Young Irish League talent should be inspired by Ronan Hale's journey, says Gerard Lyttle

Belfast Telegraph

12-06-2025

The former Northern Ireland youth coach has been impressed with how the striker has delivered for Ross County and progressed to the senior international stage.
After banging in 18 goals for the Scottish side, former Solitude favourite Hale made his international debut against Iceland on Tuesday night and almost celebrated a goalscoring start.
Hale will be hoping his performance in the 1-0 victory over Iceland will keep him firmly in Michael O'Neill's thoughts ahead of September's World Cup qualifiers.
The 26-year-old, who was unlucky to hit the woodwork in the first-half, signed off his Cliftonville spell in style with two memorable goals in an Irish Cup Final win over Linfield.
A move to the Scottish Premiership was another step up in his career and, although his side suffered relegation, the frontman produced some sublime finishing and another move may materialise this summer.
Having gone through a protracted process last year to complete a Fifa international transfer from the Republic of Ireland, Hale's rise sends a clear message to Irish League players that there is a pathway to the senior international stage through talent and hard work.
'Ronan is an inspiration to Irish League players. We speak about that a lot with our young players,' said Lyttle, who was manager of Northern Ireland's Under-17 and Under-19 teams.
'Those that do come back to our League can revive their careers. Ronan came home for family reasons but there is still a pathway to go back across. So many scouts and agents have eyes on our game.
'As the game goes more full-time and gets a higher profile, there are chances for players to bounce back over.
'We will push players on. Ben Wilson is another example, he came from Brighton and, after playing for Cliftonville, he went to Airdrie and has been linked with TNS.
'Ronan is a great selling point for us. He could even get another move after impressing at Ross County.
'I have known him a lifetime and he has just wanted to score goals. It is great to see any player given opportunities they deserve.'
Hale had been an unused substitute for Northern Ireland's three previous fixtures before featuring in the friendly against Iceland.
'It was great to see Ronan involved because he was probably disappointed not to feature in the previous friendlies,' added Lyttle, who was a coach in the Irish FA's JD Academy.
'To get a start and show what we all know he can do was brilliant and I thought he was excellent in the way he led the line. He worked his socks off and it was everything you expect of Ronan.
'It would have been great to see him score but he showed he is capable of stepping up and performing at that level.
'All he wanted was an opportunity to show that he should stay in Michael's thoughts. His performance followed a good season with Ross County and, on another night, he could have scored two.
'He has worked very hard to achieve what he has. He probably wouldn't have come home other than for family reasons.
'It is great he got a well-deserved opportunity to show his talents at a higher level.'
Lyttle and Reds boss Jim Magilton are committed to nurturing emerging talent at the north Belfast club.
The academy, under the guidance of former player Marc Smyth, is uncovering some exciting young prospects.
'We have many good players coming through and a fantastic academy set-up,' added Lyttle, who started his coaching career in 2009 with Belfast-based junior club Malachians before joining the coaching set-up at Cliftonville under the late Tommy Breslin.
'Marc Smyth has been a big part of that. Jim (Magilton) and I have a background of developing young players and that is something we have always prided ourselves on.
'Young players will get chances, and it puts them in the shop window.
'There's a few promising players such as Shay Reid, Ryan Corrigan, Coran Madden and Joe Sheridan. Pre-season is another opportunity to show they can make an impact.'
Cliftonville will go full-time under new ownership if the deal with the Toronto Investment Group goes through — but it will not be a speedy process, similar to what has unfolded at Coleraine.
'We are getting closer to a full-time League and it's what we hope to do to stay competitive,' said former Cliftonville and Sligo Rovers boss Lyttle.
'My understanding is that if we do move full-time, it will be over a period of time and phased in.
'We want to do it the right way. It will be sensible approach and that's what I am hearing from the conversations the club is having.'