Exciting time ahead as Ireland have turned corner - Hourihane

Conor Hourihane believes that the Republic of Ireland have turned a corner in recent months and the Cork native reckons that it is onwards and upwards for the national team.

Ahead of this week's international double-header against Belgium and Lithuania, the Sheffield United midfielder feels that the team’s recent form, the manager’s new contract and hopefully coming out of the pandemic will allow the team to show their potential.

And as the squad assembled in Dublin ahead of Saturday’s showdown against world number one-ranked Belgium, Hourihane said that it is an exciting time to be part of the set-up.

The long winter break from international football probably came at a bad time for this emerging Ireland team who were unbeaten in their last six games of 2021, scoring 12 goals in the process.

In fact, Stephen Kenny’s side have only lost one game of their last ten, since last March; the defeat coming on that fateful night on the Portuguese Algarve coast as Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed two late goals to turn victory into defeat.

And while the football has been absent since the impressive 3-0 away win in Luxembourg, which went a long way towards banishing the blues from that shock defeat in Dublin last March, there has been a lot going on since that November camp with coach Anthony Barry leaving the set-up – taking a job with Saturday’s opponents – John Eustace coming in to fill the gap, while the manager’s contract saga has finally been resolved.

"Yeah, a lot going on," Hourihane concurred when asked about the comings and goings in the squad.

"[Since] the last camp, Anthony has left and gone on to a new chapter. John has come in, and the manager has got his well-deserved contract, which is great.

"Exciting times, and we feel like the