog.
Passes were wayward and dropping short on the sodden turf, decisions were hurried and any patterns of play dissolved in the storm.
Ten minutes before the break, the possibility of an abandonment became very real as puddles gathered all around the field. This match-up against the world's number 72-ranked team was now a lottery.
The Ireland defence completely switched off to allow Hamidi to peel into the box to chase a clever clipped pass. She was foiled by the surface water as the ball stuck to the deck like a magnet to deprive the 25-year-old a clear run at goal.
Still the rain teemed down. Players looked like they were competing on Takeshi's Castle as they slipped and skidded through proceedings, desperately trying to gain control over a football that appeared to have been dunked in Fairy liquid.
At half-time the decision was made to suspend play. Ninety minutes of graft went into sweeping swathes of water from the pitch and ensure the action could resume.
Once it did, Ireland looked a bit more sprightly.
McCabe scuffed a right-footed attempt following a smart pass from O'Sullivan; then another Louise Quinn strike scuttled a couple of yards wide.
But Albania wouldn't buckle. The excellent Doci buzzed about with intelligence and intent, ably supported by Qendresa Krasniqi and Armela Tukaj.
Even in the improved conditions Ireland found it hard to break down a hard-working Albanian unit, but substitute Izzy Atkinson offered badly needed dynamism and allowed McCabe to play off Carusa.
Things finally started to click.
Twenty minutes from time Louise Quinn again threatened when her presence in the box caused confusion and a low strike forced Viona Rexhepi into a sharp save. Then O'Sullivan tested the home keeper before McCabe squandered the chance of the night when she nodded over from four yards out.
Heather Payne - brought on at half-time - bent in a terrific cross that O'Sullivan met with a meaty header. Rexhepi kept it out with a super stop that seemed to further buoy her team.
Denise O'Sullivan has broken the deadlock for Ireland in their Women's Nations League clash in Albania and Eileen Gleeson's side are on course to maintain their 100% record #COYGIG #ALBIRL #IRLWNT
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Ireland were way off their best but they turned the screw sufficiently in the closing stages to crack open the underdogs. O'Sullivan slipped in Carusa with a clever touch, Carusa pulled it back and O'Sullivan was rewarded for continuing her run as she swept home a composed finish.
Job done - just. The North's draw with Hungary rubber-stamped Ireland's promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, another morale-booster on a dreary night at the office.
Albania: Viona Rexhepi; Lucie Gjini (Matilda Gjergji 46), Sara Maliqi, Gresa Berisha, Alma Hila; Qendresa Krasniqi, Ezmiralda Franja; Mimoza Hamidi (Mikaela Metalla 63); Megi Doci (capt), Kristina Maksuti, Armela Tukaj
Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Abbie Larkin (Izzy Atkinson 63), Caitlin Hayes, Diane Caldwell, Louise Quinn, Katie McCabe; Denise O'Sullivan, Sinead Farrelly (Jamie Finn HT), Tyler Toland; Erin McLaughlin (Heather Payne HT), Kyra Carusa
Referee: Araksya Saribekyan (Armenia)
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