Latest news with #MasonMelia
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Jim Crawford full of praise for Irish record-breaking youngster, who ‘has an eye on the Under-21 top scorer'
JIM Crawford has played a part in developing some of Ireland's brightest stars, from Dara O'Shea to Evan Ferguson and now Mason Melia. And the Ireland Under-21 boss insists the most important thing is players get the right advice and support — in good times and bad. Advertisement 2 Mason Melia lining out for Ireland U21s 2 Crawford is a big admirer of Melia St Pat's star Melia, 17, The striker has been a sensation at Richmond Park and Crawford acknowledged the sky is the limit for the Wicklow man, who has already Crawford told SunSport: 'If Brexit wasn't around, there is an extremely high possibility that he'd have an English team — Spurs — in brackets after his name. 'He's got so much going for him. Probably the most important thing is he's a grounded boy, he's level-headed and humble. Advertisement Read more in Irish football 'Sometimes the really talented player — whether Under-12 or senior — is the most challenging to deal with. Are those players the ones that go and reach their ceiling? There are a hell of a lot of cases where they don't because their ability got them through younger age groups. 'Mason is 180 degrees the other side of that. He's constantly working on his game. 'He's been great since he's come into camp with us. We brought him in with a view to giving him minutes last October but he had a slight injury. Advertisement Most read in Football "Then we had him in the last camp in March when he became the youngest scorer in Under-21s history. 'Knowing him, he's probably got an eye on the top Under-21 scorer, which is jointly held by Kevin Doyle and Robbie Brady with seven goals. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict 'He's probably thinking, 'I'm six away from that now'. But of course the senior manager likes him so who knows how long he'll be with the Under-21s?' Melia's career has had few setbacks since he scored on his debut against Wexford in the Leinster Senior Cup as a 15-year-old. Advertisement But Crawford understands that few careers always go in an upward trajectory. And speaking generally, he said all players need the right support. He explained: 'There are young players who at 14s, 15s, 16s, 17s, all the way up, they are the best in their age group. 'But when you get to a certain age . . . there are 101 stories — I'm sure every coach has a few — of players who then just become a number. 'Some players can't handle that. It's then you need to dig in, work a bit harder and get the support from your coach and people around you. Advertisement "There is learning through adversity. It is what you see in Ireland players who are 25 or 26, when they have a bad ten minutes in a game, they know how to respond. 'It is why this time is so important for young boys. 'Even if you're in the first team and in a performance phase, you also need development. When things are not going well, you need people at the club to sit down and work things out with players. 'I'm a firm believer that players are always learning, even if they are getting up to their 30s. But especially with young players, you need to develop them even if they're in the first team. Advertisement 'They may lose confidence if they're not playing well, or even just develop bad habits, and you have to keep working with them. 'You need a support network for that, whether coaches at the club, parents, mentors, agents . . . I think the boys in our squad have that.' CRAWFORD KNOWS FIRST-HAND And Crawford, 52, points to his own career as a reference point. The Dubliner was a star for Bohemians when snapped up by Newcastle United in 1995 as he went straight in to join the first team. That was the season that the Magpies were the great entertainers as they led the Premier League only to be pegged back during the run-in by mighty Advertisement Crawford was on the fringes as his two appearances came at the end of the following season. He recalled: 'I was 21. You go to a club where you are competing with Dave Batty, Rob Lee, Lee Clarke, Steve Watson. 'I just went in and said, 'OK, I'll go here and break into this team'. Then you're playing your reserve games and going through your low period, it's a challenge. 'Back then you didn't have that support system around you to help you through it. Advertisement 'If I had that mentor, somebody who had been through it themselves that can say, 'You need to get out on loan here and do what I did . . .' 'I probably stayed too long at Newcastle. I should've realised, 'Am I going to get into that first team? No'. "I was on the bench and you get caught up in that and you're thinking, 'Maybe this game, I'll get my couple of minutes'. 'You take a step back . . . you probably weren't. You were on the bench because of an injury crisis. Advertisement 'But had someone said to me to go on loan, I'd have been, 'I'm on the bench, I'm this close!'' JIM'S JOURNEY He did have a two-month spell at Rotherham and a month at Dundee United but left St James' Park after three years for a move to Reading, before joining Shelbourne. With the Reds, he won four league titles and was 45 minutes away from the Champions League group stages, before going into coaching. Having taken interim charge of Shamrock Rovers in 2008, he has been with the FAI ever since — first as Under-19 assistant, then Under-18 boss, Under-21 assistant, and since 2020, Under-21 gaffer. Advertisement His time in charge has seen the Under-21s go from also-rans to qualifying contenders, though there have been near-misses in each of the campaigns. But he hopes the new crop of players for Euro 2027 can see Ireland make the jump and reach a first-ever finals, and even the 2028 LA Olympics. Crawford said: 'There are a couple that have tasted the disappointment but it's a new group. It's all building towards September now.'
