SWANS: Idah keeps scoring as Ireland win in Debrecen

Adam Idah continued his rich vein of form for club and country, scoring and playing a key part in the Republic of Ireland’s 3-0 win over Israel.

The Swansea City striker netted the second of three first-half goals in Debrecen, after Troy Parrott had opened the scoring and before Jack Moylan added a third.

Idah went close to a second when Daniel Peretz turned his effort around the post, and Israel could find no way past Caoimhin Kelleher after the break as Ireland eased home.

Form that has followed him from Swansea

The goal extends a run that has made Idah central to both his club’s season and his country’s.

He arrived at Swansea from Celtic in a five-year deal worth around £6 million in September 2025, but a hamstring injury disrupted his first campaign in south Wales. A full pre-season has changed that, and he went into the international break with three goals and an assist in eight Championship games as Swansea topped the table.

His former Ireland team-mate Jeff Hendrick, speaking before the window, said the striker was finally proving his worth.

“I’m delighted that Adam Idah is back scoring goals at Swansea,” Hendrick said. “He’s proved before he can score goals, but it’s just doing it more consistently.”

Vitor Matos has pointed to the same shift, the Swansea head coach crediting a first full pre-season under him.

“Last season he got injured straight after I arrived. There was not a lot of time to train. Now he’s had pre-season, he has had time to improve and to understand,” Matos said.

A match played in Hungary, and a squad under pressure

The fixture was staged at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen because UEFA has barred Israel from hosting international football, citing security concerns arising from the conflict in the Middle East.

It went ahead against the backdrop of a campaign urging Ireland to refuse the fixture altogether, the “Stop The Game” effort organised by the pressure group Irish Sport for Palestine.

Reports before the match said more than 160 Irish athletes had signed an open letter calling for a boycott, and that the squad held a lengthy meeting before voting by a majority to fulfil the fixture.

On the night, the two sets of players did not shake hands, and the Ireland squad bowed their heads as Israel’s anthem was played. There was no exchange of pennants between captains Dara O’Shea and Manor Solomon.

Ireland return to Nations League Group B3 action against Austria in Dublin on Thursday, with Idah expected to be involved before returning to Swansea for the resumption of the Championship season against Norwich City on 10 October.

Author

Richard Bond

Swansea-based sports journalist.
Twitter: @RichBond00
Email: RichardBond@swanseabaynews.com