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ADAM IDAH has been told it’s not easy being green with his role as a striker for Ireland more demanding than it is as Celtic.

In Friday night’s friendly against Senegal, the Cork striker made his first start for his country since the opening match of Heimir Hallgrímsson’s reign, against England last September.

Doubts over Evan Ferguson’s ability to ast 90 minutes- plus Idah’s winner off the bench against Bulgaria in March – helped convince the Icelander to ask him to lead the line.

Although he did not get a sniff of goal – berating scorer Kasey McAteer for failing to find him with a cross in the first half – Hallgrímsson was pleased with his efforts.

And he reckons the penny has dropped that his duties for Ireland are far more onerous than they are for Celtic, for whom he scored 20 times in all competitions this season.

Asked how Ferguson was looking after a hugely-disappointing club campaign, Hallgrímsson said: “Really good, we were even thinking of starting him.

“He’s been sharp in training and I think you saw when he came on he was sharp. We’ve been really happy with him in the sessions.

“Whether he was ready for 90 minutes, we were not sure and Adam deserved to start.

“And he did a solid performance, his workrate was I thought better than often before.”

Hallgrímsson insisted that he had never had cause to question Idah’s willingness to work but reckoned the former Norwich City just had to come to terms with the differing demands for club and country.

Hallgrímsson said: “No, I saw he took the job seriously on Friday.

“It’s not been an issue but I think in his club it’s just so different a role it’s difficult to switch. 

“Because we need a lot of defending from our strikers and he’s just not used to it at Celtic when they have their possession at say 60/70/80 percent in games.

“So the space he needs to work on in games is small. It’s a switch and hopefully players are learning more and more and he is growing. He knows what we expect so that’s a positive sign.”

But he could be dropped for Tuesday’s match against Luxembourg Troy Parrott – who was ill last week – and Ferguson vying to start.

Hallgrímsson said: “When a player is sick, we’re not doing him a favour playing him if he’s 80 percent.

“We would obviously like to play him fully fit and give him the chance to show himself when he is fully fit.

“He was OK. Probably he would have come into this game were it not for the injury to Robbie Brady in the end but we will see him play in two days.”

YOU can take Killian Phillips out of Kilbarrack but you can not take Kilbarrack out of Killian Phillips. 

He may be in a profession where peers holiday in Dubai rather than Dublin, but the St Mirren man is only going one place when his season ends. 

Phillips declared: “There’s no better place in the world than Kilbarrack,  I will be back sleeping on my ma’s couch on Wednesday. 

“It’s Kilbarrack for me now. I might cross the Liffey a couple of times but that’s my holidays, I just want to go home, see everyone and get ready for pre-season.”

When he does return to St Mirren – the Buddies triggered an option to buy him from Crystal Palace following his loan – he will now have a new word attached to his name – ‘Ireland’s’..

Whatever happens in the rest of his career, the 23-year-old will always be an Ireland international after coming off the bench in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Senegal. 

He said: ”It was probably the best feeling of my life, it was everything I wanted to do when growing up so it’s a dream come true.

“I was a bit nervous coming in, obviously a lot of players that I’ve watched over the years and supported in this stadium. So I probably froze a bit during the week. 

“I think out there I was calm, I had a couple of deep breaths when I first came on, I was probably a little overwhelmed when I first run on. 

“It’s just a game of ball, and at the end of day, that’s the way I look at it.”

Phillips impressed during his 23 minutes and took it all in afterwards as he sought out his personal fan club who got the Dart across the city to watch their local hero. 

He continued: “I think there was bleedin’ 70 to 100 here. The support that I get  in my local area and from family and friends means the world to me. 

“I have such a great support system, a lot of people who looked after me over the years, coached me, I have to thank all of them now.

“I believe I am the first international from Kilbarrack so that’s something I can bring to the grave with me. 

“I’m sure I will be sitting in the pub in 20 or 30 years’ time saying it to everyone who walks in.”

The area is probably best known outside Dublin 5 as where the movie ‘The Snapper’ was filmed. 

And like any suburb, there are temptations and pitfalls to be avoided. 

He continued: “It means the world to me, and I hope it gives the kids in Kilbarrack something to look up to as well…

“That you don’t have to go down the roads of… you know yourself, you know what goes on in Kilbarrack, you don’t have to do that, if you have a dream and you work hard every day you can do it. 

“I am just a kid from Kilbarrack whose dream came true and the kids at the club now (Kilbarrack United) have someone to look up to.

“It’s easier now to dream that dream as someone has done it, I am so proud because my community backs me so much.”

And his own story should inspire as his route from Kilbarrack to the Aviva Stadium was far from straightforward.

The 23-year-old explained: “I was turned down by League of Ireland clubs when I was 17 but that’s football and the beauty of the game, there’s no linear progression.

“I was playing Sunday league at 17.”

At that time, he was also on the FAI Fingal County Council TY Course where he was named Player of the Year and was soon picked up by Drogheda United’s academy. 

And he credited the support there from current Longford Town boss Wayne Groves there as helping him on the road to where he is now. 

He continued: “Everyone at Drogheda… Tim (Clancy), Kev (Doherty), Wayne Groves, they played a big part in developing me, they were the first managers who believed in me.

“I’d have quit football a few years ago if I hadn’t met Wayne Groves when I did, he was the first person to believe in me so I owe him so much.

“And Tim and Kev, who gave me my professional debut as well. Without them I wouldn’t be here.

“I am here now and I’d hope to inspire a younger generation, never give up and if you work as hard as I do, sacrifice as much as I did, you get the rewards.”

IRELAND REGULAR

But now Phillips wants to show that he can become a fixture in the Ireland team.

His call-up and debut came after an impressive season with St Mirren where he was player of the year, but also because Hallgrímsson believes he offers something different. 

Standing 6ft 3in, his big frame and athleticism make him a different sort of Ireland’s other midfield option. 

Phillips continued: “I spoke to him on the phone a few weeks before I got called up, he just spoke to me about the season, how I was playing.

“It was a private conversation – but he told me exactly what he expected from me.

“Probably something different. A lot of presence in midfield, I can get around the pitch fairly handy. I can win a lot of duels as well.

“So obviously something that the gaffer thinks I can do well and something different I can bring to the team, so when I am called upon that’s what I will do.

“That’s what I try to bring when I play for my country. That’s what I will bring to play for my country.”

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