HUNGARY FOR IT NOW

CAOMIHIN KELLEHER was asked to cast his mind back to the scoreless draw against Hungary just over four years ago at the Szusza Ferenc Stadion in Ujpest.

- BY MARK McCADDEN

For most, it's long been forgotten - the last friendly before the summer break and at a particularly bleak time for Ireland on and off the pitch.

Covid was still casting a large shadow but for Kelleher (above), June 8 in Ujpest was a day to remember - a first ever senior international appearance.

Fast forward four years and a new World Cup campaign is here.

"Probably the majority of that group was maybe making their debuts around that time and coming into the squad," said the Brentford goalkeeper.

"Now we've had a few attempts at qualification and obviously it's not happened for us. But in terms of this group, most of us are looking in the right time of our career right now.