Training with Ireland and Kelleher a dream for Cork's City's Brann after he almost quit

Just 18 months ago, the Cork City keeper was giving serious consideration was afforded to quitting football.

Cork City goalkeeper Conor Brann during the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division match between Cork City and UCD at Turner's Cross in Cork. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Cork City goalkeeper Conor Brann admits the notion of training with Caoimhín Kelleher in the Ireland squad is something he couldn’t have contemplated 18 months ago.

Back then, he was unemployed, commuting from his native Galway to Bishopstown as a passenger in his Dad Pat’s car. Serious consideration was afforded to quitting football.

City eventually granted Brann a short-term contract for the 2025 season, rewarding him for his displays with a beefier, longer version by last August.

Heimir Hallgrímsson became an admirer at the same time.

Encouraging words to the 22-year-old after he’d watched City beat Waterford 2-0 implanted a seed of hope about international recognition.

Relegation to the First Division didn’t diminish that prospect. Once his duties for league leaders City are completed with Monday’s refixed game at bottom side Treaty United (7.45pm), he’ll make his way to the FAI’s base at the Castleknock Hotel.

Two friendlies are lined up, against Qatar on Thursday at Lansdowne Road followed by the trip to another World Cup bound team, Canada, on June 5.

“I wouldn’t have thought this was possible a year ago given the situation I was in but it was just about hard work,” confesses the 22-year-old about his maiden call-up.

“It’s all about consistent performances. Cork City is a massive club and should be in the Premier Division. That’s our objective for the season.

“Heimir spoke to me after the Waterford game last season. He was really positive, telling me to keep going but I didn’t really expect to get the call-up.

“I found out 10 days ago about being in the provisional squad and then after beating Longford last Saturday that I was in the full squad.

“I’m really grateful because it will be a proper learning curve for me. I just want to learn as much as I can, working with top class goalkeepers like Caoimhin.

“He’s an unbelievable goalkeeper, so the week will be an opportunity to learn from him.” 

Friday’s 3-0 win at Athlone Town extended City’s lead at the summit to nine points and marked Brann’s seventh clean sheet of the season. A couple of saves from point blank range in either half were vital.

He’s rued a few others that slipped away but cites back-to-back shutouts as evidence of solidity.

“It was probably our best away performance of the season,” he reflected on Friday.

“Conditions were tough in the first half against the wind but we still created enough chances without putting them away.

“Those low shots are difficult to try to get a hand on but at 2-0 the most important thing was keeping a clean sheet.

“They’re massive over the course of the season. This season we’ve been leading in games only to concede which gets us down in the dressing-room so returning to clean sheets recently was important.

“We go again with another tough away game.” 

Brann knows two fellow uncapped players in the squad, fellow Galwegian Alex Murphy and Dawson Devoy from their time at Swindon Town, but the latter will link up with the squad for the second game.

He’ll line for Bohemians on Monday against leaders Shamrock Rovers and again for Friday’s trip to Sligo Rovers. Clubs are not obligated to release players for the Qatar game as it occurs before Fifa’s international window opens.

Rovers have taken a different approach with their Ireland newbies, allowing goalkeeper Ed McGinty and winger Adam Brennan to report for duty on Monday.

Third-placed Bohs can go level with Rovers if they replicate the outcome of the last Dalymount meeting in February.

The other two qualifiers for European competition later in the summer, Derry City and Shelbourne, meet at the Ryan McBride Brandywell. Both Premier Division games also kick off at 7.45pm.