Good evening and welcome along to our coverage of the international friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Qatar.

This is certainly not where Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side want to be with the World Cup just around the corner. But no point digging up that grave. Tonight is about getting the job done in Dublin before turning attention to another friendly against Canada next in Montreal next week.

We’ll have the team line-ups for you shortly as we close in on the 7.45pm kick-off.

Republic of Ireland:

Caoimhin Kelleher; Séamus Coleman, Jake O’Brien, Nathan Collins (c), Dara O’Shea, Liam Scales; Jayson Molumby, Jamie McGrath; Chiedozie Ogbene, Jack Moylan; Troy Parrott.

There’s a home debut for Jack Moylan of Lincoln City. His only other appearance at the Aviva Stadium was for Shelbourne in 2022 FAI Cup final where they lost 4-0 to Derry City.

Moylan also became the first Ireland player in 39 years to score a hat-trick on his Ireland debut when he netted away to Grenada at the end of the Spanish training camp earlier this month.

Your Ireland starting XI to face Qatar 🇮🇪

A strong selection from Heimir Hallgrímsson with Nathan Collins captaining the side©️

Kick-off at the Aviva is 7:45pm 🏟️☘️ pic.twitter.com/RDT3BKFyMk

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) May 28, 2026

Qatar:

Mahmud Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Jassem Gaber, Issa Laye, Ahmed Fathi; Yusuf Abdurisag, Homam Elamin, Edmilson Junior, Akram Afif; Boualem Khoukhi (c), Ayoub Al-Oui

A message from Heimir Hallgrímsson in tonight’s match programme:

“Everything we do now is designed to shape our path towards [Euro] 2028. We want to ensure that Ireland is a central part of that tournament, competing in front of our own supporters. That work has already begun, and today is a significant step forward.”

2 mins: Ireland 0-0 Qatar

Ireland are awarded a corner early doors after a shot from Jack Moylan is deflected away, but it comes to nothing.

7 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Great start for the hosts!

Moylan takes a free which he also earned. His delivery is met by Collins and his header ends up in the net.

Moylan is looking really lively so far.

12 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Tennis Ball Protest!

Tennis balls arrive on the field as fans protest Ireland’s Nations League clash with Israel later this year.

It doesn’t last long but the fans clearly wanted to make a statement.

13 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Qatar go on a burst after Jake O’Brien gets dispossessed. The offside flag goes up to bring the attack to a close as Troy Parrott has a go at the other end.

It was a well worked move as Moylan and Séamus Coleman both get involved. The ball comes across to Parrott who hits first time, but the ball just sails wide.

Ireland continue to dictate the terms of the game.

A brief tennis ball protest during a break in play here. Seems a Stop The Game (referring to Israel boycott) was also hung over the side where the balls came from. pic.twitter.com/yyNusuz75i

— David Sneyd (@DavidSneyd) May 28, 2026

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 28, 2026

20 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Good footwork from Dara O’Shea before the ball is thumped out for an Ireland throw. Moylan gets cornered and Qatar then earn a throw before Ireland win the ball back again.

20 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Tennis ball protest!

Another round of tennis balls rain down from the stands. The referee stops the game and the players take use the time for a water break.

24 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Back underway.

Another Ireland goal almost materialised after a defensive error in front of the Qatar goal. A loose ball fell to Moylan who probably should have shot on sight, but he took a touch and the visitors swarmed in to snuff out the chance.

The tennis balls rain down again and this time there are chants of Free Palestine and Stop The Game. Some fans groan/jeer initially but when it becomes clearer what’s happening there is more applause. pic.twitter.com/ZvUSWEqCPV

— David Sneyd (@DavidSneyd) May 28, 2026

29 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Liam Scales tries to link up with Moylan, but he’s well marshalled by Pedro Miguel.

Moylan and Parrott then combine and a corner is the result.

30 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Qatar get the clearance but Ireland are pressing again and win a throw which O’Brien will take.

33 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ireland stringing together a few passes around the middle of the field before O’Brien launches a crossfield pass trying to find Scales. He knocks it down to Moylan but the flag goes up as he tries to peel away.

35 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Chiedozie Ogbene intercepts the ball and Ireland quickly launch a counter-attack. They work the ball across the field and Coleman eventually wins a free in an inviting position. 

38 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Not a great effort from Moylan and Qatar get the ball out. Ireland attack again and find Coleman with a long ball. Moylan chips the ball into the box and Scales gets up to head it back across.

Ogbene tries to get the final touch but it’s cut out for a corner.

40 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Referee awards a free out and Qatar escape again. They pump the ball long and O’Brien concedes a free-kick. They go short and loop it into the box.

