9 June 2026; Players and staff from the Republic of Ireland team in the huddle after the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifier match between France and Republic of Ireland at Stade des Alpes in Grenoble, France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Ogbene the stand-out performer
Ben Dorgan, Guest columnist
The international season for Heimir Hallgrimsson and his Republic of Ireland men’s squad has drawn to a close with the two end of season friendlies against Qatar and Canada - and what did we learn ahead of the Nations League games to come this autumn?
A 1-0 win in the Aviva followed by the spoils shared in Montreal concluded what was a frantic and emotional rollercoaster of a campaign for the Boys In Green.
In another life, the squad would be currently on an extended stay in North America following the Canada fixture, gearing up for the World Cup finals.
Though cruelly that wasn’t to be, these two fixtures did give us a short insight into what could lie ahead for the upcoming Nations League campaign with a mix of raw talent and experienced heads all on show over the last two weeks.
One name amongst the happiest in the camp is someone who’s been involved in the setup - and perhaps also a first name on the team sheet - for some time now.
Chiedozie Ogbene went through some injury hell this season, rarely seeing a consistent run of the pitch both during his loan with Sheffield United and with parent club Ipswich Town, with the latter’s season resulting in promotion to the Premier League.
The Cork man netted Ireland’s equaliser against the Canadians last weekend, a rebounded finish from Troy Parrott’s saved spot kick. A goal naturally will do a world of good for a player when you’ve had a season like Ogbene’s. But after maybe the toughest period in his club career, the last two fixtures showcase that he remains an integral part of this Irish squad and now as one of the more experienced players.
At 29, Cheo finds himself playing a different role in the camp while also solidifying a place in the starting team, exemplified when speaking earlier this week about his pride for fellow Cork man Jaden Umeh who made his international debut whilst also sitting his Leaving Cert.
Umeh also showed his glimpses of quality in both games and despite not yet making a senior appearance for Benfica, it wouldn’t shock many if he is included in the squads for the Nations League campaign.
5 June 2026; James Abankwah of Republic of Ireland in action against Liam Millar of Canada during the international friendly match between Canada and Republic of Ireland at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Canada. Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile
A skillful and direct forward with a lot of promise, his ability was clear to see in both fixtures.
Another Ireland debutant over this window was Bohemians captain Dawson Devoy, who played the first-half in Montreal. I found that many on X (Twitter) were needlessly quick to get on his back in what was 45 minutes of football in a game that did not suit a midfielder of any quality, with the tactics from either side not so easy on the eye in that half.
Whether Devoy is to be seen again in the national colours will be revealed in the future, but to see a League of Ireland player start for the national side is something that should be regarded as way past a sympathy call up for our domestic league.
Elsewhere in the squad, more specifically the defensive operations, we again witnessed Heimir’s loyalty to the mainstays of his back five.
A generous number of minutes for Seamus Coleman, Nathan Collins, Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales and, despite an own goal to his name, Jake O’Brien reaffirmed that these are the figures likely to lead out from the back once more in Autumn.
Add the impressive introductions of Corrie Ndaba and James Abankwah to this and the defensive side of things is seemingly taking care of itself.
Overall, these were two good run-outs for the extended squad with international debut’s aplenty and perhaps that is the biggest talking point from both fixtures.
There is room for some gripe with the manner of the debuts handed to some players however. Looking specifically at Joe Hodge, Kian Leavy and Adam Brennan for example who were all introduced to the fray in an Ireland shirt for the first time at the end of the 90 minute mark against Canada.
No doubt a proud moment for all three of them, but being given at the very most maybe five minutes to impress felt slightly unjust given the talent these players have.
Again, it’s great to see features in the media with players from our domestic league getting senior caps in Leavy and Brennan, something that seems to happen once in a blue moon these days. But surely more minutes for the three lads mentioned could have been afforded to really showcase what they’re about.
An alternative World Cup
We’ve been deliberating and cogitating on what our coverage should entail over the coming weeks without losing focus on all matters closer to home. We’ve been reminiscing, pontificating, projecting, brainstorming even…
Anyway, there will be plenty to watch, hear or read - alternative views aplenty but watch out for the giraffes! (Seriously!!).
Here’s what you can expect as the Summer’s largest football event kicks off…
Let’s Talk Football
MONDAYS - WC Focus with guest pundit Rob Shepherd
TUESDAY - Who? What? Where? News & views
WEDNESDAY - WC Focus II with special guests
THURSDAY - Five to Watch Focus with Kevin Bannon
FRIDAY - LOI Focus with Darryl Geraghty
If you love football and you mildly like giraffes, you’ll love TSH summer pods.
