Kasey McAteer expressed immense joy after scoring in his first start for the Republic of Ireland during their 1-1 friendly against Senegal.
The match, held at the Aviva Stadium, saw Ireland initially leading but unable to withstand Senegal’s second-half efforts. McAteer netted the opening goal in the 21st minute by capitalising on a rebound from his own saved header.
Senegal, missing key players like Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Nicolas Jackson, improved significantly after halftime. Caoimhin Kelleher, who recently joined Brentford, showcased his skills with a remarkable fingertip save to deflect Krepin Diatta’s header onto the crossbar. Despite his efforts, Kelleher was eventually beaten in the 82nd minute when Ismaila Sarr scored the equaliser after Cherif Ndiaye’s attempt was blocked.
McAteer became only the third Leicester City player to score for Ireland and was thrilled with his achievement. “I am over the moon. I think you could tell by my celebrations that it was like a dream come true,” McAteer told RTE 2. He added that it was his first start at the Aviva Stadium and hoped for more opportunities to play there.
Despite not securing a win, McAteer acknowledged Senegal’s strength as a team and remained optimistic about future matches. This draw marked Ireland’s first in 12 games, breaking a streak of either wins or losses in their previous matches. It was also Heimir Hallgrimsson’s ninth game as manager of Ireland.
Hallgrimsson praised McAteer’s performance, highlighting his confidence and ability to challenge opponents. “Kasey McAteer had a really good performance today,” he told RTE 2. Hallgrimsson noted that such games provide valuable insights into players’ abilities and emphasised that McAteer’s goal was well-deserved.
McAteer’s statistics were impressive; he led his team with an expected goals (xG) value of 0.7, had two shots on target, and made six touches inside the opposition box-more than any of his teammates. Hallgrimsson expressed satisfaction with these contributions and looked forward to seeing more from McAteer in future matches.
The match provided both teams with valuable experience and insights into their strengths and areas for improvement. As Ireland continues its journey under Hallgrimsson’s leadership, performances like McAteer’s offer hope for future successes on the international stage.