It’s international friendly time.
Before Ireland take on Denmark in their next Euro 2020 qualifier, Mick McCarthy’s charges welcome New Zealand to the Aviva Stadium.
If you haven’t already heard, 17-year-old sensation Troy Parrott is set to make his first senior international start for Ireland, as is Jack Byrne.
While the team that takes to the field tonight is unlikely to feature against Denmark on Monday night, but it still gives us a chance to see the next generation of Ireland’s top talents.
We’ll have the team line-ups for you in the next few moments as we edge towards the 7.45pm kick-off.
Ireland:
O’Hara; O’Connor, Long, Clark, Williams; Cullen, Browne, Byrne; Brady, Parrott, Maguire
45-minutes to kick-off!
— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) November 14, 2019
Here is a reminder of tonight's team to play @NZ_Football...#COYBIG #IRLNZL pic.twitter.com/bzErnfNFrG
New Zealand:
Marinovic, Reid, Cacace, Boxall, Bell, Wood, Singh, McCowatt, Thomas, Roux, Just
TEAM NEWS | Here is your All Whites line-up to take on Republic of Ireland in the first match of Danny Hay's reign, good luck lads!#IRLNZL #AllWhites #NovemberTour pic.twitter.com/ljdyDM1N2o
— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) November 14, 2019
A tribute to Shamrock Rovers’ Jack Byrne
It’s been quite the year for Shamrock Rovers star Jack Byrne. #IRLNZL pic.twitter.com/f9dBdDGzRQ
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2019
Some happy faces getting ready for the action
The teams are coming out of the tunnel now. Kick-off is just a few minutes away.
Some pre-match thoughts from Mick
Ireland boss Mick McCarthy is hoping to be impressed by his fringe players and debutants like Troy Parrot tonight. #IREvNZL https://t.co/db9ZoV4bO7 pic.twitter.com/89vAgOvWOC
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2019
Kick-Off: Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
1 min: Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
We’re off the mark at the Aviva Stadium.
2 mins: Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Good start from Robbie Brady to get a block in and win a throw-in as Kevin Long feeds the ball to goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Good move! Jack Byrne releases a lovely chipped ball to release Troy Parrott, but the flag goes up just as the Spurs star tries to wind up a shot.
The move came from a throw-in after Sean Maguire’s cross was blocked out.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Lee O’Connor cuts the ball across to Derrick Williams in the middle. Ireland play around a few passes before the ball is whipped across to Williams again.
But it just has too much pace on it and drifts out over the endline.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Nervy moment there!
Some indecision sees Parrott almost get in to intercept a back-pass. But the visitors manage to get away with it.
The much-talked about Parrott is looking lively in the opening quarter.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Great turn from Alan Browne to break free outside the New Zealand area and whip a cross into the danger area.
The ball comes to Williams but he doesn’t connect well with his shot at all and the move comes to nothing.
Before that, there was some nice work from Josh Cullen who did well to turn his man and deliver an inch-perfect cross-field ball.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Call for an Irish penalty there. It looked like Parrott was pushed in the back but the referee is not one bit interested, and waves play on.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
SAVE! Ireland come close to breaking the deadlock. This time it’s Sean Maguire who gets on the end of a ball from deep and gets goal-side of Boxal before making a dash for the goal.
Goalkeeper, Stefan Marinovic gets out in time though to get down low and block the shot from a narrow angle.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
Parrott and O’Connor combine well to put the 17-year-old through near the endline.
Parrott cuts the ball inside but it’s blocked out for the first corner of the game. Brady sends in a nice delivery but the Irish contingent in the box can’t make anything of the opportunity.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
New Zealand go up the other end to create their best attack of the game so far.
Just, Wood and McCowatt all contribute to work the ball through but O’Hara comes out to punch the ball away.
GOAL! Ireland 0-1 New Zealand (McCowatt ’29)
Ireland 0-1 New Zealand
Well that was unexpected!
After looking so dominant and close to getting a goal, Ireland now find themselves trailing 1-0.
Callum McCowatt taps the ball past O’Hara after getting his shot off first time after getting on the end of a cross from Cacace.
Ireland 0-1 New Zealand
Ireland work the ball back up to try and muster a response. The ball comes to Williams who sees another attempt at goal come to nothing. Possession spills to Parrott but his shot is blocked out.
Byrne follows that up by trying to chip the ball into the New Zealand penalty area but the ball is headed away.
Ireland 0-1 New Zealand
Parrott earns a free-kick out near the corner. Brady curls it in but nothing comes of it.
Huge chance moments later as Maguire gets a free header off but his effort trails wide. He’ll be disappointed he didn’t make more of that.
