Details

Date Time League Season
8 June 2021 7:00 pm Men's Senior 2020/21

Match Report

Kenny’s men draw with Hungary in Budapest

The Republic of Ireland MNT ended their 11-day training camp with a scoreless draw against Hungary that has given Stephen Kenny more hope and optimism that his plan is beginning to take shape.

It's Kenny's third match now without defeat, the scoreless draw in the Ferenc Szusza Stadium has seen a youthful impetus being deployed as the green shoots a new era of football of Ireland is beginning to bear fruit.

The most pleasing aspect was that of the goalkeepers with both Gavin Bazunu and Caoimhin Kelleher both called into action and both earning clean sheets.

Kenny made two changes to the side, with Shane Duffy coming into the defence and opting for Adam Idah partnering Troy Parrott upfront in a change of formation and system.

Josh Cullen got the best chances of the opening exchanges as he headed a powerful effort goalwards from a Josh Cullen free-kick but his header cannoned off the crossbar. Laszlo Kleiinheisle for the home side opted to test Irish keeper Gavin Bazunu from distance but he wasn’t troubled by the effort.

He was called into action as the main goal threat from Hungary; Adam Szalai was on hand to head a goal bound effort from a cross from the right, Bazunu, however, timed his dive to save perfectly and push the ball around the post.

James McClean was a constant threat down the left and the Irish winger sent in a teasing cross into the area and it clipped Shane Duffy’s head to go wide of the post.

On his senior debut, Cork man Caoimhin Kelleher was the busier of the keepers as the game opened up more as the game wore on. He saved well from Adam Szalai at his near post before a double save from both Adam and his brother Attila in quick succession.

Adam Idah had a great opportunity to score as he got space on the edge of the area to hit a low effort that was well saved and pushed away for a corner.

He had to force both efforts over the bar for a corner, the second of which was cleared by Shane Duffy. McClean went close from a Jason Knight cross but it never tested Adam Bogdan.

Another senior debutant Chiedozie Ogbene nearly had the perfect debut after latching onto a Daryl Horgan deft pass but his effort struck the side netting.

There are definite signs that the blueprint for a new wave of Irish football is coming to the fore, given the time Stephen Kenny could continue to change the face of football on the international stage, the players are buying into the philosophy and its beginning to show.

Ireland

1Gavin Bazunu 16 Goalkeeper
2Matt Doherty Defender
4Shane Duffy Defender
5John Egan Defender
6Josh Cullen Midfielder
8Conor Hourihane 17 Midfielder
9Adam Idah 19 Forward
10Troy Parrott 15 Forward
11James McClean 3 Midfielder
14Jason Knight 22 Midfielder
20Dara O’Shea Defender
16Caoimhin Kelleher 1 Goalkeeper
23Mark Travers Goalkeeper
19James Collins 9 Forward
15Daryl Horgan 10 Midfielder
3Ryan Manning 11 Defender
7Ronan Curtis Midfielder
17Jayson Molumby 8 Midfielder
12Harry Arter Midfielder
18Jamie McGrath Midfielder
22Chiedozie Ogbene 14 Forward
24Lee O’Connor Defender
25Andrew Omobamidele Defender
  • 90'

    The Republic of Ireland ended their eleven-day training camp with a scoreless draw against Hungary that has given Stephen Kenny more hope and optimism that his plan is beginning to take shape. His third match now without defeat, the scoreless draw in the Ferenc Szusza Stadium has seen a youthful impetus being deployed as the green shoots a new era of football of Ireland is beginning to bear fruit. The most pleasing aspect was that of the goalkeepers with both Gavin Bazunu and Caoimhin Kelleher both called into action and both earning clean sheets.

  • 89'

    Just off the bench Ogbene does excellent for a shot on target but it hits the side netting.

  • 85'

    Duffy and O'Shea fail to clear their lines and Adam Szalai curling effort goes wide.

  • 84'

    For his fifth cap on comes Ryan Manning.

  • 84'

    Off comes James McClean who had a fine evening.

  • 82'

    Two attempts in quick succession and two excellent saves for Kelleher as he denied both Attila and Adam Szalai tipping both efforts over the bar.

  • 80'

    Some good build-up play from Ireland sees Knight cross into the area to McClean and his header is well saved.

  • 75'

    Szalai latches onto a snapshot but Kelleher was equal to it, Hungary was very quick on that counterattack as Ireland continue to press forward.

  • 71'

    Attila Szalai gets a yellow card for a foul on Jason Knight.

  • 68'

    Idah with a great opportunity as he spots space in the defence and his low effort is well saved by the keeper.

  • 62'

    Laszlo Kleinheisler breaks free of the attentions of James McClean but his effort at Kelleher is well saved.

