Football : Foreign&Familiar

Where Do We Belong

When you’re 5 years old and you’ve just been bought your first pair of football boots by your equally eager, if not more eager, parents and you’re brought down to your local clubs grassroots set up , everybody’s dream is the same. Everyone thinks they’re a forward, that the role of the main man was designed for them. The coaches divide out the positions unbeknownst to how many children they’ve just disappointed by playing them out of their desired position. You’d wonder if someone at Fettercairn Boys in Tallaght thought Robbie Keane had the makings of a great left back , or if Lifford Celtic in Donegal had a great young target man named Shay Given leading the line for them at one point. Wherever these Irish greats were first lined up by their grassroot gaffers, it was only a mere stepping stone to finding the place they truly belonged .

Since the inception of the Premier League in 1992, Ireland has had 174 representatives, a number not too be sniffed at due to a highly competitive league and the undying loyalty of tremendous athletes playing our own national games across Ireland.

Looking at the skills needed in the games of Gaelic Football and Hurling , handling, hand-eye coordination, high fielding and the courage to put hands where others wouldnt put their foot, you would think that the position of goalkeeper had Ireland written all over it.

I too believed in this clear as day correlation but as it turns out goalkeepers only account for 10% of Irish who have played their trade in England’s top flight . Perhaps it is the level of success that small group enjoyed in their individual careers that led me to believe that number would be greater. The aforementioned Shay Given is Ireland’s highest appearance maker in the league with a staggering 451 games across 5 different clubs. Although his trophy haul is smaller then he would like , Given has been honoured for his efforts by being named twice in the leagues team of the season.

Looking at other names who have set up shop between the sticks such as Dean Kiely , Darren Randolph and Mark Travers , it seems Ireland has donated a large number of deputies to the number one keeper throughout the leagues history. One man about to step out of the shadows of that role is Caoimhin Kelleher.

Having just picked up his second winners medal at Liverpool , albeit his first was an honour bestowed by his club as he didn’t play a league game in the 19/20 season, Kelleher has made the move to Brentford. His second league medal, to go along with numerous cup wins he was heavily involved in claiming and a Champions League winners medal in 2019 as third choice, was duly deserved as he was a trustworthy stand in for Alisson Becker when called upon. Leaving many Liverpool fans disappointed to see him go, it was time for him to become an ever present number one at an established Premier League side , although early signs point towards it being a very long season.

If the small number of goalkeepers came as a surprise , the number of centre forwards should prove less shocking despite one or two notable Irish stalwarts. Only 15% of Irishmen have been trusted with leading the lines of a Premier League side , and not since Robbie Keane can any of them be described as prolific. Time is on Evan Fergusons side to fill Keanes boots but that will be an argument for another day as Ferguson embarks on a loan spell at Italian sleeping giants Roma.

To give credit where it is due, we have had hardworking, honest, heart on their sleeve battlers such as Shane Long, Jon Walters and Kevin Doyle who have had brilliant moments with club and country but nobody can come close to Keanes output. Sitting pretty in 18th of the competitions all time scorers with 126, Keane was a fan favourite at most of the clubs he represented and perhaps a “what could have been” at one or two others. Irelands record appearance maker known for his trademark cartwheel celebration is best remembered for his spells at Spurs , with 16 goals in the 2006/07 season his best on record.

It would be unfair to not give another Irish icon his fair due. While his goal tally is not as hefty as his brief international partner Keane , Niall Quinn held his own and for a season at least was part of the worlds deadliest duo. Quinn and Kevin Phillips led Sunderland to a remarkable 7th place through a combined 52 goals and assists in the 1999/2000 season with Phillips scoring 30 league goals to win an incredibly unlikely Golden Boot and if it was possible , an even unlikelier European Golden Shoe. Their tandem of a classic little and large tactic put a Sunderland striker at the peak of the footballing elite, perhaps never to be achieved again.

We are beginning to reach safety in numbers for the Irish. And who better to led us to said safety than the midfield generals. Accounting for 35% of the islands representation, the engine room of the football pitch has seen a number of our exported players pit themselves against the best players the league has had to offer, with one becoming one of the very best himself.

