It may be just an end-of-season friendly, but it’s an important one from interim boss John O’Shea’s perspective, as reflected by the strong starting XI he has selected.
It won’t be easy, however, as they face a Hungary team who are 14 games unbeaten, beat England 4-0 in the Nations League and are preparing to compete in the Euros.
Ireland, by contrast, have won just two of their last 11 fixtures, and so will be underdogs going into tonight’s match.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
4 Jun
6:56PM
Confirmation of the Ireland starting XI…
STARTING XI | Ireland v Hungary 🇮🇪
Finn Azaz makes his first start in an Ireland shirt as Sammie Szmodics and Adam Idah start 👌
Troy Parrott makes the bench following his late arrival from club action, with kick-off at 7.45pm 👏 pic.twitter.com/P3kQvKTbZK
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) June 4, 2024
Hungary's Márton Dárdai competes in the air with Matt Doherty of Ireland. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
4 Jun
8:11PM
24 mins: Schafer has just shot into the side-netting for Hungary’s latest attempt on goal.
Ireland have looked relatively solid defensively so far, but have offered almost nothing in attack.
4 Jun
8:16PM
29 mins: Another chance for Hungary after Ireland lose the ball in midfield.
Szboszlai lays it to Kerkez, whose low shots is parried away by Kelleher for a corner to the visitors.
4 Jun
8:19PM
30 mins: Szmodics counters and goes down under a challenge but the referee waves play on.
The Blackburn star might have been quicker in releasing the ball there as he had options to his left and right. Ireland need to show more composure in those types of moments.
So a first half of fits and starts that has invariably felt like an end-of-season friendly.
Ireland took their goal superbly, with Will Smallbone deserving particular credit for an excellent cross, but the opener came against the run of play.
So Hungary deserved their equaliser when it came just before half-time, but Ireland will rue the sloppy manner it was conceded, as an unmarked Lang converted all too easily with the aid of a deflected delivery flicked on by Orban.
It’s hard to know how much to read into this game given the low stakes involved, but it’s clear Ireland remain a work in progress, with plenty of challenges ahead for the incoming manager to address.
4 Jun
8:50PM
Ireland are making changes at the break.
Liam Scales and Jake O’Brien are on for Matt Doherty and Shane Duffy.
Hungary also make some substitutions
Nego and Gulascsi are replaced by Botka and Dibusz.
Ireland's Sammie Szmodics is tackled by Willi Orbán of Hungary. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
4 Jun
8:58PM
53 mins: Hungary have had the better start to the second half.
They’ve had a couple of corners, with Orban heading over the bar most recently.
4 Jun
9:02PM
56 mins: Sallai tests Kelleher with a low shot from the edge of the area but the Liverpool goalkeeper parries it out for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, the goalkeeper gets down well to keep out Schafer’s pot shot before Szmodics overhits a cross intended for Idah on the counter-attack.
4 Jun
9:06PM
61 mins: More changes from both teams.
For Hungary, Kleinheisler comes on for Varga.
For Ireland, Azaz and Brady are replaced by Parrott and O’Dowda
4 Jun
9:13PM
68 mins: All the substitutions have disrupted the game with both sides struggling to establish a rhythm.
The recently introduced Parrott has been in superb form in Netherlands with two hat-tricks in quick succession at club level so he’ll surely fancy himself to score another one tonight.
4 Jun
9:15PM
71: More changes now.
For Hungary, Kerkez and Schafer are replaced by Styles and Nagy.
For the hosts, Obafemi is on for goalscorer Idah.
4 Jun
9:17PM
73 mins: Another Hungary change sees goalscorer Lang replaced by Balogh.
Meanwhile, Smallbone has fallen awkwardly but looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
4 Jun
9:21PM
75 mins: A dangerous free kick is delivered into the Irish penalty but Scales gets a toe to it and puts it out for a corner.
The same man heads away Szoboszlai’s corner moments later.
The official attendance has been announced as 29,424.
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As it happened: Ireland v Hungary, International Friendly
Ireland 2-1 Hungary
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It may be just an end-of-season friendly, but it’s an important one from interim boss John O’Shea’s perspective, as reflected by the strong starting XI he has selected.
It won’t be easy, however, as they face a Hungary team who are 14 games unbeaten, beat England 4-0 in the Nations League and are preparing to compete in the Euros.
Ireland, by contrast, have won just two of their last 11 fixtures, and so will be underdogs going into tonight’s match.
Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Confirmation of the Ireland starting XI…
Who do you think will win tonight?
Poll Results:
We’re underway…
2 mins: Early chance as Hungary are afforded far too much space down Ireland’s left.
Dardai crosses for Nego, whose tame volley is easily gathered by Kelleher.
It seems to be more or less the same 3-4-3 formation Ireland played in the last two games under John O’Shea.
Finn Azaz is in the wide role Chiedozie Ogbene and Mikey Johnston previously occupied.
10 mins: It’s been a pretty uneventful start.
