The only issue was that in the first half, Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s<\/a> side got all their lines wrong, his much-changed starting XI not speaking the same language at all as hosts Canada<\/a> outmatched them in almost every regard. After what was surely one of the better half-time team talks of his reign, Ireland weren\u2019t far off word perfect. <\/p>\n \u201cBlack and white,\u201d was the manager\u2019s verdict after a 1-1 draw wrapped up a hectic month of international camps. It sure was. Chiedozie Ogbene<\/a> bundled in the rebound after Troy Parrott<\/a> had seen a 60th-minute penalty saved at Stade Saputo. Ireland never looked back and finished the game as the stronger, livelier side. Mason Melia spurned a glorious chance to really spoil the Canadian World Cup send-off party eight minutes from time when he was heroically denied by Max Crepeau. <\/p>\n Jake O\u2019Brien\u2019s own goal gave Jesse Marsch\u2019s side lift-off after 23 minutes, the centre back helpless to react when a wicked corner was flicked at the front post by Parrott and, behind him, Ireland goalkeeper Mark Travers flapped and missed. In truth, it was the least the Canadians deserved for an opening 45 minutes where they could have had the party wrapped up with plenty of time for clean-up. <\/p>\n \u201cTwo different halves,\u201d said Hallgr\u00edmsson. \u201cWe were really disappointed with the first one. Probably the worst performance for a long time for us, both in possession \u2013 everything seemed sluggish and slow \u2013 and then out of possession. Everything was too late. <\/p>\n \u201cWe talked about it at half time \u2013 we\u2019re 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Hallgr\u00edmsson had, reasonably, about one third of his regular squad with him, the rest of the travelling party here made up of lightly tried options and seven League of Ireland representatives. The only one of those to start, Bohemians skipper Dawson Devoy, had a chastening time of it as Steph Eust\u00e1quio and Isma\u00ebl Kon\u00e9 controlled the middle on a sultry early summer night in Montreal. <\/p>\n Devoy would make way at the interval as Hallgr\u00edmsson reached for more experienced heads to help turn things, Jamie McGrath joining Conor Coventry in the middle and Liam Scales also coming on at left wing back for Corrie Ndaba. The changes worked a charm as Ireland fought their way to a foothold and sparked some Canadian frustration. <\/p>\n 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\u2019s toe and race away towards a block of vocal green behind the goal.<\/p>\n Hallgr\u00edmsson took issue with some of the treatment dished Parrott\u2019s way: \u201cHe was I think five or six times just kicked down. I don\u2019t know why we didn\u2019t get free kicks for that. He was kicked down more or less the whole game so obviously that took its toll.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Liam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/E2AGFJGV6NGGBFRQ4BFUUE3CQ4.jpg\")
Liam Millar in action against Chiedozie Ogbene in the first half. Photograph: Minas Panagiotakis\/Getty Images <\/p>\n
![\"Jamie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/UHVA56GRZ5HYRKYZ4YXKMA4BDY.jpg\")
Jamie McGrath of the Republic of Ireland controls the ball against Cyle Larin of Canada in the second half. Photograph: Minas Panagiotakis\/Getty Images <\/p>\n