Some of our midfield players were able to carve out respectable, battle hardened careers. Matt Holland captained Ipswich to an outstanding 5th place in 2001 season straight from promotion but unfortunately captained them to a relegation the following year. Glenn Whelan was often heavily criticised in an Irish jersey but was an ever present for a breath of fresh air Stoke side that unapologetically ruffled feathers in a rollercoaster 10 year stay in the top flight. Darren Gibson has his place in an elite club as a one time Premier League winner with Manchester United, and I am certainly not in the position to take that away from him.

In the modern day wide players are generally classed as forwards but our most memorable wide player of the Premier League era was a hardworking craftsmen who got back down the pitch as fast as he went up it .

Damien Duff left England with 392 games under his belt and 104 goal contributions. It would probably be sneered at in the modern game but Duff was adored by the teams he lined out for. With incredibly high defensive numbers, he helped out his teammates furiously backtracking, intercepting, clearing and generally making a nuisance of himself. This work rate didn’t go unnoticed, and who better to notice you newly owned Chelsea. Claudio Ranieri brought Duff to Chelsea in 2003 to add to the ever growing collection of steely, resilient talent at his disposal. Duff was then part of a Chelsea side to win two league titles under José Mourinho.

Speaking of league titles under legendary managers, there is a man hailing from our little island that needs no introduction as anyone with the faintest idea of football knows his name, for his better moments or his controversial story along the way. A true icon of the Premier League and the central figure of Irish football for a decade, the impact of Roy Keane will be everlasting.

A commanding presence in United folklore , Keane was central to their dominance of the 90s into the early 2000s. Starting off in 1993 as a young box to box midfielder with an eye for goal and an appetite for a tackle , Keanes talent, bravery and leadership brought him the captains armband in 1997. Never one to shirk responsibility, Keane led by example on numerous occasions, none more famous than an away semi final tie comeback against Juventus in 1999 as United marched to a Champions League final win and an historic treble winning season.

In a twelve year spell at the club , Keane gathered an eye watering trophy collection , 18 major honours to be exact , 7 of which were Premier League titles, leaving him tied as Irelands most prolific league winner. He is not only an Irish footballing hero, as for many, many fans of the English game he is the face of an era filled with bitter rivalries , true grit and playing on the edge passion.

There will be no prizes for guessing which position on the field has been most frequently called home for the Irish. And when you think of the characteristics of the Irish it does seem to make perfect sense. We are known to be tough , resilient, disciplined, harbouring a stubborn refusal to accept defeat , and to battle until the very end. Traits needed to be a defender of the highest level. Accounting for close to half of our representation at 40%, we have endured a number of our defenders fight against the harsh realities of relegation but have also enjoyed a handful reach the very pinnacle of the sport on numerous occasions.

If we argued hard enough there would be two Cork men in the Premier League all time 11. Keane in the centre of the park and Denis Irwin at left back. Like Keane, Irwin won 7 league titles and the treble during his 12 year stay at the club, featuring 328 times in the Premier League. Dependable at both left and right back and always available to play, it was his proficiency and reliability as a dead ball specialist that made Irwin a stand out defender throughout his United career. Irwin left United in 2002 passing on the mantle of Irish utility defender to a neighbouring Waterford man.

John O’Shea made an outstanding 445 appearances in the league, 256 came as a United player with a habit of turning up in various positions in the pitch including seeing out a 4-0 win in goal after an injury to Edwin van der Sar. O’Shea had a knack for scoring important goals against hated rivals , stealing a 1-0 win at Anfield and putting the finishing touches on a 4-2 win at Highbury. He left Manchester United for Sunderland in 2011 with 5 league winners medals and a Champions League medal, a feat that would draw the envy of many an opponent.

Steve Finnan’s career can be used an example to many aspiring footballers. Beginning in the Conference League with Welling United in 1993, Finnan played in every professional league in England as he earned his success the hard way . A move to the second division to Fulham in 1998 saw him become an ever present for the side as they climbed the tiers to finally reach the Premier Legaue in 2001. His doggedness brought him a move to Liverpool in 2003 and although the title eluded him , he was part of the Champions Leagues greatest final as Liverpool came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat AC Milan on penalties. The following year he added the FA cup to his collection. Finnan remains a great poster boy for what can be achieved by going the long route in a footballing career.

