Ireland 1 Senegal 1: As it happened
Ultan Corcoran
Ireland take on the might of Senegal in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium this evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Heimir Hallgrimsson's side face an African nation unbeaten in their last 20 games – a tough challenge in preparation for the big World Cup qualifications to come later this year.
Catch all the action as it happens here.
Ismaila Sarr
83'
Kasey McAteer
22'
Full-time: Ireland-Senegal end in stalemate!
The Swedish arbiter sensibly blows the final whistle after Senegal's free-kick attempt cracks off the Irish wall before Adam Idah clears the danger.
Senegal unleashed the big guns after the hour mark and that swung momentum back in the visitors favour. A draw was probably a fair result in the end. Kasey McAteer has been named as the player of the match.
90'
Into the final minute of regular time at Lansdowne Road and Killian Phillips is adjudged to have fouled Habib Diarra on the edge of the box. This is prime free-kick territory for Senegal.
There will be an additional 3 minutes of injury time to play.
85'
Ireland avail of the extra substitutions in this friendly fixture as a weary Brady is replaced by Celtic's Liam Scales.
Meanwhile, Senegal have introduced El Hadji Malick Diouf.
83'
Goal
Senegal
Scorer
Ismaila Sarr
Assist
Cherif Ndiaye
GOAL! Well... Senegal are unbeaten in 20 games and this proves why! Iliman Ndiaye skips through a lazy tackle with his twinking feet to cross low into the box.
The delivery is deflected and Cherif Ndiaye draws a boot on it. It looks like Kelleher got a toe to it, but Ismaila Sarr was first to react as he hammered in the rebound.
82'
Substitution
Ireland
Substituted out
Kasey McAteer
Substituted in
Andrew Moran
Ireland's goalscorer McAteer makes way to a standing ovation - the Leicester City man ran his legs off tonight. Andrew Moran takes his place. Meanwhile Will Smallbone is replaced by Festy Ebosele.
80'
Brilliant defending from Killian Phillips as he applies pressure to Antoine Mendy and blocks the attempted cross. Robbie Brady clears the Irish lines. Heimir Hallgrimsson is weighing up another double substitution.
77'
Substitution
Senegal
Substituted out
Boulaye Dia
Substituted in
Cherif Ndiaye
Senegal introduce two new faces as striker Cherif Ndiaye and FC Metz midfielder Cheikh Sabaly replace Boulaye Dia and Ilay Camara.
74'
Another corner for Senegal doesn't pose much threat. Ismaila Sarr's delivery falls to the edge of the box where former FC Koln full-back Ismail Jakobs takes a wild swing at it. The ironic jeers ring out around Lansdowne Road once again!
70'
Scoring Chance
Senegal
Player
Ismaila Sarr
OFF THE POST! That was a scare for Kelleher and the Irish rearguard. The ball was recycled by Iliman Ndiaye to Lamine Camara who unleashed a shot.
The substitute's effort deflected into Ismaila Sarr's path who was caught unawares as the ball clipped off his shin and onto the left upright.
68'
Substitution
Ireland
Substituted out
Ryan Manning
Substituted in
Jake O'Brien
Everton defender Jake O'Brien takes over from Ryan Manning, meanwhile there's a senior Irish debut in the making as Killian Phillips replaces Matt Doherty on the right.
65'
Substitution
Senegal
Substituted out
Krepin Diatta
Substituted in
Lamine Camara
Senegal make their first alteration as the talented Camara, a 21-year-old playing for AS Monaco in France, is thrust into midfield for Krepin Diatta.
Fleet-footed Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr takes over from Abdullah Sima on the right flank.
59'
Substitution
Ireland
Substituted out
Jack Taylor
Substituted in
Evan Ferguson
Heimir Hallgrimsson makes his first change of the night as Jack Taylor receives a big round of applause leaving the field. Arguably an even bigger roar goes up as Evan Ferguson trots on to join Adam Idah up front.
58'
Corner to Senegal as Boulaye Dia sets his sights on goal only for Dara O'Shea to make a brave block. Nathan Collins is fouled seconds later.
56'
Dan McDonnell has a couple of rowdy spectators in front of him at Lansdowne Road:
"There's more Seagulls at the Aviva than you'd find at the Carlisle Grounds on an average Friday night. A slight distraction on the press box side of the ground as they are everywhere."
52'
Decent intent from Senegal - Everton's talented winger Iliman Ndiaye creates some space but can't quite dig out the cross as Dara O'Shea cuts him off.
48'
Scoring Chance
Ireland
Player
Will Smallbone
Huge chance! Will Smallbone is slipped through on the edge of the box, takes a touch to get it out of his feet, and blasts it.In truth, it's a poor shot and a nice height for Yehvann Diouf who parried it away.
