Ireland Under-21s were held to a scoreless draw against Qatar’s Under-23s in the team’s final outing before the EURO 2027 qualifying campaign begins in September. 

Cathal O’Sullivan and Jad Hakiki went closest in front of goal but despite creating the better chances in the friendly, Jim Crawford’s side closed out their June camp with a draw at the Vrbovec town stadium. 

Andrew Wogan made his first appearance for the U21s, while there were also first starts for Cian Dillon, Jacob Devaney and Cathal O’Sullivan. Shamrock Rovers’ defender Cory O’Sullivan also earned his U21 debut off the bench in the second-half. 

On eight minutes, some fine build-up play by Harry Vaughan set up Jamie Mullins, but the midfielder shot just over from the edge of the Qatari box. Moments later, Ireland’s best chance of the night arrived through Cathal O’Sullivan, who raced down the right wing, cut back inside and shot but the 18-year-old was denied his first U21 goal as his effort was tipped onto the post and wide.

Wogan had to be alert on 21 minutes to deny Mahdi Almejaba with a strong save down to the Louth goalkeeper’s right, before Hakiki then had his header saved by the Qatari ‘keeper. Cathal O’Sullivan went close again seconds before the interval, but his shot was well blocked as the teams entered the break level. 

With Cory O’Sullivan introduced at the restart for his first U21 cap, Qatar’s Noureldin Ibrahim found a pocket of space inside the box on 60 minutes but the substitute’s shot was well denied by the foot of Wogan, his second key save of the contest. 

Eight minutes later Hakiki then saw his shot blocked as Ireland searched for a breakthrough, with Cathal O’Sullivan going close again with a shot from outside the box. Qatar almost nicked a late winner but Wogan was equal to Moath Mohammadtaha’s shot on 89 minutes and despite a late Irish rally, it finished scoreless in Zagreb. 

Attention now turns towards the first window of the Euro 2027 qualifying campaign, with Moldova away up first on September 4 for Crawford’s side, before they host Andorra five days later. 

Ireland: Wogan; Devaney, Otegbayo (Murphy 74), Grehan, Slater (Cory O’Sullivan 46); McJannet (O’Brien-Whitmarsh 46), Mullins; Cathal O’Sullivan, Hakiki, Vaughan (Davis 74); Dillon (O’Mahony 74)

Qatar: Ghulias; Haganam, Amer (Mohammadtaha 56), Almejaba, Surag (Gouda 56); Chasar (Hamza 79), Fadlelmula, Alsharshani (Shahabi 56), Hussain (Gamer 79); Aloui, Jamshid (Ibrahim 56)

Referee: I Vuckovic (Croatia)