Max O'Leary ready for lift-off with Republic of Ireland after six-year wait

The Irish Sun

2 days ago

MAX O'LEARY qualifies for Ireland through his late grandfather Seán from Farranfore, best known for Kerry Airport.
And the Bristol City keeper is hoping his international career can finally take flight, six years after he was first named in an Ireland squad.
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Bristol City's Max O'Leary during is hoping for his Republic of Ireland debut against Senegal
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Max O'Leary qualifies for Ireland through his late grandfather Seán from Farranfore, best known for Kerry Airport
O'Leary has been called in, but never played, by Mick McCarthy,
But with
O'Leary said: 'I'm ready to go and if I get that chance, I'll be happy to take it. It's something I've wanted to do and I've put in the hard work.
'This is just another thing to tick off, and it'd be a great honour.
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'I've been around a while now and seen a few managers. Hopefully, I'll get my opportunity soon.'
The 28-year-old admitted he has spoken to managers about what he needed to do to get picked, having sat on the bench 17 times, and often not even made the squad when
He said: 'I think it's been a similar sort of situation as the past - keep doing well at club level and hopefully, you'll get a chance to play.
'Obviously, these are friendlies in this camp, so there might be a chance there. I'm ready if needed. I enjoy it every time I come here, it's great.
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'You prepare the same whether you're playing or not playing. I had my time of not playing when I was younger.
'Whatever I can do to help who is playing, I know I'd want the same if I was playing.
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"So just to have that good environment in training, pushing each other and just making sure we get everything we need for the games is always the most important thing.
'Putting whoever's playing first rather than yourself has been good, whether that's Caoimhin, I know Gav's played before when I've been here. Whoever it is, I'm happy to help.
'Caoimhín is a great 'keeper and a great lad as well. We have a good time when we come away. 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.'
Whilst Kelleher has moved to Brentford after finding his path to the Liverpool first team blocked by Alisson, Bazunu and Travers both went out on loan in the season just finished in search of regular football.
Travers - second choice at Bournemouth - linked up with Middlesbrough with Bazunu going to Standard Liege having been unable to reclaim his spot at Southampton after his recovery from an Achilles tear, only for another injury to curtail his stay in Belgium.
Tottenham prospect Josh Keeley, also in this squad, has gained valuable experience with Leyton Orient.
But minutes have not been an issue for O'Leary who has started 125 consecutive Championship games since October 2022.
He said: 'It is all about timing sometimes. I had to bide my time and be patient, went out on a few loans.
'I know I wasn't ready to make that step up. So, a bit like what Josh has done this year. He's gone out and played really well.
'So, I just had to be patient and wait for an opportunity, just try and take it and stay in.
"To be fair, I had been in for five or six games when I went in first, picked up a little knock and missed the rest of the season.
After that, I think I got in after 15 games and played the rest of the season.
"Nigel Pearson was the manager at the time and he just said 'go and express yourself, you are going to make mistakes. I don't care. I am going to back you'.
'And I think just having that confidence to try and express myself and help the team when I can really helped at the start and just carried it on.'
And that run of games means O'Leary feels he is a much better keeper when he was first called up by Ireland in May 2019 when Darren Randolphh was still the country's no 1.
He said: 'I have definitely matured and you get into a rhythm of playing, especially with the volume of the Championship, you get to know your body.
'And I feel like I have done well over that longer period of time. Obviously, there are going to be mistakes in there, but the consistency I am really happy with.'
He played his part in getting the Robins to the play-offs but they were well beaten by Sheffield United in the semi-finals and there is speculation boss Liam Manning may be on his way out.
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O'Leary said: 'He's been great with me, the last 18 months that he has been in, has been really good. The culture has shifted and what he built this year was really, really good.
'If he does go, it will be a huge miss for me. But that's football, people come and go.
"I have been at Bristol City long enough now, have seen a few managers come and go, and it moves on fairly quickly.
'People come and go, staff and players and you just have to move on. You just have to get on with it.'
And he is confident that, whoever is at the helm, that their squad can again push for the top flight next season.
He said: 'We did well this season, obviously we didn't have any additions in January and had that small, tight-knit squad.
'A lot of the lads played a lot of minutes, I think we had the least players used in the league.
'We have lads coming back from loans, a good variety of younger players with more experienced ones. But the core group, if we can keep that, it should be a good year.'
A key component of that squad is Jason Knight with O'Leary believing he has grown into his role as club skipper.
He said: 'I think for him, it was a big step up at the beginning of the year, being made full-time captain. To see him grow into that role has been really good.
'I think he's been a bit more vocal around the Ireland camps, and he's really stepped up on the pitch for us this year at club level. I know he can bring those performances here as well.'