Irish Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Shamrock Rovers show their mettle, Duff's gamble pays off – what we learned from Friday night's League of Ireland action
Shamrock Rovers do what champions do With 25 minutes to go at the Brandywell, Danny Mullen put it up to Shamrock Rovers. Swept in behind by Carl Winchester, the Derry striker dinked a lovely finish over Ed McGinty, pointedly testing the mettle of the league leaders. After swatting St Pat's aside in a formidable 4-0 win on Monday, this was a different challenge for Rovers, and one they duly embraced. Just minutes after falling behind, Pico Lopes sensed an opportunity from distance. His sprayed lob was tipped on to the crossbar by Brian Maher, but the save proved little more than a backboard alley-oop for Michael Noonan, who was unmarked as he headed the rebound into the corner. Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley celebrates after their win over Derry City. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Inpho A point would have been a fine result on the road in Derry, but Rovers are in no mood to settle these days. It was a returning son, Aaron McEneff, that pinched a late winner , slotting a Danny Grant cutback under the feet of Maher. McEneff cupped his ears and goaded the home support – perhaps a sign of the ruthless streak that is once more revealing itself at the heart of the Rovers machine. Five wins on the bounce and a six point gap now at the top of the table. Mason Melia is a special talent As if it needed saying. Having passed his driving test earlier in the day, Mason Melia underlined his precocious talent once more as St Pat's laboured to a 2-2 draw at home to Waterford. READ MORE A five-minute spell at Richmond Park on Friday evening was evidence enough for why Tottenham Hotspur are happy to pay close to €2 million for Melia. At 17, he looks faster, sharper and smarter than most of the players around him. His goals were devastating, both zipped into the bottom left corner past a helpless Stephen McMullan after the striker had pounced on the defensive uncertainty his presence instils. Mason Melia on his way to scoring his St Pat's second goal. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/INpho In a Pat's side blessed with some of the best and most experienced footballers in the League of Ireland, Melia looks like a talisman. This was another poor display from Stephen Kenny's men overall. Far from a motivated, wounded beast after their Monday night drubbing in Tallaght, the home side looked downtrodden and lacklustre. Waterford were fully deserving of a point and will accept it given Conan Noonan's well taken equaliser came with just 10 minutes left to play, but John Coleman will feel his side could have taken more. Shels find scoring touch Having watched his side toil towards two goals in their last five games, Damien Duff changed tack on Friday night at Tolka Park, bringing in John Martin to lead Shelbourne's line. He'd have taken a goal in return, but Martin rewarded him with three. The Kilkenny native had Evan Caffrey to thank for his first-half brace – his two inswinging crosses from the left flank were pacy and inviting. Martin's finishing was neat on both occasions, a level of composure that Duff has been desperate for in recent weeks. Shelbourne's John Martin celebrates scoring a hat-trick. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho Neat can't describe the hat-trick goal, which broke from a cluttered bundle of legs in the six-yard box. Martin emerged from the pile long enough to persuade the ball to trickle past Sam Sargeant and make it 3-1. It was a moment so disorderly that just a minute later, the game was rewarded with a goal of the season contender. Owen Elding, finding a pocket of space 30 yards out, unleashed a left-footed blast that the Tolka Park camera could barely keep up with. Lorcan Healy certainly couldn't, despite diving admirably after the ball. Unfortunately for Sligo, they couldn't build on it enough to take something from the game. An admirable effort, but they and Cork are well adrift of the pack. Stalwarts bring Galway reprieve When things aren't going well, it can help to turn to those you trust. Conor McCormack and Stephen Walsh were two of Galway United's heroes on the 2023 promotion trail, but through injury and