Ryan Manning almost sweeps home the rebound but for a brilliant block from Antoine Mendy. The resulting corner comes to nothing.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
12 minutes ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
GAA player lands jaw-dropping score from close to centre of pitch in club game
The raft of new rules in Gaelic football have transformed the game with 2025 proving to be one of the most entertaining and attacking football Championships in memory. The two point arc has been a key part of that and not without controversy either as the club game takes centre stage. The Fermanagh senior league final ended in controversial circumstances as two 'two-pointers' were incorrectly awarded and that decided the outcome. We had quite the opposite in the Kildare Senior Football Championship which was screened on Clubber TV over the weekend. Moorefield beat Allenwood in the group stages and the game featured one of the longest range scores you are ever likely to see in GAA. Forget about two-point range, this maybe deserved a three point tally on the scoreboard. Aaron Masterson of Moorefield won a free kick just beyond the 65 metre line, some 71 yards from goal. He was struggling for options, so decided to take a few strides forward and thump it long with the outside of the boot with a small wind at his back. Incredibly, the ball sailed comfortable over the crossbar on the way to a 2-16 to 0-15 win for Moorefield. "Masterson has the accuracy, has the distance, a supreme two-pointer," beamed the commentator. It's impossible to tell which direct scores have been from the longest distance in football history but Masterson's effort rivals anything in recent times. It is not unusual to see a long range punt bounce over from way out but Masterson's effort went directly over. Kerry and St Mary's ace Bryan Sheehan was one of the best kickers of a ball in the history of the game and in 2009 he sent over two free kicks off the ground which were measured at 67 yards against Dr Crokes in Killarney for his club. It was thought to be the longest range direct free kick score ever recorded in Gaelic football at that stage. Sean O'Shea may be the best place kicker in the game right now and in 2022 he scored the winner for Kerry against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final from about 55m out at Croke Park with a free. Masterson's appears to be beyond both Kingdom stars, but it could be surpassed and thankfully in the advent of streaming services, there should be a camera there to capture the magic.
Irish Examiner
16 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Zoe Aldcroft: ‘This World Cup has the potential to change women's rugby forever'
I was playing for Scarborough against Whitby,' says Zoe Aldcroft as the England women's rugby captain pauses before the start of the World Cup this week and describes one of her formative experiences in the game. 'I must have been 12 at the time as I was the only girl playing rugby and we were up at Whitby. It was the coldest day ever and the wind was whipping. There was such a steep slope at Whitby Rugby Club and they had this massive guy playing for them. Whenever he broke the line they always used to shout 'Cannonball.'' Aldcroft, the inspirational 28-year-old leader and lock forward, lets slip a gap-toothed grin as she remembers the scene. 'He'd broken the line and, as the full-back, I was the last one between him and the try line. I knew I had to stop him so I dropped my shoulder and just nailed him. I think it stunned a lot of people.' Did that crunching tackle mark a sea change in attitudes towards her as a girl playing boys' rugby? 'Definitely in respect of my teammates, which was something I really enjoyed,' she says. 'I could see they trusted me and knew I could be just as tough as them.' We soon move on to a far bloodier incident, which was even more of a test for the young rugby pioneer in North Yorkshire. 'There was a different time, in training, where I collided heads with one boy. He started crying and I was holding it in, telling myself desperately: 'Do not cry, do not cry …' Then I got up as quick as I could and was ready to go again. I had to show I was stronger, tougher and could take playing with the boys.' Aldcroft was always 'super-sporty' but, before rugby, she also did ballet. 'I was not as nimble as other ballet dancers' she says with a little laugh before explaining that she fell into rugby after her brother Jonathan switched sports from football. 'I was down there watching him on the sidelines with my parents and the coach was like: 'C'mon then. Get involved.' 'I thought 'Yes' and never looked back. The best thing is that, while I was the only girl that used to play there, Scarborough Rugby Club now have 50 girls playing under-13s, under-15 and a senior set-up for women's rugby. It's changed so much.' There is such optimism and warmth in Aldcroft's character that it is unsurprising she should regard the next six weeks as another definitive stage in a female sporting revolution: 'This World Cup has the potential to change women's rugby for ever. In England, over the last few years, we've been filling stadiums and this tournament will build momentum and so much excitement. If we do win the World Cup, it will change our lives and also all the young girls who are growing from grassroots levels into the professional side.' The England squad has a northern heartbeat and it seems fitting that their opening group match this Friday should be against USA in Sunderland. 'The other week we tried to pick a full XV of girls from the north,' Aldcroft says. 'We added a couple from the Midlands and just about made it. That's important because Sale are the only northern club in PWR [Premiership Women's Rugby].' Her husband, Luke Stratford, is the scrum coach for the women's team at Sale Sharks. Aldcroft smiles ruefully when reminded Luke has said before that she worries about keeping her place, despite being World Rugby's women player of the year in 2021 and after winning 65 caps. 'I have this impostor syndrome sometimes, but it makes me tick in a weird way. It makes me feel like I have to push myself again because you see so many times where life just changes quickly.' Aldcroft is an intriguing mix. She carries a searing focus on the field, leading by example, while away from rugby she is relaxed and chatty. Some of her friends in the squad have described her as 'the craziest girl' they know. 