Latest news with #MaxO'Leary
RTÉ News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Max O'Leary happy patience was rewarded after making his debut in Luxembourg
Max O'Leary was pleased his patience was finally rewarded after ending his six-year wait for a first senior Republic of Ireland cap. The 28-year-old Bristol City goalkeeper was first called up in 2019 and has been included in squads by successive managers without ever getting the nod. However, he was handed his chance in Tuesday night's 0-0 friendly draw in Luxembourg as Heimir Hallgrimsson repaid his loyalty and dedication with a debut. O'Leary said: "I've seen a few managers, been in lots of camps, so it is finally nice to get that first cap. "That availability, knowing you might not play, but still turning up and working every day, I love doing it. I love working hard to help others out when I need to, so when it is my time, I am ready to go. "I've tried to be patient. I've been patient pretty much my whole career. I'm a bit older now so I know how the game works. You come in and it is something different, being with the boys, different coaches and you can learn from great players as well. "The group we have got is really good. Caoimh [Caoimhin Kelleher] has been really great with me this week, so has Josh [Keeley]. We know there are other lads waiting as well. There is a good unit there." 28mins: 🇱🇺 LUX 0-0 🇮🇪 IRL After a quiet first 20 minutes O'Leary is forced into action on his debut, in the first big chance of the game to make a great save. 📺 @rte2 & @rteplayer from 7:30pm 📱 Follow a live blog 👇 — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 10, 2025 O'Leary's bow proved to be far more than a token gesture as he produced two fine saves to deny first Danel Sinani and then substitute Vincent Thill at the Stade de Luxembourg to ensure he emerged with a clean sheet. That result extended Ireland's unbeaten run to four games ahead of turning their attention to September's opening World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia. O'Leary said: "It's all right, isn't it? Of course you want to go win the game. We said at half-time that the worst case is we keep it at 0-0. "We knew we would get chances. We hit the bar, Troy [Parrott] has had a [goal] that was ruled offside. Little bits and pieces we know we can improve, but we have built foundations going into competitive games where we know we can improve."
The 42
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'We're going in with great momentum. We haven't lost' - World Cup qualifying up next for Ireland
NATHAN COLLINS IS relishing the prospect of heading into the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualification campaign with momentum despite surviving a scare in Luxembourg. Heimir Hallgrimsson's men brought down the curtain on their season's fixtures with a disappointing 0-0 friendly draw with the nation ranked 91st by Fifa on Tuesday evening, in the process extending their modest unbeaten run to four games. They will have to be significantly better if they are to emerge from September's opening qualifiers against Hungary in Dublin and Armenia in Yerevan with positive results, but the fact that they will set out having lost just once in six games is a huge plus for Brentford defender Collins. He said: 'When we come back in September we're going in with great momentum. We haven't lost (in 2025). 'We know there are more things to work on, we know there are things we can get better at, but at the end of the day, going in unbeaten in the last four, going into a qualifier, I've never experienced that myself. It will be a nice feeling.' Asked how big the Hungary game will be, Collins added: 'I can't wait for it. The fans will be at it. What we've created, the bond with the fans, is great. Advertisement 'I'm looking forward to be back at the Aviva, hunger straight off the bat. We've a massive game.' That said Collins, who captained Ireland at the Stade de Luxembourg, knows they are slightly fortunate to have preserved their unbeaten run after a difficult evening, somewhat unexpectedly so after Friday night's encouraging display in a 1-1 draw with Senegal at the Aviva Stadium. Had it not been for Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary, who made vital saves from Danel Sinani and substitute Vincent Thill on his senior international debut six years after his first call-up, Hallgrimsson's men might have lost. They might have won too with both Collins and substitute Jack Taylor hitting the woodwork, but that would perhaps have been unjust. Collins admitted: 'We're lucky that it still carries momentum. The way we played, we could have lost that. We didn't deserve to win, but to sit in and defend the way we did, we didn't deserve to lose. 'Credit to Max O'Leary, he's been in the camp a long time and not got his caps, but he made two great saves. (Matt Doherty) got a tackle in and (Jason Knight) was class in front (of the back four). 'We weren't at our best, but we defended well, dug in and had our chances. We wanted to be not as passive and wanted to get after them more, but we weren't at that. 'Considering how we were nowhere near our best, we still dug out a clean sheet. But we all know that was nowhere near our best and we have so much more to give.'
Irish Independent
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘I've been patient pretty much my whole career' – Max O'Leary pleased with night's work after first Ireland senior cap at 28
And while Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary could struggle to even make the Irish squad when the World Cup qualifiers come around in September, if Caoimhín Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu and Mark Travers are all available, he feels he's done enough with a clean sheet on his debut to show he's an able deputy. O'Leary was first called in six years ago and had been an unused sub on 17 occasions before he was handed a start, at the age of 28, in the friendly away to Luxembourg, the Bristol man playing a part in that clean sheet with two top class saves. "I know the quality we have in that department. We are really lucky. I'll do whatever I need to do and whatever I need to help,' he says, aware that managers are reluctant to throw in a keeper for a few minutes when an outfield player can easily do so to get game time. 'Anyone can play but it is rare to see a goalkeeper come on for a five, ten minute run around cameo. When you play you got to stick in there and make it your own. It is my job to push the boys. 'I've tried to be patient. I've been patient pretty much my whole career. I am a bit older now so I know how the game works – you come in and it is something different, being with the boys, different coaches and you can learn off great players as well. "The group we have got is really good. Caoimh has been really great with me this week. So has Josh [Keeley]. We know there are other lads waiting as well, there is a good unit there.' His parents were in Luxembourg to see him make his senior debut, O'Leary eligible via a Kerry grandparent. "My family came. It was good to have some familiar faces in the crowd and to see them. He [Heimir Hallgrimsson] picked the team on Monday, so I knew but I actually said to them earlier in the week that there might be a chance. You don't know until it is confirmed. They took a risk and came over. 'It is unbelievable, a big occasion for me. I took it in my stride and just wanted to enjoy it more than anything, not think too much about the outcome, stay in the present, have a bit of fun out there and get a result for the team.'