If longevity was awarded with winners medals, Irelands total would be enormous. Richard Dunne finished his career with 431 league appearances. Leeds United’s full back positions were filled up by Irishmen for a decade as Gary Kelly and Ian Harte made 325 and 213 appearances respectively. Jeff Kenna has 290 games in the competition for numerous clubs in the full back position , although he is trumped by Stephen Carrs 377 turnouts. There is one man hot on the heels of Carrs tally, who has a nation and half of Merseyside urging him on.

Having just signed a one year extension with Everton , Seamus Coleman begins the season on 369 games, the most by an Irishman at one club. Signed from Sligo Rovers in 2009 for what one might consider pennies, he quickly established himself as Evertons starting right back, a fan and manager favourite in his time at the club accumulating in being named captain in 2019. His role as captain has been even more demanding off the pitch as on it as Everton have struggled financially and boardroom control put in the hands of the less caring. Coleman has steered Everton to safety on numerous occasions, and if this is to be his final year he will walk away a true legend of the club.

Having just commenced the opening weekend of the 2025/26 league season, Ireland accounted for 6 players in 20 match day squads. Coleman an unused substitute alongside Mark Travers for Everton with Cork man Jake O’Brien starting at right back. Brentford had Kelleher debuting in goal with newly appointed club captain Nathan Collins at centre half ahead of him, while Burnley returned to the top flight captained by the dutiful Josh Cullen. There is solace that 3 out of the 17 teams in the league are captained by Irishmen although I suspect it will be difficult seasons for all 3 leaders.

And it also appears that the stats don’t lie. History shows that you are most likely to see an Irish man lining up in the back line, and the present backs up that assumption. 3 out of our 6 Irishmen are defenders, followed by 2 goalkeepers and a tenacious midfield player in Cullen, but alas no forwards.

Maybe we are not born seeking the bright lights and affirmation of a centre forward, perhaps we belong and are better suited to the thankless tasks that every team needs seeing to in order to succeed. Unfortunately we’ve never had an Irish centre forward stand on the podium on the leagues final day with a winners medal adorned his neck. There’s a first time for everything of course.

But we have had numerous icons and genuine club and league legends lift multiple trophies that brought great pride and joy to our small footballing nation . Whether you are the star man or the last line of defence, or a valued squad player who brings relief and confidence to the paying crowd when you are brought on to finish out the game , once that winners medal is wrapped around your bowed neck , it all means the exact same.

Friday Night Fright for Fortunate Ireland

Match Reporting assessment as part of my sports journalism course.

An Aviva international test match for the ages this was not, but for Andy Farrells’s Ireland it was job done against a stubborn Argentina and the November series back on track after last weeks defeat to New Zealand. An opening half blitz saw Ireland build a healthy 22-9 halftime lead through tries from Jack Crowley, Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy but were frustratingly held scoreless for the entirety of the second half. The miraculously resurgent Pumas turned this one-way traffic test into an enthralling encounter with Juan Cruz Mallia’s try of the match helping cut the deficit as close as 22-19. With yellow cards as frequent as tries, Irelands defense held out the late fightback to close out a game that looked rubber stamped at its interval.

The game began at a hectic pace with Argentinas Matias Moroni believing to have scored the opening try of the game before seeing it chalked due to his own discretion earlier in the phase. The centre seeing his try disallowed and a yellow card flashed in his direction for a high tackle on Crowley. Ireland took advantage of their numerical upper hand to begin to stamp their authority on the contest. From the subsequent penalty, Irelands quick phase play saw Ronan Kelleher stopped short before Crowley crossed the line to add to Moroni’s misery. He was to witness another Ireland score before his return as strong carries from Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose helped move the ball towards Irelands left side to Mack Hansen to jot down another score, allowing the home crowd to rise to their feet in quick succession.

