Max O'Leary ready for Ireland debut after years of patience

28-year-old O'Leary has been with Bristol City since his early teens and had to be patient to become their first choice goalkeeper. 

Max O'Leary qualifies to play for Ireland through his late grandfather Sean O’Leary who hailed from Farranfore, Co. Kerry. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Ireland’s goalkeeping cohort doesn’t fit the stereotype of being brash and loud.

Between Caoimhín Kelleher, Gavin Bazunu, Mark Travers and Max O’Leary, none would be renowned for raising their voice.

Their predecessors Shay Given and Darren Randolph could be heard far and wide, on and off the pitch, especially within the team hotel base.

O’Leary has been around the squad for six years but there’s mitigation to his silence.

Primarily, he arrived on the international scene just as a generation of rivals were emerging from the underage ranks.

First came Travers, then Kelleher and Bazunu in quick succession – five years between them in age – and they’ve each amassed Premier League experience.

O’Leary was two games away from joining them in the top-flight when Bristol City made the Championship playoffs but differed in being the first-choice of his employers.

What he doesn’t have to his name is a cap. The 28-year-old from Bath declared in 2019 through his late grandfather Sean O’Leary, who emigrated from Farranfore, Co Kerry to England.

Bazunu and Travers are not part of the squad for the summer friendlies and though Kelleher will start Friday’s first against Senegal, there will be scope by the end of Tuesday’s in Luxembourg to rotate between the posts.

“It's something I've wanted to do - I've been around a while now and seen a few managers – so hopefully I'll get my opportunity soon,” he said in his first appearance before the media.

“I’ve always prepared the same, whether playing or not.

“Whatever I can do to help who is playing, I know I'd want the same if I was playing, so just to have that good environment in training, pushing each other.

“Putting whoever's playing first rather than yourself has been good, whether that's Caoimhin, Gav or Mark.

“I've had my time not playing at club level when I was younger so I know what it’s like”.

Not anymore.

He’s been with the Robins since his early teens and had to be patient to become No 1 since 2023.

“Nigel Pearson was my manager at the time and he told me to go and express myself,” explained O’Leary about his breakthrough.

“He knew and didn’t care that I’d make mistakes because he was going to back you regardless.

“I have definitely matured in my goalkeeping. You get into a rhythm of playing, especially with the volume of the Championship, and feel I have done well over that longer period of time.” 

His manager Liam Manning has just left for Norwich City and while Kelleher has also moved clubs they’re still working together within the Irish set-up.

“He's a great 'keeper and a great lad as well,” he said of the Corkman, whose transfer from Liverpool to Brentford for an initial £12.5m fee was completed during this week.” 

“We have a good time when we come away to the Ireland camp.

“I think it's a good move for him. To be playing regular football is what he wants. It looks like he can get that opportunity now.” 

O’Leary will be glad of his over the next five days.