Hallgrímsson salutes Ireland resolve as Ogbene leads fightback in draw with Canada

“There is a great future in the players we’ve picked,” said Hallgrimsson after he saw his side turn around a half-time deficit with Mason Melia spurning a glorious chance for Ireland to really spoil the party in Montreal

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026 - 06:23

Joe Callaghan, Stade Saputo

Canada 1 Ireland 1

Two and a half years ago on a frigid late November night, Heimir Hallgrimsson made some halftime changes and saw his Jamaica side stun Canada on home soil. It was a comeback which, at least in part, led to Jesse Marsch ultimately being brought in at great expense to spearhead the co-hosts’ journey to the 2026 World Cup.

In a different corner of the country and in much more pleasant weather Hallgrimsson came oh so close to repeating the trick and putting one hell of a dampener on the night Montreal gave Marsch’s team its tournament send-off.

Having drawn level with the hosts courtesy of Chiedozie Ogbene’s rapid reaction when Troy Parrott saw his 60th-minute penalty saved, Ireland had a stunning upset in their hands with eight minutes to go. More accurately, it sat at the feet of Mason Melia as the teenager burst into wide open space. He was met by Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and saw his effort saved superbly.

For Hallgrimsson the 1-1 draw would continue a solid eight-month run in which the only game Ireland lost was the one which is still so hard to shake-off: the playoff penalty agony of Prague. Friday was a night which left the Ireland manager a little torn. An ultimate game of two halves, his team were absolutely blessed to come off at halftime trailing by just a single goal.

Jake O’Brien bundled into his own net after neither Parrott nor goalkeeper Mark Travers dealt with a corner delivery on 23 minutes but Canada’s forwards butchered enough for a buffet in an opening 45 minutes where they were utterly dominant.

“Two different halves. We were really disappointed with the first one,” said Hallgrimsson afterwards. "Probably the worst performance for a long time for us, both in possession — everything seemed sluggish and slow — and then out of possession. Everything was too late. You’re kind of waiting for them to do something and reacting to that. We talked about it at half time — we’re going to change this.

“Second half was totally different. We were decisive, on the front foot. We took decisions and reacted to them. Black and white for me, first and second half. How good we can be and how bad we can be.”

Hallgrimsson, of course, allowed some mitigation for the unorthodox squad he had at his disposal. Bohemians captain Dawson Devoy had won a first cap from the start alongside Conor Coventry in the middle of Montreal, he found the going tough. He wasn’t helped that every Irish player around him was also having a struggle of a first half. Devoy and Corrie Ndaba were the two called ashore at the interval and the experience of Jamie McGrath and Liam Scales helped turn the tide.

A game and night which started in a cracking atmosphere didn’t let up much. But Ireland’s increased pressure after the break frayed Canadian nerves. There was foolishness from the hosts on the hour mark when striker Cyle Larin swung a careless high foot inside his own box. Contact with the head of substitute McGrath may have been minimal but it was a no-doubt penalty. Parrott, who had endured plenty of physical attention from Canadian defenders, stepped up and missed a fourth spot-kick of the season. Ogbene was liveliest and rushed in to take the rebound off Parrott’s toe and race away towards a block of vocal green behind the goal.

Hallgrimsson took issue with some of the treatment dished Parrott’s way: “He was I think five or six times just kicked down. I don’t know why we didn’t get free kicks for that. He was kicked down more or less the whole game so obviously that took its toll.”

The goal swung the momentum very much Ireland’s way as Canada tired noticeably in the final half hour. One week out from their tournament opener against Bosnia, Jesse Marsch was prioritising getting minutes into the legs of his injury-hit side. But it almost cost him dearly. Eight minutes from time with Ireland freshest Melia raced in behind to wide open space, only Crepeau to beat. He saw his effort stopped and an unlikely victory slipped away.

“Canada should have probably won this game in the first half. But we could have stolen it in the end with that one-v-one with the keeper. That’s just football,” said Hallgrimsson. “You get your chances and he got his because he’s a willing runner. he went in behind and all of a sudden he was one on one with the keeper Sometimes you score. Sometimes you are the hero.”

Future heroes may well have been unearthed over the two extended camps of the past month. Cork teenager Jaden Umeh started and got through 70 minutes of work. As well as Devoy, Hallgrimsson found room for three more debuts before the night was done — Joe Hodge, Kian Leavy and Adam Brennan rewarded with late cameos.

“There is a great future in the players we’ve picked,” said Hallgrimsson. “Absolutely loved them. Not only this camp but the camp before. I think we are richer and we are deeper than we were before. That’s the investment.”

Canada (4-4-2): Crepeau; Johnston (Sigur HT), De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea (Bassong 62); Buchanan (Oluwaseyi 86), Eustaquio (Saliba 87), Kone, Millar (Nelson 87); J David, Larin (P David 73).

Goal: O’Brien OG (23)

Ireland (3-4-2-1): Travers; O’Brien, Collins, Abankwah; Coleman (Phillips 70), Devoy (McGrath HT), Coventry (Hodge 88), Ndaba (Scales HT); Ogbene (Brennan 90), Umeh (Melia 70); Parrott (Leavy 88).

Goal: Ogbene (60)

Referee: P Camacho (CRC)