It was Irelands own ill-discipline that allowed Argentina to put themselves on the scoreboard. Prop Finlay Bealham’s yellow card for a croc roll coupled with various Irish penalties saw Argentinian out-half Tomas Albornoz bring his side to 15-9 scoreline, with a Crowley drop goal adding to his team’s tally. Breathing space was afforded to Ireland as some exquisitepassing from a lineout set play saw them break holes in a dogged defence with lock Joe McCarthy bashing his way over the line to give his side a 22-9 lead heading to the break. The scoreline may have looked different if it was not for Irelands brave defensive rearguard holding out against sustained Argentinian pressure on their own try line before the welcome sound of the half time whistle.

If the first half belonged to the Irish attack, they had little to no say on the exciting moments of the second. With Argentina in need of inspiration it was Toulouse’s Mallia that provided four minutes into the restart in fantastic fashion. It was a brilliant solo try from the full back, beginning in his own half, ending beyond Irelands tryline thanks to a brilliant step on Hansen. It was just what Argentina ordered. What Ireland didn’t order was more ill-discipline. However, that was a theme for a long period as McCarthy was yellow carded after straying offside to slow down the pressure his side were facing. It was fortunate for him and his head coach Farrell that the South Americans could not punish Ireland further than another Albornoz penalty. When the game returned to full sides each the scoreline was sitting evenly poised at 22-19 with a quarter of the game remaining.

With benches emptying and lungs struggling, the game became an arm-wrestle with Ireland refusing to bow in front of their expectant and slightly concerned crowd. Irelands substitutes saw milestones at opposite sides of the spectrum with Leinster’s Sam Prendergast and Thomas Clarkson making their test debuts. Cian Healy’s test debut arrived many years earlier as he entered the arena to the standing ovation as he won his record equaling 133rdcap. The game did not see another score but there was time for a fourth and final yellow card as Argentinas Francisco Gomez Kodela was binned for a dangerous clear-out on Irish captain Caelan Doris. It took the sting out of Argentinas game as they had routinely tested Ireland’s defensive shape while keeping Ireland from clinching the game themselves. With time running out and edging closer to the red, a knock on after several phases of swift attack brought a crushing end to a fairytale Argentinian fightback. The final whistle sounded in the 82nd minute with the crowd and the players engulfing the stadium in a roar of relief.

Reflecting on his side’s performance Farrell remarked “We’redelighted to get the win. Last week we had a chance of winning ugly but did it this week, which was a plus.” His counterpart and Leinster alum Felipe Contepomi was slightly despondent but positive in his thoughts. “I’m very proud of the boys, one thing we need to get better at is the start, but we stuck with it and stayed at it.” With Farrell soon departing for the Lions lead role and two more tests to come, there is work to be done. What threatened to become a training exercise evolved into an examination of physical strength and mental fortitude. The bruises and scars may heal and dissipate, but the lessons learned will stay with Farrell’s men for some time to come.

Rebel Representation

The following opinion piece was an assessment in a sports journalism course to be completed by 08/12/2024.

Everyone wants to feel represented, to see someone from their homeland strive and succeed amongst the world’s elite, to bask in the secondhand pride of one of your owns success. Ireland of course is a small island found in the heart of the world and on its most southern point lies the proud county of Cork. In recent years the people of Cork have seen their own lift Oscars above their head and have had Olympic gold medals adorned around their neck, more than once. It is a county boasting a rich history and high standing within the record books of our country’s national sporting organization, the GAA. So, it is lightly peppered with irony that Corks, and even perhaps Irelands, leading sporting representatives of times gone by found fortune and fame playing the dreaded “foreign game”.

As the English Premier League reaches closer to its halfway point, a title race is well underway. Early form suggests it will be a four-team race. One team seemingly out of contention is Manchester United, a team bursting at the seams with league titles, a greedy 13 to be exact. And of those 13, Cork’s Roy Keane and Denis Irwin are at level pegging with seven titles apiece. To put this achievement into perspective, only three players have more league medals than them. These two would feature heavily in any debate about Premier League all time XIs. If it was a team made up of players from 1992-2002 they would be absolute guarantees, with Keane possibly wearing the captain’s armband. They spawned a generation of Manchester United fans on these shores, as had Ronnie Whelan through Liverpool and Liam Brady for Arsenal in the years before. But as the dreaded retirement beckoned for Irwin and Keane, the success of the Cork footballer seemingly retired with them.

