Jaden Umeh makes his senior debut as Republic Of Ireland beat Qatar one nil

Republic Of Ireland 1

Qatar 0

Cork's Jaden Umeh, 18, made his senior Republic of Ireland debut coming on in the 75th minute of a 1-0 victory over Qatar in an international friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday night

The striker was one of two former Ringmahon Rangers players on the pitch, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal for the Boys in Green.

There were two other Cork City academy graduates wearing the jersey, Jake O’Brien and Chiedozie Ogbene, on a night that saw Nathan Collins score in just the 5th minute.

The strangest thing about the game was both teams having players sent off in an international friendly, with Jack Moylan seeing red before the break.

The Dubliner was the biggest inclusion, with the former Bohemians and Shelbourne forward included after marking his senior international debut with a hat-trick against Grenada.

The Dubliner continued his rich vain of form in just the 5th minute by sending in a free kicked that was turned in by Collins.

The creator almost turned scorer with one his next touches, only to see his effort stopped by Mahmud Abunada at the near post.

This was during a prolonged period in possession by the Boys in Green, that also included a blistering strike by Parrott going just wide and Ogbene nodding the ball out for a corner that came to nothing.

Qatar did win a free-kick in the 39th minute over a foul on Pedro Miguel by Dara O’Shea. It was taken short for Homam Elamin, for a powerful strike that went over the bar and out for a goal kick.

Ireland went up the pitch, won a corner, and set up O’Shea for a header that went wide at the near post.

Then came a high challenge from Moylan on Jassem Gaber, a tackle that was met with a red card in the 45th minute.

The Boys in Green took their slender lead into the break, less a man, a situation that was met with one change at half-time. 

It was a straight swap with James Abankwah replacing O’Shea in defence, as Ireland played the same wing back based system with Liam Scales and Seamus Coleman doing the running out wide.

It took some time for the game to regain some level of space, despite both sides winning corners and free-kicks during occasional advances.

Qatar eventually got through in the 70th minute and a shot from Yusuf Abdurisag took a deflection off Collins. Kelleher immediately reacted by adjusting his stance before catching the ball with ease, a simple save despite the minor adjustment.

Almoez Ali, who was brought on in the 58th minute, was sent off in the 79th minute after hitting out.

That was the final moment of excitement, as things trickled out with attention turning to a friendly with Canada at the beginning of June at the Stadium Saputo in Montreal.

Republic of Ireland: Caoímhín Kelleher; Seamus Coleman, Jake O'Brien, Nathan Collins, Dara O'Shea, Liam Scales; Jayson Molumby, Jamie McGrath; Jack Moylan, Chiedozie Ogbene, Troy Parrott.

Subs: James Abankwah for O’Shea (HT); Corrie Ndaba for Scales (74), Jaden Umeh for Ogbene (74), Mason Melia for Parrott (90).

Qatar: Mahmud Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Jassem Gaber, Issa Laye, Ahmed Fathy; Yusuf Abdurisag, Homam Elamin, Edmilson Junior, Akram Afif; Boualem Khoukhi, Ayoub Al-Oui.

Subs: Almoez Ali for Afif (58); Assim Madibo for Khoukhi (58), Ahmed Alaaeldin for Junior (58), Karim Boudiaf for Gaber (58), Mohamed Al-Mannai for Fathi (59), Tahsin Jamshid for Abdurisag (78), Al Hashmi Al Hussain for Elamin (78), Lucas Mendes for Laye (78), Rayyan Al-Ali for Al-Oui (78), Hasan Alyhaydos for Al-Mannai (86).

Referee: Jamie Robinson (Northern Ireland)