Republic of Ireland Draw 1-1 with Senegal in International Friendly

The Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Senegal in an international friendly at the Aviva Stadium, with Kasey McAteer scoring his first international goal to give Ireland the lead. Senegal, unbeaten in 20 matches and ranked 19th by FIFA, equalized late in the game through Ismaila Sarr, a goal that Ireland's manager Heimir Hallgrimsson suggested would have been ruled offside if VAR had been in use. Hallgrimsson praised Ireland’s defensive performance against a world-class opponent, noting the team limited Senegal's scoring opportunities and showed growing confidence despite conceding from crosses. McAteer was named player of the match, impressing with his attacking play and composure. Hallgrimsson acknowledged the positives from the game, emphasizing the team's ability to compete with top teams and the value of gaining insights from such matches. Ireland will continue their preparations with a friendly against Luxembourg, aiming to build on this performance.