Perhaps it is a case of us being spoilt children, constantly wanting more and never satisfied. More likely it is a case of generational talent almost impossible to replicate. In Keane’sown words “Denis was world class, never injured, a brilliant guy”. It is hard to receive higher praise than that from Sky Sports’s most ruthless and brutal pundit. While it is quicker to find harsh critiques about Keane both on and off the pitch, there is still strong adulation for his achievements from those who witnessed it firsthand. Sir Alex Ferguson was the man to let Keane go from United but still holds him in high regard. “Unbelievable personality, unbelievable determination, a born winner”, high praise indeed for Corks favourite son. These two set the bar so high for any Cork born professional footballer to come afterward, it was practically impossible to replicate. In fact, many footballers from this Isle have struggled to reach those heights again. Besides these two decorated men, only three Irishmen have lifted the title since, with Waterford’s John O Shea, Derry’s Darren Gibson and Dublin’s Damien Duff earning the right to call themselves champions. Why have we failed to hit the highs of these players again? Where are the Roy Keane wannabes or the Denis Irwin aspirer?

The simple answer is the game has changed since these two were given their chance. The talent pool has grown substantially with English clubs casting a world-wide net looking for their next star. Long gone are the days where clubs would look across the Irish Sea to take a small risk on an Irish football hopeful, with continental flair being very much in favour. The shift in scouting protocol has pushed our own hopefuls to the back of an ever-growing cue of dreamers. Throughout the years, the number of Irish footballers playing week in, week out has dropped rapidly season after season. The late 2000s to the early 2010s saw a small resurgence of clubs taking small risks on players from the League of Ireland with extremely differing results, possibly reinforcing the idea that Cork , and of course Ireland, was not the hidden gem it once was.

Following the retirement of these Premier League greats, Cork has seen several footballers dare to dream on England’s biggest stage with varying experiences. The name Stephen Ireland brings up a contrasting set of memories for many. Semi-following in Keane’s footsteps, moving from Cobh Ramblers to Manchester City in 2005, winning the man of the match award on his first Premier League start. He was seen as heir to the throne of Corks shining light in England following impressive performances for City but the combination of a boardroom takeover with a favoring for expensive household names and difficult controversies off the pitch made the latter part of his career light in superlatives. David Meyler, who was Corks only representative in Irelands Euro 2016 squad, played for two Premier League clubs in his career, representing Sunderland and Hull. Meyler is perhaps best known for injuries, poor disciplinary record and being on the receiving end of an Alan Pardew sideline headbutt. Conor Hourihane and John Egan have fared better in terms of medals and performance, albeit in the lower divisions of English football.

The years had been barren, would we ever see an Irishman be part of a top tier Premier League team again? Where would they find a spot amongst some of the world’s best? It seems like we have found an answer in revisiting a position Ireland has always had a soft spot for.

Cork goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has the world at his feet. He has been a calming and safe presence in Liverpool’s goal following an injury to his main competitor Alisson. A penaltysave against football royalty Kyliann Mbappe on the biggest stage of them all has put an exclamation point on his team’sfantastic start to this season. He has won the Carabao Cup twice with Liverpool and was part of the Liverpool squad that won their maiden title in 2020 but did not receive an official medal due to not reaching the required playing time, however there is very strong potential for that to change this season. With his future forever a talking point, a bidding war for his services may see him become Irelands most expensive player. RTE’s Kevin Doyle recently said, “I think in five or six years he is going to be in the top one or two goalkeepers in the world.” With Kellehers stock on the rise, perhaps it has the power to reignite interest in what our country has to offer.

Corks history in the Premier League is a mix of incredible highs and desperate, down-trodden lows. It is impossible to forget the impact of two brilliantly talented City boys in one of the league’s most dominant teams. It is equally difficult to ignore the feeling of watching your own have such public controversies for the world to see. The gap in our county men’s success has been wide and vast, spanning decades. However, there is one man working hard to bridge that gap and put Cork back on the map. The time has passed for the Roy Keane inspired generation to realise their dreams. Perhaps, Caoimhin Kelleher is showing this generation that they can realise theirs.