Irish Examiner
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Nathan Collins happy to see Ireland carry momentum into World Cup qualifying
Nathan Collins is relishing the prospect of heading into the Ireland's World Cup qualification campaign with momentum despite surviving a scare in Luxembourg. Heimir Hallgrimsson's men brought down the curtain on their season's fixtures with a disappointing 0-0 friendly draw with the nation ranked 91st by FIFA on Tuesday evening, in the process extending their modest unbeaten run to four games. They will have to be significantly better if they are to emerge from September's opening qualifiers against Hungary in Dublin and Armenia in Yerevan with positive results, but the fact that they will set out having lost just once in six games is a huge plus for Brentford defender Collins. He said: 'When we come back in September we're going in with great momentum. We haven't lost. 'We know there are more things to work on, we know there are things we can get better at, but at the end of the day, going in unbeaten in the last four, going into a qualifier, I've never experienced that myself. It will be a nice feeling.' Asked how big the Hungary game will be, Collins added: 'I can't wait for it. The fans will be at it. What we've created, the bond with the fans, is great. 'I'm looking forward to be back at the Aviva, hunger straight off the bat. We've a massive game.' That said Collins, who captained Ireland at the Stade de Luxembourg, knows they are slightly fortunate to have preserved their unbeaten run after a difficult evening, somewhat unexpectedly so after Friday night's encouraging display in a 1-1 draw with Senegal at the Aviva Stadium. Had it not been for Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary, who made vital saves from Danel Sinani and substitute Vincent Thill on his senior international debut six years after his first call-up, Hallgrimsson's men might have lost. They might have won too with both Collins and substitute Jack Taylor hitting the woodwork, but that would perhaps have been unjust. Collins admitted: 'We're lucky that it still carries momentum. The way we played, we could have lost that. We didn't deserve to win, but to sit in and defend the way we did, we didn't deserve to lose. We all know that was nowhere near our best and we have so much more to give 'Credit to Max O'Leary, he's been in the camp a long time and not got his caps, but he made two great saves. (Matt Doherty) got a tackle in and (Jason Knight) was class in front (of the back four). 'We weren't at our best, but we defended well, dug in and had our chances. We wanted to be not as passive and wanted to get after them more, but we weren't at that. 'Considering how we were nowhere near our best, we still dug out a clean sheet. But we all know that was nowhere near our best and we have so much more to give.' Read More Three bright sparks from a frustrating Irish night in Luxembourg
Powys County Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Nathan Collins happy to see Ireland carry momentum into World Cup qualifying
Nathan Collins is relishing the prospect of heading into the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualification campaign with momentum despite surviving a scare in Luxembourg. Heimir Hallgrimsson's men brought down the curtain on their season's fixtures with a disappointing 0-0 friendly draw with the nation ranked 91st by FIFA on Tuesday evening, in the process extending their modest unbeaten run to four games. They will have to be significantly better if they are to emerge from September's opening qualifiers against Hungary in Dublin and Armenia in Yerevan with positive results, but the fact that they will set out having lost just once in six games is a huge plus for Brentford defender Collins. Our June international window ends in stalemate — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 10, 2025 He said: 'When we come back in September we're going in with great momentum. We haven't lost. 'We know there are more things to work on, we know there are things we can get better at, but at the end of the day, going in unbeaten in the last four, going into a qualifier, I've never experienced that myself. It will be a nice feeling.' Asked how big the Hungary game will be, Collins added: 'I can't wait for it. The fans will be at it. What we've created, the bond with the fans, is great. 'I'm looking forward to be back at the Aviva, hunger straight off the bat. We've a massive game.' Ireland debut ✅Clean sheet ✅ A solid introduction to international football for Max O'Leary 👊 — Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 10, 2025 That said Collins, who captained Ireland at the Stade de Luxembourg, knows they are slightly fortunate to have preserved their unbeaten run after a difficult evening, somewhat unexpectedly so after Friday night's encouraging display in a 1-1 draw with Senegal at the Aviva Stadium. Had it not been for Bristol City keeper Max O'Leary, who made vital saves from Danel Sinani and substitute Vincent Thill on his senior international debut six years after his first call-up, Hallgrimsson's men might have lost. They might have won too with both Collins and substitute Jack Taylor hitting the woodwork, but that would perhaps have been unjust. Collins admitted: 'We're lucky that it still carries momentum. The way we played, we could have lost that. We didn't deserve to win, but to sit in and defend the way we did, we didn't deserve to lose. 'Credit to Max O'Leary, he's been in the camp a long time and not got his caps, but he made two great saves. (Matt Doherty) got a tackle in and (Jason Knight) was class in front (of the back four). 'We weren't at our best, but we defended well, dug in and had our chances. We wanted to be not as passive and wanted to get after them more, but we weren't at that. 'Considering how we were nowhere near our best, we still dug out a clean sheet. But we all know that was nowhere near our best and we have so much more to give.'
