Kasey McAteer's debut slips under the radar on tough evening for Ireland
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Saturday’s Nations League game on Lansdowne Road was long over as a contest, rendered moot by the Declan Rice/Jack Grealish panto double act, when another English-born player was given free rein to take his first steps in a green jersey.
Whatever happens from here on in, Kasey McAteer will always be a Republic of Ireland senior international and a Republic of Ireland player only, his 15 minutes in the second-half of this ‘competitive’ fixture nailing down his allegiance until the day comes to hang up his boots.
That’s not to say that there would have been a temptation to have his head turned by the FA in the way that Lee Carsley’s two £100m talents did in the last decade but, still, its' nice to have that bit of business filed away for good after those two turns.
“It was amazing,” said McAteer. “It’s like a dream come true, playing at a packed out Aviva against a top side like England, it’s what dreams are made of. To have my family here to share it with me is a moment that will live with me forever.
“I had a little thought about my Nan and my uncle Joey. They are no longer with us but would have been so proud looking down. They were big Ireland fans so it was a nice moment. Hopefully I can have more in the future.”
Seven family members made the trip over. His mum and dad were out an about in Dublin in the sunsplit hours before kick-off and sending him photos of the city centre. His godparents and an auntie were among the travelling party too.
“I’ll go up [to the players’ lounge] and see them for a cuddle and hopefully they are proud.”
Most players have already divested themselves of their jerseys by the time they make it to a mixed zone. Sammie Szmodics and Declan Rice wore training kits over their shorts and socks. McAteer still sported his match geansaí.
It’s a memento he will frame with a nice picture of the evening. A keepsake of the evening he graduated to the senior game. There was even a small shout for a possible peno at one stage but, alas, no joy.
Still, he did what Heimir Halgrímmson told him to.
“He just told me to enjoy it and stick to what we had planned on all week. I was just going to empty the tank as much as I could. It’s hard to come into a game like that where the opposition have so much control but hopefully in the future I can make more of an impact.” McAteer is entitled to wear a smile on such a big night for him personally but Szmodics spoke with an air of gravity that reflected the wider experience for the Irish players and their supporters in what was an at times chastising evening.
“It's always different when a new manager comes in with a new philosophy, ways he wants to play in and out of possession ,” said Szmodics. “Time will tell when we get used to it. It's hard when you come away with the international team. Some of the lads have never played together, some have only played together a handful of times.
“A new manager comes in, we are an honest group, the manager has made it clear what he wants from us. It might take time to gel. To a man we have put in 110%, we tried to get the crowd off their seats with tackles and winning back possession, we need to be a bit better in transition.” There were few moments of promise for Ireland. One of them fell to the Ipswich Town man just shy of the hour when a well-worked move saw Chiedozie Ogbene cut a ball back for him in space. The shot zipped by Jordan Pickford’s post.
“I should have done better, a player of my quality,” said the 28-year old. “I like going into the box and coming back out for the cutback. I should be hitting the target, I should do better.”
He won’t be alone in thinking it. Greece on Tuesday offers the chance to do just that.