Mark O’Mahony and Leon Ayinde relishing another Turner's Cross homecoming

Brighton's O'Mahony is on loan at Reading but won't rule out a move to the continent.

MAKING HIS MARK: Mark O'Mahony during a Republic of Ireland U21's training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

The Republic of Ireland U21s are back in Cork for another European Championship qualifier, and nobody is happier about that than the two Leesiders in the squad.

Apart from maybe their family and friends, that is.

“At the moment I have eight (coming). But if I can get more tickets, I'll try and get a few more in,” says Mark O’Mahony, although he seems to be beaten by his fellow Cork native Leon Ayinde, who was sitting alongside him.

“Yeah, about 10, 15. I've got a good few friends that will be coming to it.”

Perhaps that is to be expected given this is the Ipswich Town striker’s first call-up to the Irish U21 set-up and he is hoping to create more special memories at Turner’s Cross.

“I think it's been a long time coming. I've been waiting for it,” he continued.

“But I think it's been a perfect time and especially with it being down in Cork and the family being there. So yeah, it’s massive really.

“It's unreal. Going there as a kid, watching the games and being a part of Cork City as well, playing the final there just brings back memories.” 

Turner’s Cross also brings back great memories for O’Mahony as not only was he in the City set-up alongside Ayinde for that U17 Mark Farren Cup final victory against Galway United back 2021, but he has also netted goals there for the Ireland U17s and has played there for the U21s.

But it was only in the last few days that he arguably scored one of the most important goals of his young career, slamming home his first for Reading from the penalty spot in their 3-1 victory over West Ham United U21’s in the Vertu Trophy.

“I got off the mark during the week, which was a big relief,” admitted O’Mahony, who is currently on his second spell out on loan from parent club Brighton & Hove Albion after enduring an injury-hit stint at Portsmouth last season.

“When you're a striker and you go on loan, you want to be scoring straight away. It probably was (playing on his mind). For me, growing up, I've always been scoring goals a lot and I suppose it's something new when I'm not scoring.

“That was taking away from other sides of my game then and I was overthinking it too much. But it was nice to finally get the first one, it was a big relief off my shoulders.

“It was one of the goals I've had in a while where it's meant a lot, just in terms of mentally, just to finally have it done. You can carry on the season now, not chasing that first goal. But I want to keep going and start scoring a lot more now.” 

While scoring more goals under Noel Hunt at Reading is firmly on his mind in the short-term, medium-term O’Mahony hasn’t ruled out following in Evan Ferguson’s footsteps by leaving Brighton on loan for a club on the continent — although long-term the aim is to make it in the Premier League.

“I wouldn't mind it, to be honest,” added O’Mahony, who has one and a half years left on his Brighton deal with the option for another year.

“It was on my mind, to go to Europe on my own. But after a few conversations at Brighton, we thought it would just be the best to stay in England.

“But it would definitely be something I'd be happy to do in the long run.

“My goal has always been I want to play in the Premier League and if that's at Brighton, I'd be absolutely delighted with that.

“That's why this season I want to really kick on now and hopefully show them next season when we go back for pre-season that I deserve a chance to kick on.” 

Until then O’Mahony, along with Ayinde, hopes to help Ireland make it three wins out of three in their Euro qualifiers by beating Slovakia, who have also both their two opening games, in front of their home crowd on Friday night.

“it's a massive game. Coming into the group, I could see the winning mentality and how much it means to win this game,” admitted Ayinde, before O’Mahony concluded: “It's huge for us.

“We know that there were areas to improve on, and I think there's no better time on a Friday night down in Cork to try and get that up to nine points.

“We know it'll be a big crowd there as well.” 

Their friends and family will make sure of that.