Cathal Dervan, Editor
The curtain has finally come down on the elongated international window, the Nations League is gone back to bed for another month and thank God for that.
This was the window everyone involved in Irish football dreaded and it didn’t fail to deliver. From an abject performance in Kosovo, farce and really good football in Debrecen, second-half capitulation in the Aviva and bizarreness in Serbia, these two weeks had something for everyone.
There’s been enough said and written, here and elsewhere, about the off-field stuff so let’s park that and leave it for others to ring Liveline and vent their feelings.
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Kisses all round…
Two months out from the draw for the 2028 European Championship qualifiers and on the back of Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Israel, let’s see what we might have learnt from this endless window.
TROY PARROTT IS BACK
He is scoring goals for fun again but Troy Parrott’s Ireland career is an overnight sensation seven years in the making, ever since Mick McCarthy handed him his first cap against New Zealand in November, 2019. It’s taken the brave move to Holland and the escape from the expectations of life at Spurs for Troy to blossom but now he has found his stage and his audience. If he can avoid injury, he is only going to get better for Ireland via La Liga and might just kick-on to world class status, given time.
EVAN FERGUSON NEEDS TO GET BACK
Adam Idah’s flick for Troy’s brilliant first goal against Austria was as telling as the mazy run that followed and his 63 minutes on the pitch were some of his best for Ireland. They also proved that Troy needs a target man alongside him to fully exploit his trickery and whilst Adam is the man of the moment, there’s every reason to believe that a fully fit Evan Ferguson will be the perfect foil for Parrott and will offer more goal scoring threat in his own right than the Swansea striker. Get well soon Evan, please.
CONOR COVENTRY IS THE NEW JOSH CULLEN
It was telling that Charlton schemer got the nod ahead of Jayson Molumby and Jason Knight against Austria, more telling than the revelation that Brother Coventry is now leading the Irish team in prayer before every game. He may be saying the prayers but Coventry is more industrious than Molumby and more consistent in the demanding and thankless midfield work required at this level so he might finally be the answer to our number six prayers before Josh Cullen gets fit again.
WE NEED A NEW LIAM BRADY
The one thing we still lacked throughout this Nations League window is a creative midfielder who can split a defence and turn a game in an instant. Not since Liam Brady have we had such a player - Wes Hoolahan’s magic came close - so we really need someone to break from the traps and provide the key to unlock defences in the Euro qualifiers. Nobody put their hand up these past weeks so the search must be extended.
IN-GAME MANAGEMENT NEEDS TO IMPROVE
Stephen Kenny’s Ireland had a real issue conceding goals from distance. Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Ireland have a problem protecting two goal leads as Austria proved once again in a repeat of the Prague failures. That ability to close out games is crucial at this level. Preparing the team well in advance is a trait this current management are very good at but they, and the players, need to cope better in real life when they have a lead. That will be essential if they are to secure one of the automatic qualification spots for Euro 2028 and home games in Dublin.
As the League of Ireland returns, our regular LOI pundit Darryl Geraghty looks back at the Women’s FAI Cup success for Shels and the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division title win for Athlone. Plus a look ahead to all the big League and Club Orange FAI Cup action in the men’s game this weekend.
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