Aside from that early Hungary chance, neither side has really threatened.
12 mins: Another Hungary wasted chance.
Varga beats O’Shea for pace just inside the area and lays it to Nego, who curls an effort narrowly wide.
17 mins: Still not too much of note is happening.
Hungary look far more comfortable on the ball — dominating possessing and controlling the game at the moment.
18 mins: Idah makes a purposeful run, getting past Kerkez before going down under a challenge from Lang on the edge of the area.
The referee tells the Norwich player to get up and waves play on.
24 mins: Schafer has just shot into the side-netting for Hungary’s latest attempt on goal.
Ireland have looked relatively solid defensively so far, but have offered almost nothing in attack.
29 mins: Another chance for Hungary after Ireland lose the ball in midfield.
Szboszlai lays it to Kerkez, whose low shots is parried away by Kelleher for a corner to the visitors.
30 mins: Szmodics counters and goes down under a challenge but the referee waves play on.
The Blackburn star might have been quicker in releasing the ball there as he had options to his left and right. Ireland need to show more composure in those types of moments.
IRELAND 1-0 HUNGARY (IDAH 36)
36 mins: The game had become very open of late and Ireland are the beneficiaries.
Smallbone finds himself wide right and delivers a pinpoint cross for Idah, whose powerful header leaves the goalkeeper with no chance.
IRELAND 1-1 HUNGARY (LANG 40)
40 mins: Hungary produce a swift response.
A free kick is lofted in, Orban heads it on and Lang is in the right place to volley into the roof of the net.
44 mins: Szoboszlai attempts to lob Kelleher from way out but his attempt is well off target.
It’s been a strange first half — the game hasn’t acquired much of a rhythm.
As I type, an Idah header from a Brady free kick goes a few inches wide.
HALF-TIME: IRELAND 1-1 HUNGARY
Here’s a look at the two goals…
So a first half of fits and starts that has invariably felt like an end-of-season friendly.
Ireland took their goal superbly, with Will Smallbone deserving particular credit for an excellent cross, but the opener came against the run of play.
So Hungary deserved their equaliser when it came just before half-time, but Ireland will rue the sloppy manner it was conceded, as an unmarked Lang converted all too easily with the aid of a deflected delivery flicked on by Orban.
It’s hard to know how much to read into this game given the low stakes involved, but it’s clear Ireland remain a work in progress, with plenty of challenges ahead for the incoming manager to address.
Ireland are making changes at the break.
Liam Scales and Jake O’Brien are on for Matt Doherty and Shane Duffy.
Hungary also make some substitutions
Nego and Gulascsi are replaced by Botka and Dibusz.
The second half is underway…
53 mins: Hungary have had the better start to the second half.
They’ve had a couple of corners, with Orban heading over the bar most recently.
56 mins: Sallai tests Kelleher with a low shot from the edge of the area but the Liverpool goalkeeper parries it out for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, the goalkeeper gets down well to keep out Schafer’s pot shot before Szmodics overhits a cross intended for Idah on the counter-attack.
61 mins: More changes from both teams.
For Hungary, Kleinheisler comes on for Varga.
For Ireland, Azaz and Brady are replaced by Parrott and O’Dowda
68 mins: All the substitutions have disrupted the game with both sides struggling to establish a rhythm.
The recently introduced Parrott has been in superb form in Netherlands with two hat-tricks in quick succession at club level so he’ll surely fancy himself to score another one tonight.
71: More changes now.
For Hungary, Kerkez and Schafer are replaced by Styles and Nagy.
For the hosts, Obafemi is on for goalscorer Idah.
73 mins: Another Hungary change sees goalscorer Lang replaced by Balogh.
Meanwhile, Smallbone has fallen awkwardly but looks like he’ll be okay to continue.
75 mins: A dangerous free kick is delivered into the Irish penalty but Scales gets a toe to it and puts it out for a corner.
The same man heads away Szoboszlai’s corner moments later.
The official attendance has been announced as 29,424.
79 mins: Another change for Ireland.
Jason Knight replaces Josh Cullen.
O’Dowda plays a superb through ball for Szmodics, who overhits his cross.
Moments later, a ball in from Coleman is deflected out for a corner.
From the ensuing set piece, Hungary then break on the counter, but Sallai’s low shot is comfortably saved by Kelleher.
88 mins: It feels like this game is petering out and it has not been helped by the raft of substitutions.
Will Smallbone has just been announced as the official player of the match.
90 mins: A hopeful Smallbone cross is headed by the defender to Coleman, whose left-footed volley from the edge of the area goes narrowly wide.
There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
IRELAND 2-1 HUNGARY (PARROTT 90)
90 mins: Hungary have everyone up for a set piece and lose possession on the halfway line allowing Parrott to run through on goal.
The goalkeeper can only help his low finish into the back of the net.
What a run of form Parrott is having.
FULL-TIME: IRELAND 2-1 HUNGARY
Here’s a look at the winning goal.
Right, that’s all from me for now.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to come on the site shortly.
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