Ronan Curtis: Full Ireland debut a 'proud moment' but I should've scored!

The 24 year-old Portsmouth winger earned his sixth cap for the Boys in Green in the scoreless Nations League draw against Bulgaria at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night.

He’s now played in games against Denmark, Northern Ireland, England, Gibraltar and Bulgaria under three different managers but felt immensely proud to finally make his full competitive debut under Stephen Kenny.

“Yeah, obviously it was a proud moment for myself and my family,” said the St Johnston native. “It was my sixth cap and it was just great to get that shirt back on.

“I’ve worked hard in training and the games I came off the bench. I felt I earned my chance to play and thankfully I got it.”

And he could’ve rewarded ex-City boss Kenny with a goal to end Ireland’s 11 hour goal drought on 55 minutes when played through on goal by Jason Knight, however, he blasted over the crossbar.

Curtis did well in the build up to find space and the ex-Derry City man took a neat touch but ballooned it over with Ireland’s best chance in a game where shots on goal were at a premium.

He was disappointed not to strike it cleanly and felt he could've done better but he's confident his first goal for his country will come sooner rather than later.

“Everything was good in the build-up,” he said. “I did everything perfectly, I touched it out from my body and then I just got under it a little bit and it wasn’t the cleanest of strikes ever and it went over the bar. On another day they get put away.”

Curtis came agonisingly close to scoring his maiden goal for Ireland in the 1-0 defeat to Finland in Helsinki last month when his stoppage time header at the near post was saved by the keeper.

Once again on Wednesday he proved a goal threat when providing a dangerous cross for James Collins in the first half against Bulgaria and he certainly didn’t do himself any harm with a typically whole-hearted display.”

Meanwhile Kenny’s search for a first win as Ireland boss continues but Curtis believes Ireland have been unfortunate not to end the seven game winless run under the Dubliner.

“Of course we go out to win every game,” he said. “The fact we haven’t won in a while has been well documented but we’ve been playing well in games.

“We’ve had plenty of chances and we’ve created enough, it’s just been a bit frustrating for all of us.

“If we keep plugging away and get that first goal then that will give us confidence. We’ve been losing our best players and we’ve been unlucky really.”

Luck certainly has deserted the former Candy Stripes supremo who lost 13 members of his original squad in this international window due to Covid, injury or family reasons.

That presented an opportunity for another former Derry City man, Aaron McEneff to receive his first international call-up as he joined his Shamrock Rovers teammates, Graham Burke and Jack Byrne.

In the first half against Bulgaria there were four League of Ireland graduates on the pitch, namely Kevin Long (Cork City), Daryl Horgan (Dundalk), Curtis Manning (Galway United) and Curtis (Derry City).

And Curtis believes Kenny will continue to give young League of Ireland players a chance to play for their country.

“It’s amazing. It’s great for Derry City where we all grew up playing and it’s amazing for the League of Ireland as well.

“There were three or four (ex-League of Ireland players) playing in the first half. And then you had three involved from the Shamrock Rovers team and it’s good for them to be in around the squad. They trained and had a good feel for it so it’s great.

“He’s not afraid to give young players a chance and that’s what we like to see.”

Curtis returned to the south coast of England yesterday to join up with his Portsmouth team mates and he’s turned his attention to finally clinch promotion from League One.

“This is my third season in League One. We’ve been unlucky not to get promoted out of the league but things happen for a reason. Hopefully we can do it this year.”