Dara O’Shea gives away a free at the edge of the area.

41 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

The ball is squared across to Homam Elamin from the free. He has a go from outside the box but there’s too much air under it.

44 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Parrott wins a throw after some good work at the corner. And it’s blocked out for another throw.

The delivery finds O’Shea but his header is off target.

45 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

How unfortunate for Moylan?

After some brilliant work, he gets a straight red card after a high tackle on Qatari midfielder Jassem Gaber. The Ireland players are surprised by the call and quickly rally around their teammate, but that’s it for him tonight.

He looks visibly distraught as he makes his way off the field.

Three minutes of added time have been announced.

Here’s a closer look at that red card decision for Jack Moylan 

🇮🇪 1-0 🇶🇦
🟥 On just his second international appearance, Jack Moylan has been shown a straight red card for a challenge on Qatar’s Jassem Gaber
📱https://t.co/fqnZH2gZNd
📺https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ pic.twitter.com/yF9wwly0MA

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 28, 2026

45 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

We’re back underway at the Aviva Stadium. Ireland make one change as James Abankwah comes in for O’Shea.

49 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Good work from Abankwah as he reacts quickly to the danger and puts the ball out. That should be good for his confidence. 

51 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ireland win a free after a push on Scales while a delivery was being floated in. Ireland are working the ball around patiently. They’ll have to be more conservative with their tactics after losing Moylan to that red card. 

53 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Coleman tries to send in a long ball for Parrott but it ends up looking like an attempt to lob the keeper.

His attempt goes wide, but the goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada obviously got a fright as he retreats quickly into the net.

54 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ireland win a throw and O’Brien runs over. It looks like he is going to launch it into the box.

55 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

The ball bobbles around but the referee awards a free out as Qatar prepare to make a few substitutions. 

57 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Offside flag goes up against Yusuf Abdurisag as Qatar make those changes.

59 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ireland corner and it’s Jamie McGrath who will send it in.

60 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

It’s a very deep delivery and Qatar get the ball out but Ireland win a throw which then leads to another corner. McGrath stands over it again.

61 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

It’s an easy one for the goalkeeper to collect and Qatar go on the march.

63 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

QATAR CHANCE!

Alaaeldin sees his effort drift wide of the post.

Qatar then create another chance but Jayson Molumby gets the block in.

66 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ogbene gets muscled off the ball and Qatar get the ball back. The pace of the game has dropped noticeably as Scales gets up to cut out a cross into the penalty area.

68 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Qatar enjoying a bit more of the possession as another cross goes in. But O’Brien heads the ball away.

Qatar win a corner.

69 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

The ball goes over the top and is sent back in. Abankwah’s clearance doesn’t go far but Qatar don’t get much out of the chance and Kelleher will get the game going again from a kick-out.

71 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

KELLEHER SAVE!

Nervy moment there. Nathan Collins heads the ball away but Qatar win it back and a shot from Yusuf Abdurisag takes a deflection off Collins which almost sneaks past Kelleher. But Kelleher repositions himself to parry the ball away in time.

75 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ireland change: Liam Scales is replaced by Corrie Ndaba and Ogbene goes off for Jaden Umeh.

77 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Qatar make another raft of changes.

80 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

And so both sides are now down to 10 men. Almoez Ali is sent off over an off the ball incident with Jayson Molumby.

82 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Coleman’s cross finds Ndaba at the back post. But there’s just a little too much sauce on it and he can’t get control the ball.

It looks like Ireland will be making more changes.

84 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Coleman is down holding his head after taking a knock while being brought down in possession. It’s a free at the edge of the box which McGrath will take.

85 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

MISS!

Parrott tries to brush the ball into the net but ends up sliding into it instead. Collins also got a touch to set up the chance but the ball stays out and Ireland’s lead remains at 1-0.

88 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Liam Scales wins the man-of-the-match award as injury time approaches.

89 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Ireland change: Parrott is replaced by Mason Melia 

90 mins: Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Three minutes of added time to go.

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Qatar

And that’s that.

It was never going to be a thriller but Ireland will be happy to get a win there. Nathan Collins’ first-half header was the only real chance of the game.

Troy Parrott came close to doubling their lead in the second half but the sting was long gone out of the game at that point.

The Jack Moylan red card will surely be the main talking point of the night. Canada in Montreal is up next for Ireland.

Republic of Ireland 1-0 Qatar

Well, that’s all from us, folks.

Stick around for our match report from David Sneyd live in the Aviva Stadium while Paul Fennessy will also have some post-match reaction.

As always, we hope you enjoyed the coverage this evening and look forward to having you with us again, soon.

Until next time, good luck!