'It's probably because I'm super-dedicated and, playing rugby, I love the contact that maybe other people shy away from. I really go for it. But, off the pitch, I can be silly and fun and goofy.' England captain Zoe Aldcroft during a team welcome ceremony at City Hall in Sunderland ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. Jonny Wilkinson is her inspiration and during his playing career those last three words she uses to describe herself would never have applied to the obsessive No 10 who helped England win the men's World Cup in 2003. 'Years later I read one of his books,' she says, 'and that instilled in me a little bit of his mentality. I related to it because I'm a perfectionist and obsessed with winning and being the best. I met him when I was on a tour and from then I was so interested in his way of thinking.' Aldcroft smiles when asked if she told Wilkinson that she carries a knitted doll of him at the bottom of her match bag. 'No, because I didn't have my doll back then. But I always think a little like he did because I'm obsessed with my performance.' I've heard that, as soon as she is alone after a game, Aldcroft will watch a recording of the match. 'I still do that and it's always the whole game. My husband's like: 'Switch off.' I say: 'Just let me watch this and then I can chill.' I can't relax until I've watched it and seen what I could have done better.' Does she ever feel proud when watching herself? 'Maybe more a feeling of relief. I'd say: 'I've been OK, I've done my job.' Maybe when I've finished rugby I'll look back and think: 'Oh. That was quite good.'' Her most painful match remains the 2022 World Cup final against New Zealand – when England started the game in Auckland on the back of an unbeaten run of 30 victories. Aldcroft felt certain they would become world champions: 'I wasn't even nervous because I had absolutely no doubt. In my eyes there was no way we were losing that final.' England were 14-0 up in 14 minutes but, soon afterwards, Lydia Thompson was sent off. Aldcroft was substituted after 29 minutes after a concussion and England ended up losing a gripping game 34-31. 'It was a big lesson because you see how quickly a game can change and you have to fight against the unfairness as well. We had a chance to score a try from that last lineout; 99% of the time we would have caught it and gone over, but it didn't happen.' Aldcroft stresses that 'the culture around the team had to change and, since Mitch [former All Black head coach John Mitchell] came in, we've become a completely different team. We've worked massively on our culture, on our bond as a team. We were tight [in 2022] but not to the level that we are now. It's something we've really tried to develop as, the tighter you are as a team, the harder you want to fight for each other on the pitch. It is almost as distinctive that England's World Cup captain is keen to become a podiatrist after her rugby career. 'This summer I did my foot-health course as a starter and I think I want to do a degree in it. It's a lot about joint alignment, your gait, and also chopping away scaly skin and sorting out in-grown toenails. My Dad's feet are the worst. He's got a big fat corn and I love scraping it out. Honestly, just making bad feet good? I love that.' We return to the serious stuff. England won their seventh successive Six Nations in April. But they nearly blew a 31-7 lead in the final match against France and scraped home 43-42. 'That was the best thing that could have happened,' Aldcroft says. 'That second half showed we're not there yet. So this pre-season we've really dug in and gone for it. When we've got our foot on their throat we can't ease off.' England, with Aldcroft playing flank, dispatched France with conviction in their final warm-up match before the World Cup, winning 40-6 away from home. It was their 27th consecutive win. They also beat New Zealand convincingly, 49-31, last October and Aldcroft picks out the reigning champions, along with France and Canada, as England's biggest threat: 'We know that, when it gets to the World Cup, New Zealand switch it on again. So it's important we stay ahead of our game.' The Red Roses squad watched the semi-final and final together as England's Lionesses won the Euros and she says: 'It's an amazing time for women's sport and now it's our turn to do our bit and grow rugby in England.' There is just time for one last question. Will England win the World Cup? Aldcroft's answer is as swift as it is resolute: 'I believe that we will.' Guardian
Irish Times
26 minutes ago
- Irish Times
Kieran Donnelly steps down as Fermanagh senior football manager
Fermanagh are looking for a new senior football manager after Kieran Donnelly stepped down at the weekend, having met with county officers to inform them of his decision after four seasons at the helm. A former player – who won All-Ireland B and McKenna Cup medals with Fermanagh – Donnelly took over in 2021, leading the county to promotion to Division Two a year later. They were relegated the following season and finished this season fourth in Division Three. This year's championship was disappointing, losing from a winning position against Down in Ulster. They were semi-finalists in the Tailteann Cup , losing out to eventual winners Kildare. READ MORE Donnelly also took charge of the winning Ulster team in last October's revived interprovincial series, which was used as a trial for the FRC 's proposed rule changes. 'Fermanagh GAA would like to sincerely thank Kieran and his entire back room team for their dedication and commitment over the last four years,' a statement released on Monday read. 'Transitioning from Covid and the new playing rules has not been an easy task. While silverware may have eluded, Kieran brought a great culture and positive environment to the senior side. 'We wish Kieran, his family and all the back room team every success in the future.' Donnelly added: 'It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as manager of the Fermanagh senior football team. I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to my back room team for their dedication and professionalism throughout my tenure. 'The players have shown tremendous growth and development, and I am proud of the progress the squad has made during this period. I would like to wish the players, management, and supporters of Fermanagh GAA every success in the years ahead.'
