From Moneygall and Donegal to Senegal, this Ireland team can do some damage

THE month may be June but there is a genuine sense that Ireland's year is just about to begin.

- camondunphy

All the stars are aligning.

We have strikers who are in form, a genuinely top-class goalkeeper who has finally moved out of the shadows and a defence that has depth and class and a fusion of youth with the experience of solid pros like Matt Doherty and Robbie Brady.

What excites me even more is the fact that Heimir Hallgrimsson has avoided the option of a soft game to lead into next season's World Cup qualification campaign.

Instead he has hand-picked an exceptional team to test his maturing side against.

Ranked 19th in the world, Senegal are unbeaten in 20 matches, having lost just once in their last 32, their team filled with brilliant players.

Okay, Sadio Mane is absent for this game, but Nicolas Jackson is in Dublin, the Chelsea forward's confidence buoyed by his goal in the Europa Conference League final win over Real Betis.

Their two Sarrs are stars: Ismaila Sarr played a big part in Crystal Palace's FA Cup final win over Manchester City; Pape Sarr provided the assist for Brennan Johnson's goal for Spurs in their Europa League final win over Manchester United.

Committed, intelligent, tough, they will offer a stern test to Ireland.

But it is one this evolving Irish team is ready for. For once, we aren't shy of goalscoring forwards; Adam Idah coming off a good season; Troy Parrott a brilliant one.