‘To score a hat-trick was unbelievable, but when I came home, it was the first time my father ever shook my hand’

When Ireland take on Wales for a place at the Euro 2025 finals, memories of 1973 will come flooding back for Paula Gorham. The pride of being one of the 11 Irish women to put on the green jersey for the first time, the honour of walking out for the team’s milestone maiden international away to Wales, and the history of being her country’s first goalscorer, after her famous hat-trick in that 3-2 victory in Llanelli..