Ridden by Ryan Moore, the son of Coolmore stallion Australia, claimed the Qatari Group 2 contest at the prestigious H.H. The Amir Trophy meeting by half a length from Band Width with a further head back to Conflict in third place in the 12-runner 1 mile contest.

Russian Emperor 

The Coolmore-bred, former Aidan O’Brien inmate Russian Emperor landed day’s main race, the H.H. The Amir Trophy over a mile and a half for Hong Kong-based trainer Douglas Whyte and jockey Alberto Sanna. 

The 2021-22 Hong Kong Champion Stayer (2021/22) claimed the US$2.5 million race ahead of Godolphin’s Warren Point for Godolphin and the French-trained Bolthole, by half a length and another half a length respectively. 

It was a fifth career win for Russian Emperor, a son of Galileo, who previously won the  2022 Group 1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and the 2022 Group 1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong. 

The six-year-old Russian Emperor holds entries in both the Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic and Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan on Dubai World Cup Night, 25 March 2023. 

The Aidan O’Brien-handled runners, Broome and Stone Age, finished fifth and twelfth respectively in a race that included runners from Ireland, France, Hong Kong, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

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Callum Robinson nabbed his first hattrick at international level after scoring a brace against Azerbaijan at the weekend, ending a seven-year-long wait for an Irish international hattrick.

Robbie Keane was the last player to do so, scoring three in a 7-0 rout of Gibraltar in Faro under Martin O’Neill in the Euro 2016 Qualifiers.

Fans were delighted with the performance and took to social media to praise the team throughout the game.

I’ve said it all along. This Irish team under SK are playing some of the best football I’ve seen from an Irish team in yonks. We could have been passing all those years if we had had managers who trusted the players. #IRLQAT

— Con Murphy (@ConMurphySport) October 12, 2021

Co-commentator of the LOIArena Podcast, Con Murphy expressed his joy with the way the national side are playing under the former Ireland Under-21 manager.

He noted that it was “some of the best football [he’s] seen from an Irish team in yonks.”

Ireland were fluid in attack and passed their way around a Qatari side that will be the hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which the Republic of Ireland have failed to qualify for.

The Irish made 38 passes in the build-up to the third goal which sealed Callum Robinson’s name in the history of Irish football as he completed his hattrick.

Stephen Kenny in his post match interview.#IRLQAT #coybig #IREQAT pic.twitter.com/LpiqCZcbrw

— Gerry McK (@GMcK2012) October 12, 2021

Other fans made light of those that have doubted Stephen Kenny throughout his time as manager of the Republic of Ireland’s senior side.

‘@GMcK2012’ made use of a Father Ted meme to imagine how the manager may have been feeling after his side’s resounding victory.

Kenny has been publicly criticised by high-profile figures on the Irish soccer scene in the past for his lack of positive results.

However, some fans are still not impressed, despite the clear improvement upon the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture.

Ffs it's not France they beat. They beat an amateur pub team.

— Ollie Golden (@olivergolden610) October 13, 2021

Despite Qatar being ranked five places higher than the Republic of Ireland, some people still expect more.

Time will tell if we get that.

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Will Keane, who earned his first senior international call-up for the October international window, has not been selected – neither has Celtic’s Liam Scales.

Caoimhin Kelleher has been selected ahead of his first start for Ireland in front of a sell-out crowd of 25,000 Irish fans, including his family.

All players that made an appearance against Azerbaijan in Ireland’s first competitive win under Stephen Kenny, excluding Cullen, are named in the squad.

Harry Arter, Enda Stevens and James Collins are also among those included in the squad for the match.

This kit. #COYBIG | #WeAreOne | #IRLQAT | @UmbroIreland pic.twitter.com/MSepsynFBR

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 12, 2021

The Republic of Ireland will wear a special edition 100th anniversary kit for their international friendly against Qatar on Tuesday night.

Ireland will wear the shirt to mark the centenary of the creation of the Football Association of Ireland, the governing body of the sport in the country.

The FAI was founded in September 1921 by the Free State League (now League of Ireland) and the Leinster FA, which had withdrawn from the Irish Football Association (IFA) in June of that year.

Umbro revealed the limited edition jersey back in August – it is a blue home jersey that contains a simple design with a retro shamrock crest and discreet blue-on-blue Umbro logo.

