INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
Republic of Ireland v Qatar, Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Thursday, 7.45pm
TV
Live coverage on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player from 7.30pm.
ONLINE
Live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app.
WEATHER
Sunny spells in the morning but cloud will continue to build from the southwest bringing patchy light rain, drizzle and mist. However, there will still be a lot of dry weather and limited sunny spells will break through. Highest temperatures of 17 to 23 degrees generally, reaching up to 24 degrees in parts of the east. Moderate southeasterly winds will veer southwesterly in the afternoon. More on met.ie.
And so here we are. So close to a Stateside soccer World Cup we could almost taste the unlimited Big Gulp refills.
However, we must make our peace with end-of-May friendlies against, first, Qatar on Thusday night and then a trip to America's unfailingly polite neighbours, Canada, next week.
The warm-up act. That punch-drunk, no-name southpaw the challenger takes on before his big bout with the champ. Far from Gladys Knight - in fact, barely even a Pip.
'If I hadn't known such riches,' and all of that...
Still, it's a livin'...
Our Irish players are in the unusual position of possibly feeling relieved that they have an evening kick-off - rather than an afternoon test in the 'searing heat' of... Dublin, this week. The Aviva Stadium vendors have swapped out the Bovril for Tangle Twisters, and on we go, farmers' tans all around.
Interestingly, our two upcoming opponents will meet each other in Group B at the upcoming Finals. We wonder if Canadian manager Jessie Marsch might put on the charm with our man Heimir after the game next week, pass him an ice-cold Coors Light before casually inquiring "So, the Qataris, any use??"
Anyway, that pair are each other's problem. We have youngsters to blood. Heimir Hallgrimsson named a squad brimming with youthful exhuberance for this fortnight of friendly fare.
He included some well-known faces from the generally under-represented League Of Ireland - as well as former St Patrick's Athletic starlet Mason Melia, now of Tottenham Hotspur.
Bohemians playmaker Dawson Devoy struggled to get the whole two weeks' Annual Leave off the boss at Dalymount Park, Alan Reynolds, so he'll be skipping the Qatari game before linking up with the squad for the trip to Montreal.
It's a big leap for some of the young guns who will be hoping to make an impression on the senior panel. Melia has made three appearances for Spurs' U-21 side this term although he was drafted in to train with the first team towards the end of their ultimately successful mission to retain their Premier League status.
Jaden Umeh of Benfica is also included. The winger, like fellow 18-year-old Melia, has yet to make a senior appearance for his club. Melia, at least, has the experience of 21 goals in 76 Airtricity League Premier Division appearances for the Saints.
So what does all that mean? It means we're going to be looking at a largely experimental - but potentially very exciting side over these two games.
Too soon for the teen tyros?
Our soccer pundit Keith Treacy made an interesting and very fair point on this week's episode of the RTÉ Soccer podcast.
It's one thing to blood the next generation when the chance presents itself. But Treacy argued that Hallgrimsson could be in danger of handing out a cheap cap or two to players we might never see again at this level (Joey Lapira, anyone?).
Could an all-too-early international debut even hinder a promising youth player's development?
We certainly hope not and the buzz around Umeh, Melia and Adam Brennan of Shamrock Rovers is not based on bluster. That trio appear wise beyond their years. Who knows, a surprise senior cap in the fledgling stage of their professional careers could well be the making of them.
Past performance
Ireland, world-ranked four places behind Thursday's opponents in 55th, met Qatar in two friendly matches during the Stephen Kenny era. Fittingly, considering one of the main talking points around this week's squad, Kenny's stewardship isn't the only League Of Ireland-related thread running throught those 2021 encounters.
A 1-1 draw in Hungary that March saw Ireland open the scoring through now (again)-Derry City man, James McClean in the fourth minute before the Qataris equalised just after half-time.
The following October, Ireland beat their visitors 4-0 at the Aviva Stadium.
A Callum Robinson hat-trick was added to by the inevitable head of Shane Duffy.
The Ireland team that day included recent Bohemian hooped heartbreaker, Enda Stevens; former St Pat's and Dundalk frontman, Jamie McGrath and ex-Gypsie, Matt Doherty.
A good omen for the domestic-linked players involved on Thursday night, perhaps.
Quote of the week
Captain Nathan Collins: "There's a bite in me, wanting to succeed more for Ireland. After seeing all the fans in Czechia, how much we came together, it gives you extra to want to do more.
"(Prague) was my first proper taste of it. Of course as a kid I’ve seen Ireland have some great moments but it's so different when you’re involved in it. To see what it meant to fans and us controlling and having an effect on that makes you want to give them more."
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Watch Republic of Ireland v Qatar on Thursday from 7.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app
