
Ireland 0 Luxembourg 0: How the Irish players rated
Needed a second chance to get hold of a cross in the 13th minute but just before the half-hour mark O'Leary made an impressive diving save high to his left to deny a goal-bound Sinani shot. Used his feet to block a near-post effort in the second half. A solid international debut.
Rating:
7
5: Jake O'Brien (Everton)
Suffered a bang to his head late on in what was an otherwise largely uneventful game for O'Brien. He tried to get up the field when Ireland were in possession but so much about this encounter felt like an end of season affair.
Rating:
6
22: Nathan Collins (Brentford)
Captained Ireland on the night and despite some scrappy defending by the team at times, they finished with a clean sheet. Collins went close to scoring with a first-half header but his effort hit the woodwork.
Rating:
6
4: Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town)
Showed good positioning and decision-making when heading Smallbone's free back across the face of the goal for Ireland's best goalscoring chance in the first half – only for Collins to be denied by the woodwork.
Rating:
6
READ MORE
11: Robbie Brady (Preston North End)
He was forced off injured after just 20 minutes, a disappointing end to what was a positive season for Brady in green. Brady pulled a free short from a decent crossing position early on.
Rating:
4
17: Kasey McAteer (Leicester City)
Showed good endeavour early in the second half to get on the end of a goalscoring opportunity but his left-footed shot bounced wide of the right post. Was full of workrate and ambition throughout, though his finishing wasn't on point.
Rating:
6
8: Jason Knight (Bristol City)
He got back well to put his body in the way and make an important block on a close-range shot from Jans in the opening stages of the second half, the Luxembourg captain's shot hitting Knight and ricocheting out for a corner. Worked hard all night to try energise Ireland.
Rating:
6
Ireland's Killian Phillips and Jason Knight. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho
24: Killian Phillips (St Mirren, on loan from Crystal Palace)
It has been a very encouraging few days for Phillips, who built on his first Ireland appearance in the draw with Senegal by earning his maiden start in this game. But like most of his team-mates, struggled to make an impact in a low-tempo contest.
Rating:
5
6: Will Smallbone (Southampton)
The Southampton midfielder whipped in a lovely weighted pass from a free late in the first half and it created Ireland's best scoring chance in the opening period, O'Shea nodding the ball back across the face of the goal where Collins headed against the woodwork.
Rating:
6
9: Evan Ferguson (West Ham United, on loan from Brighton)
He struggled to carry any real attacking threat in what was a lacklustre fixture. The Meath man was booked for a foul on Carlson, which prevented a Luxembourg breakaway midway through the second half. Ferguson was taken off with 15 minutes to go.
Rating:
5
7: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar)
The Dubliner had something of a running battle with Korac and won two frees early on after the Luxembourg defender was forced to drag him down. Battled well and produced a lovely dinked finish for a goal that was correctly ruled offside in the 66th minute.
Rating:
7
Subs:
Ryan Manning (Southampton); Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town); Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir); Adam Idah (Celtic); Matt Doherty (Wolves); John Patrick (Stade De Reims)
Manning was busy and made a very positive impact after his introduction. Ebosele and Taylor combined to create a good goalscoring chance soon after they came off the bench. Taylor also smacked the crossbar with a rasping shot late on. Doherty made an important late interception.
Rating:
7
Manager: Heimir Hallgrímsson
On what was his 58th birthday, Hallgrímsson was at least able to celebrate Ireland getting through this international window unbeaten. This match will not last long in the memory but over the course of the two games he did at least get to have a look at some new players in green.
