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Kevin Doyle and Ritchie Sadlier share their thoughts in the aftermath of Ireland’s 2-1 win over Bulgaria tonight:
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s post-match interview with RTE’s Tony Donoghue:
“No, it seems to be some kind of a trend to concede the goal from the first attack they got. Obviously that’s disappointing but good that we came back. The moment we conceded, we were in good control so its a little bit [of a] slap.
“You can feel we lost that bit of momentum with conceding the goal. But, credit to the guys they came back and played a bit more simple in the second-half which was the key. We were complicating it – too many touches, playing it short too many times – but once we got into the spaces and crossed we created more.
“I think Finn [Azaz] is so clever as a player. He can play whatever position we put him in, but he’s really the strongest when he’s finding the pockets behind the forwards.
“The good thing about today is two strikers scored. It’s a big competition and everybody is unhappy not to be playing but that is how it should be. Credit to them, they get the chance and let their feet do the talking and that is how it should be.
“In the centre he [Evan Ferguson] would probably get the ball more. We would like to have a guy like him on the ball and he can find the runners. We have quiet a lot of runners in the team, but the key today was to get it wide and get it in [the box].
“I think there are more players understanding the principles of how we play. Hopefully, we can grow from now on. We have shown good signs of growth this camp and there’s been a lot of good energy and togetherness in the squad. I hope that is a good sign for the World Cup [Qualifiers] in the summer.
Troy Parrott’s interview with RTE’s Tony Donoghue:
“Obviously it’s not what we wanted [to come from behind]. I think the goal [we conceded] this time was a bit on us, but to turn it around and come back is a nice feeling.
“I don’t think its a secret its [Number 9] my favourite position. That’s where I feel like I am the strongest. I think you can see we have a lot of quality in this team – Evan [Ferguson] and Adam [Idah] with their goals. I would have liked one but the most important thing is that we won the game.
“For me, its all about contributing to the game. If I can play like this it’s more important for me. I know if the chances will keep coming, the goals will go in as I play more and more. I’m really happy with how tonight went.
“We have a lot of quality, especially in attacking areas. It can only benefit us having three strikers all scoring goals and all playing well. It’s better for us to keep pushing each other.
Dan McDonnell sums it up nicely there – Middlesbrough man Finn Azaz looks like the link player Ireland oh so desperately need:
Another nice pass from Azaz to start that Irish break. Nice from Sykes and Idah. Feels like a takeaway from this window is that it’s hard to see Ireland starting games without Azaz from this point onwards…
— Daniel McDonnell (@McDonnellDan) March 23, 2025
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men have come from behind once again! Its another win against this rather out-of-sorts Bulgaria side who took a first-half lead before goals from Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah turned it around.
In truth, it’s the least Ireland deserved. The Boys in Green dominated large swathes of the game and created the vast majority of dangerous chances across the 90 minutes.
Plamen Iliev does well to race off his goal line and head the ball out before Adam Idah can latch onto it. That will probably be that at Lansdowne Road!
WATCH: Adam Idah’s match-winning goal in the 84th-minute
Bulgaria work a corner to Radoslav Kirilov. The 32-year-old tries to catch it on the half volley but it sails away from Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal.
The Irish captain gets himself in a bit of a rugby scrum with Vladimir Nikolov who is also yellow carded for his participation in the fracas.
As Ryan Manning prepares to take a corner, the stadium announcer states there will be 6 minutes of additional time to play.
An interesting one here – the son of Bulgaria’s head coach Ilian Iliev has subbed in his son for the final few minutes in Dublin. Fabian Nurnberger is replaced.
Play has been halted as Vladimir Nikolov receives some attention.
Ray Houghton on the RTE commentary as awarded the player of the match award to Troy Parrott.
GOAL! Ireland take the lead on the counterattack! Safety in League B looks assured for another season.
Once again, Finn Azaz is the catalyst in the move as he slips it through to the fresh legs of Mark Sykes.
The 27-year-old holds it up and swivels to cross to the back post where Adam Idah cushions it home with a cultured in-step finish!
Josh Cullen commits a foul and the Bulgarian players swarm the Turkish referee. Ilia Gruev receives a yellow card for his protest.
Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Taylor comes on to win his third Irish cap as Jason Knight, who was starting to look a bit leggy in recent minutes, departs the action.
The game has entered a bit of a lull as both teams wrestle for control of the occasion. Ireland almost surged into a nice attack there after a neat link up between Jason Knight and Finn Azaz.
Bulgaria get a half-chance at the other end, but Josh Cullen did well to pinch Fabian Nurnberger’s pocket before the 25-year-old could shoot.
Bulgaria are throwing the kitchen sink at it now – a double offensive change as Petkov and Giorgi Milanov make way for Kirilov and PEC Zwolle winger Filip Krastev.
Ireland’s goal-scorer departs as Jimmy Dunne comes in which sees Ireland switch into a 3-5-2 of sorts. Ryan Manning and Matt Doherty shift into midfield, with Finn Azaz playing in behind Adam Idah.
Bulgaria, who currently trail 3-2 on aggregate, have thrown some caution to the wind in recent minutes.
Both full-backs Nikolay Minkov and Fabian Nurnberger have pushed further up the field and started to invert.
Nurnberger, who I’ve personally watched play his club football at Darmstadt, is a highly versatile option capable of playing in central midfield.
WATCH: Evan Ferguson’s goal which restored parity in the 63rd-minute
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