Ireland held by New Zealand as exit looms for Kenny

International Friendly

Republic of Ireland 1-1 New Zealand 

Stephen Kenny’s contract ended at the Aviva Stadium tonight, as Ireland and New Zealand played out an entertaining international friendly 1-1 draw.

As the Euro 2024 Group B campaign came to a conclusion elsewhere in Europe, Kenny must now wait to see if he is offered another deal by the FAI.

His team took the lead in the 28th minute, as Adam Idah opened the scoring following a sustained period of dominance against the Kiwis. But New Zealand were lively throughout and grabbed a deserved draw thanks to Matthew Garbett’s 59th-minute equaliser.

As Kenny’s future remains unclear, James McClean’s time in the green jersey is up, as the Derry man made his final appearance in a green shirt at Lansdowne Road.

Mikey Johnston woke the crowd from their slumber in the sixth minute as he danced in from the left flank and worked his way into the box, without reward, while man of the moment, McClean was also heavily involved up the left flank overlapping the Celtic winger.

Andrew Omobamidele was also looking to get involved, happy to run the ball out of defence through four white shirts before calmly finding a team-mate from his left side of the central defensive partnership with Shane Duffy.

The first real chance of the game arrived in the 16th minute, following some excellent build-up play across the edge of the New Zealand penalty area.

Idah dropped deep to pick up following a neat 1-2 between McGrath and Knight. The striker clipped it to Knight who raced through to the byline before pulling it across the face of the goal. Matt Doherty arrived to connect but was just unable to turn it on goal, while Idah was next in and probably in a better position to finish had the Wolves man let it run.

Midway through the half and the visitors were yet to mount an attack, offering little other than a couple of forward runs early in the game.

And it was some sloppy play from New Zealand that led to the opening goal in the 28th minute, as Sligo Rovers’ Nando Pijnaker dwelt on the ball too long, allowing Mark Sykes to sneak in and dispossess him.

The ball was helped forward to Idah who had a clear run at goal and he made no mistake, slotting it past the keeper early to hand Ireland the lead.

In the 34th minute, New Zealand finally got going and worked a shot at goal following some good build-up play down the right. The ball was worked inside to Marko Stamenic on the edge of the box from Sarpreet Singh, and while the shot looked to be curling towards the corner of the net, a wicked deflection off his own man, Chris Wood, took the ball the wrong side of the post.

That gave New Zealand confidence, and three minutes later, they were back threatening, Singh this time trying his luck from just outside the box, and while his curling left-footed effort was heading towards the top corner, Caoimhin Kelleher got a strong hand on it to help it past the post.

New Zealand had obviously done their homework as they maintained their tactics of shooting from distance but this time, Callum McCowatt’s 42nd-minute effort flew well over.Ireland had one more chance before the break as Johnston’s free was sent flying across the face from out on the left. Omobamidele made contact but was unable to divert it on goal.

Singh then responded with another shot at goal following excellent forward running by Liberato Cacace, however, the near-post effort flew into the side-netting.

New Zealand started the second half with real intent as Ireland replaced goalkeepers at the break – Mark Travers coming on for Kelleher for the second 45.

Matthew Garbett managed to get on the end of a ball in from the right by Singh, however, his snap-shot flew just over the bar.

Johnston was his lively self down the left and some more fine attacking play led to a Jayson Mollumby shot from outside the box, but it flew just wide of the post. Ireland started to dominate, once again, enjoying plenty of success on either flank, with Sykes also looking to run at players, coming in off the right wing.

But then in the 59th minute, New Zealand got bodies forward and when Garbett picked the ball up in space on the edge of the box, he had time to stop and curl an excellent equaliser into the bottom corner of the net to restore parity.

The game was now starting to open up as both sides made substitutions, and Sykes was next to threaten, but he blasted wide.

And the visitors were looking just as dangerous in attack as Travers had to be alert in the 64th minute to tip a Singh shot around the post.

McClean was then called ashore for the final time in a green jersey as he left the pitch to a standing ovation in the 67th minute, wrapping up an incredible 103-cap career for his country.

Kenny’s side continued in search of a winner and Doherty’s effort went wide with 20 minutes remaining, but it was the visitors who looked like they had taken the lead after Duffy put the ball into his own net. An incredible volleyed effort from Cacace brought the best out of Travers and luckily for Ireland, Pijnaker was in an offside position before his saved shot led to the Duffy mistake.

Then substitute Max Mata came close with a headed effort, but the former Sligo Rovers man could not hit the target with his towering effort.

Andy Moran came on for his international debut before Travers had to make another vital save in the 79th minute, as Mata was played through once again and it was the visitors who were now looking more likely to add a second.

But then in the 86th minute Mollumby burst forward and with options either side, he found substitute Evan Ferguson coming in off the left.

The big striker cut inside and curled it to the far corner, however, keeper Max Crocombe was alert, but parried to the arriving Sykes; the winger, however, could not direct the shot into the net, slicing his effort wide of the goal.

A big penalty appeal with two minutes remaining was ignored by the referee as Ferguson was bundled over in the box by Michael Boxall.

And that was the last real talking point of the night, on the pitch, at least, as the manager’s future appears to be on the line and clarity should come next week, if not sooner.

Republic of Ireland: Caoimhin Kelleher (Mark Travers HT); Matt Doherty (Alan Browne 73), Shane Duffy (capt), Andrew Omobamidele, James McClean (Ryan Manning 67); Jayson Molumby, Jason Knight (Josh Cullen 54), Jamie McGrath; Mark Sykes, Mikey Johnston (Andy Moran 78), Adam Idah (Evan Ferguson 66)

New Zealand: Max Crocombe; Tim Payne, Nando Pijnaker, Michael Boxall, Liberato Cacace; Joe Bell, Matthew Garbett, Marko Stamenic; Sarpreet Singh, Callum McCowatt (Elijah Just 77), Chris Wood (capt) (Max Mata 60)

Referee: Urs Schnyder (SUI)