RTE viewers hail Killian Phillips as emotional Republic of Ireland star reflects on ‘proudest moment' of his life
KILLIAN PHILLIPS was hailed by fans after Republic of Ireland debut
against Senegal on Friday night.
The 23-year-old Irish midfielder currently came from the bench to make his senior international bow during the
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Killian Phillips emotionally reflected on his Ireland debut during an RTE interview
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Killian Phillips greets fans after his Ireland debut during the draw with Senegal
Phillip, who is currently on loan from Crystal Palace to
St Mirren
in the Scottish Premiership emotionally opened up in a post-game
The Kilbarrack native began his football journey with Kilbarrack United and later played for Corduff and St Kevin's Boys before returning to Kilbarrack.
After being turned down by
Phillips made his senior debut for Drogheda in April 2021 and scored his first goal the following month.
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His performances caught the attention of
And the Dubliner hailed all the people who helped him achieve his dream of playing for Ireland after calling his debut the greatest and proudest moment of his life.
The midfielder said: "The proudest moment of my life, for sure. There's been a lot of sacrifices over the years, and stuff like that.
"All I ever wanted to do was play for my country - if it was U15s,21s, amateur of whatever... I just wanted to wear the green jersey once.
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"I'm a bit emotional after it - at the minute - but I'm over the moon. You mentioned the clubs I played for, I just want to thank everyone who has brought me through, and looked after me over the years.
""But again, I'm over the moon, yeah.
"That's the beauty of football - there's no right way to do it. Every day I gave my all, and sacrificed so much growing up.
"I never really partied growing up or anything like that. I probably lived a more boring life than a lot of people but for days like this - that's what all the sacrifices are for.
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"And this is all I ever wanted to do is wear this green jersey, so yeah it's superb... the moment of my life."
Fans loved the emotional interview as they hailed the Irish star on social media.
One said: "Great stuff Killian."
Another wrote: "Congratulations, great to see and hear how proud he is to represent his country."
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A third commented: "Magnificent interview fair play lad."
While a fourth penned: "Well done Killian - the buddies are all really proud of you too!"
The newly capped Ireland star will be hoping to earn another appearance as Heimir Hallgrimsson's side play Luxembourg on Tuesday,
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‘I'm just a kid from Kilbarrack' -Killian Phillips proud to put his area on the Ireland map after emotional debut
YOU can take Killian Phillips out of Kilbarrack but you can not take Kilbarrack out of Killian Phillips. He may be in a profession where peers holiday in Dubai rather than Dublin, but the 2 Killian Phillips was emotional after his Republic of Ireland debut against Senegal 2 Killian Phillips revealed he was proud to but Kilbarrack on the map after his international bow Phillips declared: 'There's no better place in the world than Kilbarrack, I will be back sleeping on my ma's couch on Wednesday. 'It's Kilbarrack for me now. I might cross the Liffey a couple of times but that's my holidays, I just want to go home, see everyone and get ready for pre-season.' When he does return to St Mirren - the Buddies triggered an option to buy him from Crystal Palace following his loan - he will now have a new word attached to his name - 'Ireland's'.. Whatever happens in the rest of his career, the 23-year-old will always be an Ireland international after coming off the bench in READ MORE ON FOOTBALL He said: 'It was probably the best feeling of my life, it was everything I wanted to do when growing up so it's a dream come true. 'I was a bit nervous coming in, obviously a lot of players that I've watched over the years and supported in this stadium. So I probably froze a bit during the week. 'I think out there I was calm, I had a couple of deep breaths when I first came on, I was probably a little overwhelmed when I first run on. 'It's just a game of ball, and at the end of day, that's the way I look at it.' Most read in Football Phillips impressed during his 23 minutes and took it all in afterwards as he sought out his personal fan club who got the Dart across the city to watch their local hero. He continued: 'I think there was bleedin' 70 to 100 here. The support that I get in my local area and from family and friends means the world to me. 'Don't say that on camera' - Nathan Collins' admission about Caoimhin Kelleher's move leaves Heimir in stitches 'I have such a great support system, a lot of people who looked after me over the years, coached me, I have to thank all of them now. 