Rating:
6
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
5 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Paudie Clifford: Kerry felt disrespected by one-man-team talk
All-Ireland winners Kerry were driven by a feeling they had been disrespected, Paudie Clifford says. The older Clifford brother put in a fine performance as Kerry overcame Donegal by 10 points to claim a 39th title. And speaking to RTÉ afterwards, Clifford was content everything had clicked for the Kingdom on the big occasion. "This team has been together for a few years now but it's the first time we've put a 70-minute performance together and we're delighted. "I'm absolutely over the moon." Donegal had been tipped by many pundits ahead of the final and Clifford referenced some of the criticism his county has shipped this season. "We would have put a lot of pressure on ourselves. We are our own biggest critics but we did feel disrespected, we felt disrespected for a long time. "A team that has been in three of the last four All-Irelands and has won two of the last four. We felt very disrespected." In particular, Clifford objected to the idea that Kerry are a one-man team, reliant on his brother David. "To be called a one-man team, when you have fellas like Joe O'Connor, fellas like Jason Foley, who have worked all their lives to play for Kerry. And you're called a one-man team if you haven't won every All-Ireland. We felt disrespected." Kerry led by seven at the break and had largely controlled proceedings, despite occasional wayward shooting in search of two-pointers. "We knew what Donegal would bring, unbelievable workrate. We said we'd just pick around them and take the right shots, though we didn't really in the first half, we did in the second half. "We have to give massive credit to our midfielders and Shane Ryan. We had enough possession to be able to give a few balls away and kick a few wide."


The Irish Sun
5 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘We felt disrespected' – Kerry star Paudie Clifford slates critics after Kingdom win 39th All-Ireland title
KERRY star Paudie Clifford has hit back at critics who doubted the Kingdom. And he insisted the team finally put in a full shift when it mattered most. Advertisement 2 Paudie Clifford lashed out after the Kingdom claimed yet another All-Ireland title Credit: rte sport 2 They saw off a brave Donegal team that couldn't cope with their relentless attack He comments came directly after the The hard-working forward admitted they are also not a one-man team as He passionately slammed any doubters: 'We felt disrespected, to be honest. People were writing us off, saying we weren't the same since 2022. But we knew what we had in us.' Clifford also hailed Kerry's complete performance in the final: 'We hadn't really done the full 70 minutes in a while – not since the last time we won Sam. Advertisement read more on gaa "But today we did. We emptied the tank.' And Paudie also shut down talk that Kerry are a one-man team carried by his brother David. He said: 'Look, David is unbelievable, everyone knows that. "But we've 15 lads on that pitch and plenty more ready to go. This is a team – always has been.' Advertisement Most read in GAA Football The Kingdom produced a ruthless display at Croke Park to see off Donegal and claim their 39th All-Ireland football title. David and Paudie Clifford were outstanding, with Dylan Geaney and Joe O'Connor also starring as Kerry dictated the tempo from the outset. Matthew Broderick reveals connection to Donegal GAA during RTE interview Donegal battled bravely and got to within four points early in the second half, sparking hopes of a comeback - but Kerry responded like champions, pulling away again to seal a deserved victory. Jim McGuinness' men had their moments and converted well, but they simply couldn't cope with Kerry's pace, control, and firepower. Advertisement


The Irish Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Kerry land 39th All-Ireland title as David Clifford stars and Donegal's punishing wait goes on
KERRY secured their 39th All-Ireland title on Sunday afternoon as they broke Donegal hearts once again. Jack O'Connor's side delivered a composed, ruthless performance at Croke Park. Advertisement 2 David Clifford was sublime for Kerry as the bagged their 39th Sam Maguire title 2 Michael Murphy and Donegal put up a brave show but they couldn't get in touch of Kerry throughout the contest The Kingdom pulled clear when it mattered most, and stamped their authority on the contest despite Donegal's repeated attempts to rally. Jim McGuinness' men put up a fight, but they simply couldn't cope with the Kingdom's clinical edge. From the off, the three-time All-Ireland winners were chasing the game, as David and Paudie Clifford dominated the tight spaces and dictated the tempo. Joe O'Connor was a powerhouse in midfield as he sealed the game with the only goal of the contest, while Dylan Geaney floated dangerously throughout. Advertisement read more on gaa But it was the Kingdom's day once again at GAA HQ. KERRY 1-26 DONEGAL 0-19 MORE TO FOLLOW...