The colour of the shirt, described as ‘St Patrick’s Blue’ is a nod to the colour of the very first Republic of Ireland kit, which was the same colour.

The goalkeeper jersey, which will be worn by Liverpool number two Caoimhin Kelleher, is a yellow version of the shirt.

The year ‘1921’ is embroidered onto the back of the shirt underneath the grandad collar to mark the centenary.

The match details have been embroidered underneath the shamrock crest and read ‘v Qatar 12/10/21’.

The full matchday squad can be seen below.

Match-day Squad | Ireland v Qatar

Josh Cullen ruled out of the squad through injury as Jason Knight comes into the squad

Will Keane & Liam Scales miss out #COYBIG | #WeAreOne | #IRLQAT pic.twitter.com/Q8ZCQbCrvU

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 12, 2021

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Ireland will wear the shirt to mark the centenary of the creation of the Football Association of Ireland, the governing body of the sport in the country.

The FAI was founded in September 1921 by the Free State League (now League of Ireland) and the Leinster FA, which had withdrawn from the Irish Football Association (IFA) in June of that year.

Umbro revealed the limited edition jersey back in August – it is a blue home jersey that contains a simple design with a retro shamrock crest and discreet blue-on-blue Umbro logo.

This kit. #COYBIG | #WeAreOne | #IRLQAT | @UmbroIreland pic.twitter.com/MSepsynFBR

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 12, 2021

The colour of the shirt, described as ‘St Patrick’s Blue’ is a nod to the colour of the very first Republic of Ireland kit, which was the same colour.

The goalkeeper jersey, which will be worn by Liverpool number two Caoimhin Kelleher, is a yellow version of the shirt.

The year ‘1921’ is embroidered onto the back of the shirt underneath the grandad collar to mark the centenary.

The match details have been embroidered underneath the shamrock crest and read ‘v Qatar 12/10/21’.

A sell-out crowd of 25,000 will be able to see the shirts in action as Ireland take on Qatar at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Republic of Ireland Squad / v Qatar

Goalkeepers: Gavin Bazunu (Portsmouth, on loan from Manchester City), Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth).
Defenders: Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Cyrus Christie (Fulham), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Enda Stevens (Sheffield United), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City), Nathan Collins (Burnley), Liam Scales (Celtic).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren), Jason Knight (Derby County).
Attackers: Callum Robinson (West Bromwich Albion), Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), James Collins (Cardiff City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (MK Dons, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Will Keane (Wigan Athletic), Chiedozie Ogbene (Rotherham United).

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Ireland v Qatar kicks off at 19:45 tonight, 12th October in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. The match will be shown live on RTE 2, RTE Player, and Sky Sports Premier League Ireland.

Manager Stephen Kenny is now three games unbeaten, including his win over Azerbaijan on Saturday. Now that he has his first win and first competitive win, he will now want his first win at home.

In seven attempts, Kenny has not managed to triumph in the Aviva Stadium. His heavily changed squad will want to make their mark with a win today.

Qatar has now been joined by Germany as the first team to qualify for the next World Cup. They may be optimistic but manager Felix Sanchez will want them to start winning so that they will not be embarrassed at home.

Qatar have now gone five matches without a victory with losses to the USA and Serbia. They will play a strong team in hopes of scoring some goals.

These two countries are only recent opponents. In current history, Ireland has only faced Qatar once, in a friendly back in March. That day, the Boys in Green were disappointed to draw 1-1 even though the Qatari team dominated possession and chances.

Ireland are 4/6 to win, maybe use the Sky Bet sign up offer to back Robinson at 9/2 to score first.

Stephen Kenny's Ireland get their first competitive win pic.twitter.com/iADhzTJgnN

— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) October 9, 2021

Ireland v Qatar Probable Starting Teams

Ireland

Formation

4-3-3

Probable Starting 11

Kelleher (GK), Stevens, Collins, Egan, Christie, Cullen, Hourihane, Ogbene, McGrath, Parrott, Connolly.

Injuries / Suspensions

Coleman, Manning

Qatar

Formation

3-5-2

Probable Starting 11

Sheeb (GK), Fadlalla, Salman, Hisham, Ahmed, Hatem, Boudiaf, Abdulsalam, Miguel, Afif, Ali.