  • 56'

    Daryl Horgan and Jason Molumby come on.

  • 56'

    Double substitution for Ireland as Conor Hourihane and Troy Parrott comes off.

  • 54'

    Szalai with a decent strike at Kelleher's near post but the Cork man does well to save it.

  • 46'

    This is the first cap and international senior debut for Caoimhin Kelleher who has made quite the impression at Liverpool over the past three seasons.

  • 46'

    We are underway at the second half in Budapest.

  • 46'

    Bazunu comes off and he had an excellent first half.

  • 46'

    On comes Kelleher for the second half.

  • 45'

    HALF TIME: It's the tale of two headers and what might have been. Ireland went close with an effort from John Egan whose header struck the crossbar while Hungary was denied after Adam Szalai's header was excellently saved by Bazunu. More to come in the second half.

  • 44'

    Hourihane free-kick is sent into the area but it evades everyone. Ireland seems to threaten the most when they cross from the left and from set pieces.

  • 42'

    James McCleans cross sent in from the left is nearly met by Shane Duffy but it goes wide.

  • 38'

    A brilliant save from Bazunu! Adam Szalai header towards goal following a pin point cross looked certain to go in but Bazunu pushes it around the post.

  • 37'

    Idah is down injured and is being assessed but it's unsure as to whether he will be able to come back on as of yet as he is being assessed.

  • 29'

    A corner from the home side breaks down and gives a chance for Parrott to break forward, he loses possession and Hungary's counter-attack breaks down.

  • 25'

    Twenty-five minutes in and there isn't much to report has a very friendly feel to it as Hungary have resorted to testing Bazunu from range, something Marco Rossi may have instructed but the best change was from John Egan for Ireland. Both sides need to do a little bit more to pick the respective defensive locks.

  • 19'

    Hungary has resulted in long-range efforts so far, Bazunu hasn't been tested as such as his defence in front of him has held firm.

  • 11'

    Excellent back tracking and defending by McClean to ensure the back post runner of the cross into the Irish area was dealt with.

  • 9'

    Kleinheisler with a shot from the edge of the area that flashes wide of Bazunu's post.

  • 5'

    So unfortunate for Ireland, an excellent free-kick sent in by Josh Cullen sees Egan with a powerful header towards goal but it cannons off the crossbar!

  • 1'

    The first corner to Hungary is sent in with a short set-piece from Varga but Matt Doherty with alert and cleared the danger.

  • 1'

    We are underway with Hungary's Varga to kick us off.

  • The teams are out for the national anthems and kick-off will be happening shortly.

  • Conditions are 27 degrees and sunny in Budapest at the moment so it will be a very warm night for the away side.

  • Stephen Kenny speaking on. RTE: "We are playing a fluid 3-4-1-2 formation. Shane Duffy has shown a terrific attitude, Adam Idah gives us speed up front." "Sometimes you getting an opportunity and has grabbed it, he has done really well so far" on Gavin Bazunu. "The players are in on merit, its a mixture of youth and experience, there is a lot of speed in the side"

  • “Shane and Adam have trained well all week and deserve their chance...” Stephen Kenny has commented on the starting lineup. Shane Duffy has come into criticism on a domestic level due to his form at Celtic this season.

  • Team news from Budapest is coming up shortly but what we can tell you is that Shane Duffy comes into defence & Adam Idah partners Troy Parrott up front tonight.

  • Good Evening from FinalWhistle HQ, Ciaran Callan to take you through tonights action as Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland take on Hungary. This is the last day of an eleven-day camp that the Men's National Team have been apart of and will see Ireland look for their second win under Kenny.

Past Meetings

(Cyprus Cup)
0 - 0
Women's Senior
Tasos Markos Stadium

Hungary v Republic of Ireland

1 - 0
Women's Senior
Paralimni Stadium

Hungary v Republic of Ireland

1 - 1
Women's Senior
Tallaght Stadium

Republic of Ireland v Hungary

(Algarve Cup)
1 - 2
Women's Senior
Estadio Municipal de Quarteira

Hungary v Republic of Ireland

(Algarve Cup)
0 - 1
Women's Senior
Estadio Dr. Francisco Vieira, Silves

Republic of Ireland v Hungary

0 - 2
UEFA Women's EURO Qualification

Hungary v Republic of Ireland

2 - 1
UEFA Women's EURO Qualification
Tallaght Stadium

Republic of Ireland v Hungary

Ciaran Callan is a part-time sports journalist based in Dundalk, Co. Louth. He has more than 10 year’s experience working with media companies including both extensive radio broadcasting experience along with print and digital media reporting for the SSE Airtricity League as well digital media work with the national sports company eirSport. He joined FinalWhistle in February 2021 as is their main correspondent for Dundalk Football Club.