Heimir Hallgrimsson believes confidence growing in Ireland squad

RTÉ News​

17 hours ago

The momentum continues to build for Heimir Hallgrimsson's Republic of Ireland team as the World Cup qualifying campaign edges closer.
No victory at Aviva Stadium to add to the back-to-back wins in March, yet a hard-fought draw against a highly ranked Senegal side will certainly add to the growing confidence in this side ahead of the vital autumn games.
Despite the fact that most of this Ireland squad have been idle for some weeks, and the starting eleven and formation had a large element of the experimental, the team responded to the manager's demand for a performance.
Ireland took the game to Senegal from the opening exchanges and it was evident that Kasey McAteer was out to "rock the boat"; the Leicester winger looking very lively early on, whether hugging the touchline or bursting inside from the right flank.
Jack Taylor was another handed his first start in a green jersey, asked to link midfield and attack, staying close to striker Adam Idah throughout the first period, and evidently working hard out of possession.
Ireland's gameplan was aimed at exploiting the flanks, while quickly switching play to create space inside the Senegal half, and it was working well throughout those opening 45 minutes with the final delivery, perhaps, the limiting factor when it came to goalscoring opportunities.
Will Smallbone flashed a shot wide in the 18th minute, and then three minutes later, the opening goal came, as McAteer firmly put his name in the conversation for the upcoming campaign.
It was a well-worked goal that appeared to have a training ground ring to it, as the corner was delivered deep to the back post, and while Matt Doherty and Dara O'Shea appeared to be competing for the same ball, the latter's header back to the edge allowed Ryan Manning to flick it back into the mix.
Nathan Collins kept it moving before McAteer's header looked to be flying into the top left corner of the net.
He would have to wait a moment longer for his first international goal as Yehvann Diouf somehow managed to claw the ball out of the goal, however, the alert McAteer showed both class and composure to control the ball and finish on the spin.
At that moment of the game, Ireland were in complete control and the already lacklustre Senegal appeared to fade further, however, the home side were unable to capitalise on the continued spell of dominance.
The visitors then managed to kill the tempo and Hallgrimsson's side appeared content to enjoy some respite and safely negotiate their way to the half-time break.
Conceding goals shortly after the break was another bad habit that Ireland slipped into in recent years – along with shots from distance – but it would appear that is being addressed by the current regime as Ireland came flying out for the second half and had two chances in quick succession to double the lead.
Smallbone again, as the defence parted, allowing a well-struck shot from the edge of the box, and Manning with a follow-up effort that was worked away from goal by some last-ditch defending.
Senegal were a different proposition in the second period, however, and started showing signs of that dynamic play that Hallgrimsson spoke about before the game with powerful running causing problems in the Ireland defence, with Caoimhín Kelleher protecting the lead.
So by the time the saturation of substitutes flooded the pitch, Ireland were holding on admirably, while getting the competitive test that they craved with tougher days ahead when they battle for top spot with Portugal and Hungary.
Ireland had five substitutes on the pitch when Senegal finally secured their equaliser, which took a certain amount of gloss off the performance, and while the manager was happy overall, he was surely ruing the fact that his side were unable to hold out for the win.
"Our collective defence was good," said Hallgrimsson, speaking at the post match press conference.
"We must recognise that this is a world-class team, and at times when we were defending without the ball, made them look quite average.
"But mostly happy that they didn't create a whole lot of scoring chances. Caoimh made one or two good saves but apart from that I don't think he needed to do too much in this game and that is pleasing.
"To be able to play against such a strong attacking team, with so much individual quality, and not concede a lot of goalscoring chances."
The manager was full of praise for the man of the moment, McAteer, describing the goalscorer as a "clever footballer with a good footballing brain".
"If you have watched Kasey, he has got a run for Leicester at the end of the season so you can see his progress in his club, and he brought that now into the national team.
"That is always the answer you would like to have when you try out new players.
"It was his first start for Ireland. So a really good first start for him. He is a confident player on the ball. He has speed, good dribbling technique and if we can isolate him one-on-one that is his strength."
And the manager sees that confidence growing throughout the squad, which augers well for the September international window where Ireland open their campaign at home to Hungary before travelling to Yerevan to take on Armenia.
"I think it is growing," said Hallgrimsson. "The decisions at this level need to be quick. If you are too late you are always punished at this level.
"Let's be honest, we're not one of the best teams in the world and this is how we need to play against teams that will dominate possession.
"We need to wait for our chances and take them when they come. In this area, confidence is growing.
"We will need to be patient, these steps are taken small steps at a time, but this was really pleasing because if we wouldn't have done this as well as we did, we would have suffered against this team.
"So that is confidence for me, to be able to play good teams without possession and doing that for longer periods of time."
While Hallgrimsson was taking the positives, he was also clearly disappointed about certain aspects of the performance, leaving more work to do as he continues to mould the team into a competitive unit ahead of the World Cup campaign.
"Again, conceding goals from crosses too many times, and in this case we were too passive in the cross.
"We didn't attack the ball when the cross came and it has happened before. That is a slight confidence thing."