Injuries / Suspensions

None

CONFIRMED: Caoimhin Kelleher will make his first senior start for the Republic of Ireland in Tuesday night's friendly against Qatar. #awlive [sky]

Congratulations, Caoimhim pic.twitter.com/aGS2Ata9ZD

— Anfield Watch (@AnfieldWatch) October 11, 2021

Ireland v Qatar Betting

Ireland 3/4

Draw 23/10

Qatar 7/2

Score Prediction

Bar Ireland’s last victory, goals have been hard to come by. Qatar has been in worse form than the Irish with only two goals in five matches so do not expect this game to be full of goals. Kenny may lineup a weaker side to try out some new players so this game could go either way.

Expect the game to end 2-1 to Ireland.

The way @JeffHendrick92 looks at a football #COYBIG | #WeAre100 | #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/RgqQWLUcin

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) October 11, 2021

To read more in-depth and up-to-date Irish and international football news, click here.

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Ireland will travel to Faro to take on Portugal at the Estádio Algarve on Wednesday, September 1 before returning to Ireland to take on Azerbaijan on Saturday, September 4 and Serbia on Tuesday, September 7 at the Aviva Stadium.

Enda Stevens, Callum O’Dowda, Jason Knight and Chiedozie Ogbene have all been ruled out through injury whilst West Bromwich Albion striker Callum Robinson tested positive for COVID-19 this week, and is currently in isolation.

Burnley defender Nathan Collins receives his first call-up to the senior squad whilst Jamie McGrath and Andrew Omobamidele keep their place in the squad after impressing in the summer camp in Andorra and Hungary.

Brighton and Hove Albion striker Aaron Connolly and Newcastle United midfielder Jeff Hendrick return to the squad having missed the summer international friendlies, with the squad set to fly out to Portugal on Sunday.

Republic of Ireland Squad

Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Gavin Bazunu (Portsmouth, on loan from Manchester City), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Matt Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Duffy (Brighton and Hove Albion), John Egan (Sheffield United), Dara O’Shea (West Bromwich Albion), Ryan Manning (Swansea City), James McClean (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Omobamidele (Norwich City), Nathan Collins (Burnley).

Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Anderlecht), Jeff Hendrick (Newcastle United), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa), Harry Arter (Nottingham Forest), Jamie McGrath (St. Mirren), Jayson Molumby (Brighton and Hove Albion)

Attackers: Aaron Connolly (Brighton and Hove Albion), James Collins (Cardiff City), Daryl Horgan (Wycombe Wanderers), Adam Idah (Norwich City), Troy Parrott (MK Dons, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur), Shane Long (Southampton), Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).

Fixtures

01/09 – Portugal v Republic of Ireland, Estádio Algarve, 7:45pm
04/09 – Republic of Ireland v Azerbaijan, Aviva Stadium, 5 pm
07/09 – Republic of Ireland v Serbia, Aviva Stadium, 7:45 pm

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Gavin Bazunu – 6

One of the 3 surviving starters – along with Seamus Coleman and Dara O’Shea – from the disappointment against Luxembourg, Bazunu certainly earned his recall to the starting XI.

The former Shamrock Rovers ‘keeper was one of the only positives on Saturday in one of the most disappointing Irish results in recent years.

He wasn’t as impressive tonight as his performance included a handful of shaky moments, but he also made a handful of decent saves and commanded his area well for the most part.

Couldn’t have done anything for the Qatari goal.

Cyrus Christie – 7

The Nottingham Forest full-back hasn’t started all that much for Ireland over the past couple of years, but has always made himself available and was one of the better performers tonight.

His link up play was particularly impressive down the right flank. He played a brilliant one-two in the first half which could have easily led to a goal as he bombed down the right wing before delivering a cross into the box which was unfortunately cleared.

He created possibly the best chance of the game – bar the goal – in injury time as he floated a brilliant cross into the box which found Josh Cullen in space, the latter didn’t place the ball well enough to beat the keeper, though.

His defensive play was also solid, making for an all-round impressive performance.

Dara O’Shea – 8

Probably the West Brom man’s best performance in an Irish shirt to date.

O’Shea was excellent defensively, regularly winning his 50/50s, forcing the opposition into mistakes and intelligently reading play.

As well as his astute defensive display, O’Shea rarely misplaced a pass despite playing a number of line-splitting balls.

If tonight’s performance is anything to go by, O’Shea should have a fruitful future in green.

Seamus Coleman – 7

Coleman’s brutal, but honest, assessment of Ireland’s performance against Luxembourg endeared himself even more to an Ireland fanbase who already admire the Donegal native.

