Alan Browne among Irish contingent looking to shine in FA Cup as Preston travel to Chelsea
CHELSEA AWAY: Preston North End's Alan Browne celebrates scoring recently ahead of their trip to Chelsea. Photo credit: Tim Markland/PA Wire.
Oxford’s Irish links are legendary, stretching back to the triumvirate of Ray Houghton, John Aldridge and David Langan during the Jack Charlton era, and more recently Callum O’Dowda.
Of their current colony, Tyler Goodrham has been the one piquing Irish interest from his highlights reel of tricks and finishes. Hailing from High Wycombe, the 20-year-old last year revealed Irish citizenship was obtained through his paternal grandmother and he was called up for the U21s in September but was unfortunately withdrawn from the Euro qualifier against Turkey due to injury.
He’s continued to make waves, scoring four times in his 23 appearances and the promotion chasers from League One have acted swiftly to broker a long-term contract extension. Coventry have hit form in the Championship too, offering Goodrham the platform to showcase his repertoire on a bigger stage.
When Stephen Kenny entered the international sphere to take charge of Ireland’s U21s in 2019, of the defenders, it was Conor Masterson hotly tipped to join him in graduating to the seniors the following year.
He was the classy centre-back making steady progress once Liverpool forked out €1m for the Dubliner as a 15-year-old, earning praise from Jurgen Klopp upon making the first-team squad in the Champions League semi-final.
His bullet header in the win over Sweden in Kalmar confirmed his prowess in both boxes.
Instead, however, fellow defenders from that group, Dara O’Shea, Nathan Collins and most recently Liam Scales, zipped past the 25-year-old to win full caps while he became a casualty of managerial upheaval at QPR.
Gillingham, where compatriot Shaun Williams is captain, has been his home since this time last year, initially on loan, and he’ll relish facing Premier League strugglers, who now have a familiar face to Masterson, Kenny’s sidekick Keith Andrews, as part of their survival bid.
Cup competitions provided Evan Ferguson and Andy Moran with the initial springboards to be blooded by Brighton and Hove Albion. Moran is accumulating experience on loan at Blackburn Rovers while Ferguson is having his minutes managed by Roberto De Zerbi, a fusion that could open the door for the next wave of Irish rookies to profit.
Mark O’Mahony has elevated to the fringes since arriving from Cork City, his firepower at Premier League 2 level putting him in the frame for involvement today – even if a loan move might follow.
Leigh Kavanagh is another Irishman vying for involvement, appearing recently on the bench for a clutch of Premier League games. The defender was recruited alongside Moran in 2020 as part of a double-swoop from St Joseph’s/Bray Wanderers and had had to be patient, spending time on loan at Derby County.
Alan Browne has watched fellow Irish internationals Josh Cullen, Dara O’Shea and Chiedozie Ogbene realise their Premier League dream by excelling in the Championship and at 28 he’s in the twilight of the audition window for joining them.
Immensely loyal to Preston North End, where he’s been captain for three years, this is his final season under contract at Deepdale. Whilst they hit the summit early in the season, Preston have reverted to their midtable habitat and occasions like Saturday’s at Stamford Bridge are the type the Corkman must embrace to land a move to the top-flight tier his talent deserves.
With Boro’s new €3m recruit Finn Azaz not eligible to make his debut against his former club today, the Irish interest revolves around Calum Kavanagh.
The 20-year-old son of former Ireland midfielder Graham has already spurned an approach from his homeland of England to stick with Ireland and has enhanced his reputation by tacking two Championship cameos on St Stephen’s and New Year’s Day onto the debut he was granted by Michael Carrick in the League Cup.
Kavanagh’s natural knack for goals has been highlighted by his boss and this respite from the promotion chase against the surprise packets of this season's Premier League may be opportune for the academy graduate to feature.
When Baba Adeeko left Ballybane, Galway at the age of 11, the thought of facing Manchester United was far from his priorities. Work commitments for his mother Olayinka in Scotland was behind the emigration but her gifted son found his home on the football pitch, originally at Motherwell and then Wigan when the family again relocated to England.
It’s unlikely the 20-year-old Academy graduate would have developed into a mainstay this season only for the financial problems that resulted in higher earners such as James McClean being offloaded in the summer.
Adeeko has availed of the crisis to carve out a midfield role – collecting his Ireland U21 debut at Turner’s Cross to boot – and he’s gained the reliable tag from manager Shaun Moloney over the 2000 minutes he’s racked up in his breakthrough campaign. Inflicting further misery on United and Erik ten Hag would constitute bonus territory.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