'I believe I am the first international from Kilbarrack so that's something I can bring to the grave with me. 'I'm sure I will be sitting in the pub in 20 or 30 years' time saying it to everyone who walks in.' The area is probably best known outside Dublin 5 as where the movie 'The Snapper' was filmed. And like any suburb, there are temptations and pitfalls to be avoided. He continued: 'It means the world to me, and I hope it gives the kids in Kilbarrack something to look up to as well… 'That you don't have to go down the roads of... you know yourself, you know what goes on in Kilbarrack, you don't have to do that, if you have a dream and you work hard every day you can do it. 'I am just a kid from Kilbarrack whose dream came true and the kids at the club now (Kilbarrack United) have someone to look up to. 'It's easier now to dream that dream as someone has done it, I am so proud because my community backs me so much.' And his own story should inspire as his route from Kilbarrack to the Aviva Stadium was far from straightforward. The 23-year-old explained: 'I was turned down by League of Ireland clubs when I was 17 but that's football and the beauty of the game, there's no linear progression. 'I was playing Sunday league at 17.' At that time, he was also on the FAI Fingal County Council TY Course where he was named Player of the Year and was soon picked up by And he credited the support there from current Longford Town boss Wayne Groves there as helping him on the road to where he is now. He continued: 'Everyone at Drogheda... Tim (Clancy), Kev (Doherty), Wayne Groves, they played a big part in developing me, they were the first managers who believed in me. 'I'd have quit football a few years ago if I hadn't met Wayne Groves when I did, he was the first person to believe in me so I owe him so much. 'And Tim and Kev, who gave me my professional debut as well. Without them I wouldn't be here. 'I am here now and I'd hope to inspire a younger generation, never give up and if you work as hard as I do, sacrifice as much as I did, you get the rewards.' IRELAND REGULAR But now Phillips wants to show that he can become a fixture in the Ireland team. His call-up and debut came after an impressive season with St Mirren where he was player of the year, but also because Hallgrímsson believes he offers something different. Standing 6ft 3in, his big frame and athleticism make him a different sort of Ireland's other midfield option. Phillips continued: 'I spoke to him on the phone a few weeks before I got called up, he just spoke to me about the season, how I was playing. 'It was a private conversation - but he told me exactly what he expected from me. 'Probably something different. A lot of presence in midfield, I can get around the pitch fairly handy. I can win a lot of duels as well. 'So obviously something that the gaffer thinks I can do well and something different I can bring to the team, so when I am called upon that's what I will do. 'That's what I try to bring when I play for my country. That's what I will bring to play for my country.'
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Then, For a team that has been criticised at various times for not caring enough or not having an edge, it was no bad thing as far as the manager was concerned. He said: 'We want to be in sync when we take decisions, there always needs to be a reaction. It was just a misunderstanding. And that is a healthy thing. 'Everybody likes to play the game and do well, if they have a chance to do so and the ball doesn't come because somebody makes a mistake then they are unhappy with it, they should be unhappy with it. 'I cannot disagree with players saying this is how it should be done. It is OK.' KERR'S QUESTION There was still one dissenting voice, however, with former boss Brian Kerr questioning the wisdom of playing African opposition in preparation for competitive games against European sides. In his three-year spell in charge - in an era when there were far more friendlies played - Ireland played opposition from Africa, Asia, Central America, North America and South America. And Hallgrímsson shrugged off the criticism and said: 'It's a really easy answer. First of all, it was difficult to find an opponent in this window because a lot of the teams are playing World Cup. 'And others already decided who they would play in friendlies so there was not a lot of options. Senegal was playing England. 'That is a world-class opponent and we wanted a strong opponent and that was probably the strongest we could get. 'It wouldn't have been the correct way to do it, to play maybe two teams below us in the Fifa rankings. It wouldn't be the same. 'To play different opponents is healthy and challenging for the players, with different kinds of threats and we can develop our game playing against opponents like these. 'And if we qualify for the World Cup, we need to play teams from Africa, Asia etc so it's a good preparation. There is not a lot of games we can have if we qualify to play these opponents.'
