Two days after making his senior international debut in the defeat to the Netherlands, Sinclair Armstrong scored his first goal for the Ireland U21s as they beat San Marino 3-0 at Turners Cross.
Armstrong got Ireland's final goal of the game in the 65th minute after a mistake in the San Marino defence had the ball looping over the goalkeeper and the QPR forward won the race to nudge it over the line.
"I'll take anything I can get!" a beaming Armstrong told RTÉ about the lucky goal, before describing his attempt at a kneeslide celebration as a "horror". Earlier in the game, Armstrong had set up Celtic's Rocco Vata for the first of his two goals.
Sinclair Armstrong reflects on a "dream" week that saw him make his senior debut and score on his competitive debut for Ireland U21s in their 3-0 win over San Marino
📱 Match report: https://t.co/IokHflr93K pic.twitter.com/kDfNPZKwyJ— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 12, 2023
"It's been a whirlwind few days," said Armstrong.
"Friday morning, you're getting told... I'm thinking I'm going to play my first game with the U21s and then next thing the gaffer, Mr Crawford, tells me 'You're going to the senior team'.
"It was emotional on that journey up to Castleknock. It was something I dreamed of as a kid to play with the Ireland senior team, since I put the jersey on as a 16-year-old. It happening two days ago against the Netherlands was a dream come true.
12 September 2023; Sinclair Armstrong of Republic of Ireland celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and San Marino at Turner’s Cross Stadium in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
"I'll take any minutes I can get. I got three minutes [for the senior team against the Netherlands]. When they told me, 'Would you come back?' I was delighted to come back because these are my boys, my teammates and I was happy to contribute to the game tonight.
"Before the match, the lads were screaming 'Goals, goals, goals, goals, goals'. I was trying my best to get myself in these positions to score. It wasn't happening in the first half but I kept going. I had to try and get myself in the right positions. That goal, I'll take any I can get. Great night."
Sinclair Armstrong gets the slightest of touches and scores his first international goal to put the result beyond doubt
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📱 Updates:https://t.co/hAAzgss4ud pic.twitter.com/MaosN4nhsl— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) September 12, 2023
This season is beginning to look like a breakthrough one for Armstrong at QPR. Last month, he scored his first senior goal for the club in a 2-1 win against Cardiff.
"Last season just wasn't my season," he said.
"I couldn't get my feet going. I couldn't a run of games. I couldn't score any goals.
"Over that summer break, I had to train as hard as I can and come back with a new mentality to go 'Listen, it's every man for themselves. I want to play in the Championship. I want to play for QPR'. That's exactly what I'm doing.
"Four games in and I have two goal contributions, but I know by my standards that's not enough. I want to keep going, keep playing games, keep scoring goals for QPR.
"Getting my senior debut for the Republic of Ireland is only going to instil confidence into me. Getting a goal tonight in Cork is going to instil more confidence into me. I just want to keep going and going and finish the year strong.
"I don't want to just be a guy that runs in behind - a sprint merchant. I want to bring other stuff into my game. I'm still young, 20 years of age. I just want to keep improving as a footballer."
See Also: John Giles Goes Against Grain With Thoughts On Stephen Kenny Ireland Future