Here’s that McCowatt goal that put New Zealand in front
Republic of Ireland v New Zealand: GOAL Callum McCowatt gives the visitors the lead against the run of play in the 30th minute. pic.twitter.com/m5XPHXzLtN
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2019
Ireland 0-1 New Zealand
Maguire is the latest to see his shot at goal deflected away followed by a Brady that goes a bit skyward before New Zealand clears the danger.
GOAL! Ireland 1-1 New Zealand (Williams ’45)
Half-Time: Ireland 1-1 New Zealand
Ireland 1-1 New Zealand
That’s more like it!
After plenty of trying, Derrick Williams gets the equaliser with his first international goal from a Robbie Brady corner. Williams rose highest to bury his shot with a powerful header.
Ireland really should be leading but that goal should ease the pressure a bit before coming back out for the second half.
And here’s that Irish equaliser
Republic of Ireland v New Zealand: GOAL Derrick Williams makes it 1-1 with his powerful header in the final minute of the first half. #IRENZL pic.twitter.com/JpUbNnT51U
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2019
Story of the first half
From New Zealand’s opener…
To Derrick Williams’ equaliser
Kick-Off: Ireland 1-1 New Zealand
One change for the All Whites as Bill Tuiloma comes in for Reid, while Ireland stick with the same starting 11.
Ireland 1-1 New Zealand
McCowatt tries to play the ball forward but O’Hara sprints out in time to boot it clear.
Ireland 1-1 New Zealand
SAVE! O’Hara does well to get behind a powerful shot from Thomas. Kevin Long then gets his head to a cross from Roux for a crucial intervention as Ireland clear the danger.
The ball comes down to Brady who tries a shot off his right but he just fires the ball at the side-netting.
GOAL! Ireland 2-1 New Zealand (Maguire ’51)
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
What about that for a peach of a strike!
Brilliant effort from Sean Maguire as he rifles a shot into the top corner for his first international senior goal. Ireland starting to motor a bit better now.
Lovely finish from Maguire
Republic of Ireland v New Zealand: Sean Maguire give Ireland the lead with a superb strike. #IRENZL pic.twitter.com/AYvFfn3xVP
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2019
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
Ireland sub: Derrick Williams makes way for Callum O’Dowda.
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
SAVE! Parrott is so unlucky again. A through ball comes to the Spurs man to create a one-on-one but the New Zealand keeper comes out to smother his shot.
Parrott certainly deserves a goal after the shift he has put in so far but he’ll just have to wait another bit.
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
Ireland subs: Jack Byrne and Troy Parrott are called ashore with Alan Judge and Callum Robinson coming into the action.
Earlier, Thomas came close to getting New Zealand’s second goal and O’Hara’s deflection is cleared away by O’Connor.
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
Ireland subs: Kieran O’Hara is replaced by Mark Travers while Conor Hourihane comes in for Alan Browne.
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
Irish players celebrating Maguire’s goal!
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
The pace has dropped a bit in the last few minutes, as legs start to tire.
Ireland 2-1 New Zealand
Ireland sub: Ireland’s second-goalscorer Sean Maguire comes off for James Collins in the last change of the night for the hosts.
GOAL! Ireland 3-1 New Zealand (Robinson ’75)
Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
Robinson directs a lovely header into the bottom corner after getting on the end of a lovely cross from O’Connor.
That’s goal number three for Ireland and that’s also a first senior international goal for Robinson. A two-goal lead certainly reflects Ireland’s dominance a bit more now.
Robinson’s header for Ireland’s third goal of the night
Republic of Ireland v New Zealand: GOAL Callum Robinson grabs his first Ireland with a header to make it 3-1 to Ireland. #IRENZL pic.twitter.com/dOjs0QqdHI
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 14, 2019
Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
The attendance at the Aviva Stadium is 18,728, we’re told, as Robinson comes close to getting a second goal.
Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
SAVE! James Collins tries to get in on the action as he races through on goal. Marinovic gets his timing right though and gets out in time to get the slightest touch on the ball and deflect it wide.
Collins is protesting for a penalty but the referee waves away his plea.
Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
SAVE! Travers pulls off a point-blank save to maintain the two-goal lead. It was substitute Collier who tried to fire the ball passed him, after he found himself unmarked in the Irish box.
But Travers did very well to get his positioning right and get down quickly to parry the ball away.
Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
Sean Maguire is named man-of-the-match as we enter the three minutes of additional time.
Full-Time: Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
Ireland 3-1 New Zealand
Well that’s it, done and dusted.
After that wobble that put New Zealand in front after 30 minutes, Ireland struck back with goals from Derrick Williams, Sean Maguire and Callum Robinson.
Ireland were certainly dominant and could even have won by more. It will likely be a different team, but this sets Ireland up nicely for their final Euro 2020 group game against Denmark on Monday.
Well that’s all from us, folks.
Have a read of Gavin Cooney’s match report from the Aviva here. We hope you enjoyed the coverage and we’ll chat to you again soon.
Bye for now!
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