Despite the result on Saturday, Coleman produced a typically solid display, form which he continued into tonight’s game.

He looked comfortable on the ball and was sound defensively, as usual.

Shane Duffy – 6

After sitting on the bench for the two World Cup qualifiers, Duffy started tonight and would have been looking to prove his doubters wrong.

The Derryman is having a poor season with Celtic on loan and has often been used as a scapegoat for his side’s underwhelming campaign.

He did show glimpses of his former self tonight, though, particularly in the first half.

Jeff Hendrick – 5

Played the entire game but failed to stand out other than a good ball into Shane Long within the opening minutes of the match.

Wasn’t progressive in his passing despite playing in an advanced role, opting for the simple option the majority of the time.

Jayson Molumby – 6

Looked composed in midfield, rarely rushing things and taking his time to pick out the right pass.

Molumby put in a typically hard-working performance and pressed the opposition whenever the opportunity arose.

Robbie Brady – 6

Not really on the pitch long enough to give a higher rating as he was subbed off in the 22^nd minute due to injury. However, he played fairly well during his time on the pitch.

The Burnley man was heavily involved in the build-up leading to Ireland’s goal.

Daryl Horgan – 6

Provided the assist for Ireland’s goal with a pass into James McClean’s feet from a well worked corner routine and generally looked lively in the opening period of the game.

He did gradually fade out of the game, though, and was replaced just after half time.

James McClean – 7

A typically combative performance from James McClean. The Stoke City winger was probably Ireland’s most dangerous player in the opening stages and his goal reflected his impressive display.

His attacking influence gradually faded throughout the game but he covered every blade of grass and offered defensive protection on a number of occasions.

Shane Long – 5

Worked the channels well by making several good forward runs that unfortunately came to nothing.

Long’s link up play could have been better on a number of occasions and he missed a sitter while one-on-one with the Qatari ‘keeper.

He was always a willing runner but unfortunately his end product didn’t match his work rate.

SUBSTITUTES

Troy Parrott – 5

Came on in the 22^nd minute and played the remainder of the match but failed to get involved too much.

He looked slow in possession and failed to release the ball early on a number of occasions.

However, he also showed glimpses of his potential by trapping the ball well and displaying good hold-up play on occasion.

Callum Robinson – 6

Looked lively after coming on and looked to get involved whenever possible, however it didn’t always come off for him.

He turned neatly on one occasion and managed to get a shot off, but other than that he didn’t have much of an impact in the final third.

Jason Knight – 6

Worked tirelessly as usual but unfortunately it didn’t always come off for the Derby man after coming on.

Received a yellow card for a blatant shirt pull and was sloppy in possession on a handful of occasions.

On the plus side, he managed to win a couple of free kicks and make something out of nothing on a couple of occasions.

Ryan Manning, Alan Browne & Josh Cullen – N/A

Not on long enough to rate.

It ends level

FT | Qatar 1-1 Republic of Ireland

James McClean’s early strike was cancelled out by Muntari’s second-half finish as it ends level in Hungary #WEAREONE | #COYBIG | #QATIRL pic.twitter.com/vthhYXlShp

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) MARCH 30, 2021

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Reports fluctuated earlier surrounding Qatar’s potential inclusion in European World Cup qualifying as preparation for the finals. Those reports were then confirmed by the FAI by way of a tweet announcing Ireland’s fixtures.

CONFIRMED | Ireland’s fixtures for 2021

March 24 | v
March 27 | v
March 30 | v
September 1 | v
September 4 | v
September 7 | v
October 9 | v
October 12 | v
November 11 | v
November 14 | v #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/rm5wNCYGrv

— FAIreland (@FAIreland) DECEMBER 8, 2020

They have already qualified for the finals due to their position of host, however this will give the nation a chance to see where they’re at in terms of competitiveness. They won’t be competing for points, meaning their games will be played as friendlies.

Ireland will play Qatar twice in qualifying, both home and away. The venue of these fixtures has not yet been decided. Given the distance between the two nations, it could very well be played in a neutral ground.

Qatar are ranked at 59 in the FIfa World Rankings, not many places below Ireland who are currently ranked 42. Despite not being a traditional football powerhouse, Qatar should provide stern competition for Ireland given their growth over the past few years.

Ireland are first set to play Qatar on March 30th. The final match between the two countries will take place on October 12th.

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