Regardless, I think that international window is one that brought more positives than negatives.
Ultimately, it showcased that there is lots to build on from the World Cup qualifying campaign that let the nation dream for a split second once more.
It can’t be seen as a once in a lifetime opportunity gone by but rather a building block for some success in small doses in the next few years which is aided by an outpouring of young talent.
That can start with the Nations League campaign in Autumn. Though the focal point of our opponents in that group may be a certain state in the Middle East and the ramifications around the fixture, there is a chance to solidify momentum behind the national side once more with a good campaign.
That is most definitely achievable with the depth of squad we now have at our disposal.
World Cup veterans Rob Shepherd and editor Cathal Dervan looks back on USA '94, look forward to this summer's tournament and introduce the World Cup Giraffes. Four quarters of football, will this be the end of Soccerball??
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The real France turned up and had to as they sealed World Cup qualification with a 1-0 win over Ireland in Grenoble on Tuesday night, a result that sends the Republic into the play-offs as top seeds in next week’s draw.
Carla Ward’s team needed a win to secure qualification for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil but a slow start caught them out as Melvine Malard scored with an overhead kick five minutes before the break.
Speaking to the Irish Sun afterwards, a proud Ward said: “I’m incredibly proud of the group and so should everyone. This campaign been sensational
“We have come close against one of the best teams in the world. My God did France turn up, they were outstanding, with excellent players everywhere.
“We know how good they are when they find their rhythm. We did prepare for an onslaught. I thought we managed it well But their goal was a moment of magic, an overhead kick.
“The World Cup goal is the ambition, we have a different route but it tells some story that we are disappointed to lose.
“The World Cup needs this group, they are a special group. You have to take chances against a side like that but I have nothing but love and pride for this group.
“If I’m a young girl watching them I’m inspired. We’ll go to Zurich next week, see who we play, assess that and go back to work. This is the start, not the end, we’ll continue to work, pick ourselves back up for October.
“If we put in performances like we have in this campaign we’ll be absolutely fine.”
The Government and the FAI were both in the firing line in the Dail on Tuesday as opposition parties turned the heat up in the debate about the upcoming Nations League games against Israel as a Sinn Fein motion calling for a boycott of the two games was debated.
The Irish Independent reports that a Government amendment to the motion claimed that the FAI is ‘independent’ and are responsible for making their own decision on sporting fixtures.
“The Government acknowledges the FAI’s independence and autonomy in arriving at this decision and any decisions it may make in the coming days,” the Government amendment said.
The FAI will announce plans on Thursday to move the home game out of Dublin to a neutral venue with the Dail hearing that the Association are talking to a number of parties, including the Israeli FA, about the planned switch in venue.
Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, whose party proposed the motion, slammed the lack of Government TDs present for the debate ahead of the vote on Wednesday.
“As desperate families queue for food and aid, face bombardment, displacement, and fear, and yet, despite all of this, you come in - only two of you, the rest of your benches are bare benches of shame,” she said.
Social Democrats TD Sinead Gibney, set to bring a second motion against the game to the Dail on Wednesday, told the Government parties: “You need to grow a pair as a government and do this and stop the game.”
Roy Keane has admitted in a Sky Sports TV show that he now wishes his Saipan row with Mick McCarthy had never happened ahead of the 2002 World Cup but has also claimed that his conscience is clear over the manner in which he handled himself.
“Given everything that had happened with Ireland over many years, there was always going to be a tipping point. I could not have done anything differently and I have no regrets,” Keane is quoted as saying by the Irish Mirror.
“Do I wish it had happened? Of course not. But if a manager calls a player out in front of an entire squad, I am going to react,” said Keane who, the Sun says, believes McCarthy should have consulted him in private rather than calling him out in front of the team.
Pico Lopes and Joseph Anang will earn a cool €125,000 each for their clubs when they represent Cape Verde and Ghana at the World Cup finals this month.
The two League of Ireland clubs will receive the payments from FIFA as part of the Club Benefits Programme designed to support clubs who have players at the finals. The Irish Independent reports that an expected €9000 per day compensation payment will now amount to €4,400 per day whilst the clubs are missing their stars.
American striker Sydney Stephens has been rewarded for her impressive league form for Sligo Rovers with her selection as the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Month for May.
RTE Sport reports on the award for Stephens who’s seven goals and three assists across three games in May.
All photos on TheSportsHacks are provided by Sportsfile.com
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