Irish-qualified goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara is one to keep an eye on for the future.
The 20-year-old joined Manchester United at the ripe, old age of eight, signed his first professional contract in 2014 and after impressing on his loan spell at Morecambe, he has finally received Ireland’s call.
His five games in League Two side were enough to catch the attention of Ireland U21 Head Coach Noel King earlier this year and after training with the Irish U21s last week, he has been brought into the squad for tomorrow’s clash with Serbia.
O’Hara was born in Stretford, but qualifies for Ireland by virtue of his Galwegian grandparents. Speaking to FAI.ie, he expressed his delight in linking up with the Boys In Green after receiving his Irish passport.
“I spoke to Noel and he knew I had relatives from Galway and was eligible to play. I was delighted. I then get my Irish citizenship and the passport and I’m delighted it has all come through.”
“My grandparents on my father’s side were both from Galway. My Dad was very pleased. His side of the family are really proud and so is my Mum, of course.”
#IRLU21 TEAM NEWS: @ManUtd Goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara has been called into Noel King's U-21 squad ahead of tomorrow's game.
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 5, 2016
O’Hara admitted that his Dad has always pushed the idea of hims playing for Ireland and when King finally made the call, he felt honoured.
“We’ve still got relatives in Ireland. My Dad’s aunt is still living in Galway and we’d always go to visit her when I was younger. She lives on a farm. I’d always have a Galway GAA shirt as well when I was a kid.”
“I always thought about the possibility of declaring for Ireland and my Dad was always keen for me to do so. We’d have a bit of banter about the England or Ireland thing but it was always something I knew was possible and to get the call from Noel was an honour.”
The young keeper is now on the books for United’s U21 side, having worked his way up the ranks from the youth side that went all the way to the Aegon Future Cup final. Now that he’s a professional, there’s a certain Spanish shot-stopper he occasionally trains with that he feels is really helping him develop as a player.
“In my opinion David De Gea is one of if not the best goalkeepers in the world right now so to get to see him every day and to get the privilege to train with him sometimes and learn from him can only improve me as a goalkeeper.”
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