Chance for Cork players to shine ahead of fresh Ireland campaign
Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson (centre) and players celebrate following victory in the UEFA Nations League play-offs, second leg match against Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium, in Dublin, in March.
Ireland returned to international action last night in a friendly against a Senegal side with a strong and growing reputation, that has seen them unbeaten in general play since way back in 2023. But the game came a little too late for the deadline of this column so the best we can hope for is that Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men have continued on the form that saw them see off Bulgaria home and away in the last of the Nations League playoff games back in March.
Back then, the team showed an impressive degree of maturity and game management to secure the wins, despite the Bulgarians taking early leads in both games.
The Senegal game was no doubt a challenge with the African side ranked 19th in the world and well known for their physicality and skill. It was part one of a brace of friendlies facing Ireland with Tuesday’s encounter with Luxembourg offering a significantly different challenge with the minnow European opponents in comparison to last night’s match with the 2021 African Cup of Nations champions.
Hallgrímsson will be looking to blood some new talent ahead of the side commencing their World Cup qualifiers in September and the difficult openers against Hungary and Armenia. In that respect, the Icelandic man has made some senior squad call-ups for Leyton Orient goalkeeper Josh Keeley, Killian Phillips, who is on loan with St Mirren, Shamrock Rovers’ Josh Honohan and the exciting Reims midfield prospect in the shape of John Joe Patrick Finn.
Of course, we here in Cork will be hoping that our local lads will get the chance to shine ahead of the more serious tests that lie ahead in September. Caoimhin Kelleher, fresh off his big money move to Brentford from Liverpool will no doubt be up for the challenge between the sticks as he is set to step out from the shadow of Alison Becker in Liverpool and claim his starting No 1 role with the Bees.
With Seamus Coleman unavailable for Ireland, his Everton team-mate Jake O’Brien will also be looking to impress in the coming games. If O'Brien can transfer a fraction of the late season success he had with the Toffees at full back to the international stage, he will hopefully be embarking on a long and fruitful career in the green shirt.
It would also be great to see if Shamrock Rovers defender Josh Honohan gets a run in the team. The former Carrigaline United schoolboy player and Cork City academy star was plucked up by Rovers after a breakthrough year with the then first division City senior side. Since then, Honohan has become a constant presence within Rovers’ impressive run into the knockout stages of the Uefa Conference League this last season.
That consistency at Tallaght Stadium brought him to the attention of Hallgrímsson and it would be a great step forward for Honohan and the League of Ireland if he could get some game time. Even if some derogatory remarks on Holohan’s recent performance against Galway United by his manager at Rovers, Stephen Bradley, might negatively impact his chances of making the breakthrough at this level.
Up front, Adam Idah will also be looking to take the next step in his international career now that he is getting more game time at club level with Celtic. The Douglas man scoring 20 league goals in their Championship-winning campaign for the Glasgow giants, as well as three crucial goals for the club in the Champions League has seen him become a lot more confident as a striker and as an individual.
Idah spoke during the week, at the Irish camp, about how he has got into a “nice little rhythm” with Celtic towards the end of the season. And expressed his hunger for what was coming in September, hoping to add to his international tally which included the crucial winner against Bulgaria in the home game back in March.
"It is a lot more positive in the group, we are closer together, it was tough to get going but some of us have been together four, five years now so we really want to push for qualification." Hopeful words indeed that many long-suffering Irish fans will be wishing to get behind.
Whatever the outcome of last night’s game, we will hope that Hallgrímsson will be willing to experiment with the side on Tuesday and try some different combinations mixing the tried and trusted with the new panellists against the lowland nation. If that will include some Cork involvement, then all the better.
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