Author: Andy Gray

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedAndy GrayBBC Sport NI Journalist7 June 2025Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill was proud of the character shown by his players in Saturday’s 2-1 friendly defeat in Denmark. Northern Ireland made the perfect start when Shea Charles’ effort touched off Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and into the net in the sixth minute. However, Denmark rallied and their pressure was rewarded when the impressive Gustav Isaksen curled home on the stroke of half-time.The hosts carried that momentum after the restart and took the lead in the 67th minute through Christian Eriksen’s close-range finish. Substitute Mika Biereth swiftly had a goal ruled out for offside, but O’Neill was pleased with how his young squad soaked up pressure and stayed in the game until the final whistle.”We showed a lot of character, we stayed in the game at 2-1 which isn’t easy,” he told BBC Sport NI.”You have to get to that final phase of the game when you can get an opportunity.”The friendly in Copenhagen, and Iceland’s visit to Windsor Park on Tuesday are the final two qualifiers before Northern Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in September. They start their bid in Luxembourg and Germany, and also face Slovakia in Group A. O’Neill said his side “got off to a good start” in Denmark and defended well, but struggled to keep hold of possession and that pressure only intensified in the second half as Denmark dominated the ball. “It’s a very young team against an experienced team,” O’Neill added, as his 26-strong squad only contained one player over the age of 30 in the form of substitute George Saville.”Physically it was tough at times for us but overall we got what we wanted out of the game. “The most important thing, as I said before this, is the players come away realising we’re going to have to play games of this nature in Slovakia, Luxembourg and Germany as well.”Related topicsNorthern Ireland Men’s Football TeamNorthern Ireland SportFootballIrish Football

Getty ImagesAndy GrayBBC Sport NI Journalist6 hours ago124 Comments”We talked before about who will be the player to take them to the World Cup? I think he is the biggest trump card.”Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann was full of praise for Caoimhin Kelleher after the Republic of Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Senegal. Kelleher’s resolve was finally broken in the 81st minute after making three big saves to keep the African side out in Dublin. It has been a big week for the 26-year-old, who left Liverpool to join Brentford for an initial £12.5m, which could rise to £18m with add-ons.According to former Premier League goalkeeper Shay Given, “in the current climate he’s worth every single penny, if not more”.”No disrespect to Brentford, but I’m surprised there wasn’t a few more bigger clubs in,” Given said on RTE Sport.”Unless clubs have gone, ‘let’s have a look at him at Brentford. We know they are a selling club, let’s see him as a number one for a year or two’. “At 26 years of age he’s still plenty young enough. He looks the real deal”Given reflected upon the goalkeeping situation at Manchester United and Chelsea, and said “I would have gone in and got him”.He was speaking after Kelleher made three big saves against Senegal. The first came early in the second half when he tipped Krepin Diatta’s header onto the crossbar when it looked destined for the back of the net.It was a save Given described as “world class”, and Kelleher followed it up with another save to push the ball off the line after a big deflection onto the post, and then the initial stop with his foot to keep the ball out before Ismaila Sarr fired home the rebound in Dublin.”I don’t think there is a keeper in the group who is anywhere near as good as he is,” Hamann said on RTE when talking about the key role Kelleher could play for the Irish ahead of World Cup qualifying in September. “I said last year, I think he is one of the top five keepers in the Premier League. “Obviously one of those better than him was playing for the same club [Liverpool’s Alisson]. “You’ll struggle to find three of four better players than him in the Premier League and I think he’ll show it next season.” Getty ImagesFormer Newcastle United and Manchester City stopper Given believes Kelleher will have a point to prove as he heads to Brentford as their first choice goalkeeper after deputising for Alisson while at Anfield.Kelleher, who joined Liverpool as a 16-year-old, played in 25 Premier League games since making his debut five years ago.”He would have benefited but he would have missed out on so many games as well,” Given said on Kelleher’s time at Liverpool. “He’ll not get that back now. He’ll be hungry to play every single week and be successful in his own right. “His patience paid off. He’s gone to Brentford with a Premier League medal and it’s not like he made one or two substitute appearances. “He played really well and it was in a part of the season when the league was far from won. There was high pressure and he can deal with it, he’s got the whole lot.”Related topicsRepublic of Ireland Men’s Football TeamBrentfordNorthern Ireland SportFootball

InphoAndy GrayBBC Sport NI Journalist6 June 2025Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson says he is taking the positives from Friday’s 1-1 draw with Senegal.The excellent Kasey McAteer gave the Irish the lead in the 21st minute when he reacted quickest after Yehvann Diouf saved his initial header. Senegal were unbeaten in 20 matches heading into the friendly and got a deserved equaliser when Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr scored from close range with nine minutes remaining.”I’m happy with the performance and there are a lot of positive things we can take from this,” Hallgrimsson told RTE Sport.”The negative thing is we conceded goals from crosses. It wasn’t tactical – there were enough bodies in the box but we need to be a little bit more brave.” The former Iceland manager handed a first start to Leicester City’s McAteer and he rewarded the faith shown by his manager by netting the opening goal in Dublin. Hallgrimsson said the 23-year-old put in a “really good performance” on his maiden international start. “He showed a lot of confidence, took players on and got the goal as a reward,” he added. “I’m really happy for him.”The Republic are back in action on Tuesday away to Luxembourg in their final friendly before the start of World Cup qualifying, when the Irish will face Portugal, Hungary and Armenia.Hallgrimsson’s side are now unbeaten in three matches and he wants his team to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s friendly before their World Cup bid begins.”The big thing from this game is we can play top teams,” he added.”We are disappointed not to win the game tonight, and at times we made them look an average team. “I’m mostly happy with how we dealt with their possession game, we limited their goalscoring chances and when you play good teams that’s an absolute priority. “If you look at where we are at the moment, and what run they are on I think we should be happy with the performance of the players tonight.” Related topicsRepublic of Ireland Men’s Football TeamFootball