rotation, both have watched much of this season from the sidelines. It was an unlikely double act that combined off the bench for a vital winner at Eamonn Deacy Park, ending Galway's run of four defeats on the spin. The home side looked low on confidence throughout the first half and could easily have found themselves behind. Clubs in England are reported to be circling Cork's Cathal O'Sullivan, and the young winger will be hoping none were watching on the cusp of half time. A defensive mix-up between Garry Buckley and Evan Watts afforded O'Sullivan a wide-open goal but, under some pressure from Greg Cunningham, he fired glaringly wide. Cork City manager Gerard Nash dejected after their 2-1 defeat to Galway United. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho In a tight game, the opener arrived at the start of the second period. It was Moses Dyer's handiwork, the striker jinking neatly to the byline and attempting a cutback. Deflected, the ball looped over Tein Troost and somehow trickled in – arbiters of dubious goals may ultimately deny the league's top scorer, but Dyer's effort was decisive. Galway's lead lasted just moments. Jeannot Esua was harshly adjudged to have handled the ball just inside the penalty area, and Djenairo Daniels converted. Cork looked decent value for a point, but John Caulfield found inspiration in his old guard. With five minutes to go, an onrushing McCormack was 40 yards further forward than usually permitted. Walsh, with his back to goal, hid his surprise at the sight of his team-mate and teed him up for an emphatic finish. McCormack leapt into Caulfield's arms in celebration, marking an embrace between two former Cork City men, as Galway moved up to seventh. Elsewhere, in a close fought game at Sullivan & Lambe Park, Drogheda United edged out Bohemians by a goal to nil.
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Tottenham-bound teen brushes aside ex-Arsenal man to score brilliant goal
There was a touch of North London rivalry in the League of Ireland on Friday night, as Tottenham-bound Ireland Under-21 striker Mason Melia made light work of former Arsenal prospect James Olayinka to score for St Patrick's Athletic against Waterford. Melia had already netted his fifth goal of the season - and his third in his last four games - to drag the Saints back into the game, after they went behind to an early goal by former Pat's striker Tommy Lonergan. Melia levelled in the 28th minute with a clever turn and strike, as he got to Joe Redmond's low shot before Blues defender Darragh Leahy could block the effort. Five minutes later, Melia scored his second of the night, a wonderful solo effort that saw him race from inside his own half to put the hosts in front. Waterford were on the attack when Pat's launched the ball clear. Olayinka mis-controlled on half-way and Melia was straight onto it. Even though the ex-Gunner was the last defender, Melia still had plenty of work to do. Click this link or scan the QR code to receive the latest League of Ireland news and top stories from the Irish Mirror. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. But the 17-year-old showed great acceleration and pace to burst past his 24-year-old opponent, and race into the area, where he finished low inside the left-hand post. Melia will head to Tottenham next January after he turns 18, with Pat's and Spurs agreeing an initial €1.9m fee - a League of Ireland transfer record. You can see the goal here...
Irish Examiner
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Late Pats goals break Cork City hearts
SSE Airtricity Premier Division: St. Patrick's Athletic: 3 Cork City: 2 In the season of late goals, St. Patrick's Athletic left it late to earn a big win in the most dramatic of circumstances. An early Mason Melia header set the Saints on their way before Cork City flipped the game on its head and looked to earn a big win. But a 90th minute equaliser from Zack Elbouzedi and a 96th minute winner from Jamie Lennon earned a big comeback win for Stephen Kenny's charges. Following a tumultuous week off the pitch, with Tim Clancy departing his post after last week's defeat to Derry City and the former Aston Villa and Ipswich coach being announced the day before kick-off, it was Liam Kearney - along with Greg Yelverton and a vocal player coach Greg Bolger - who oversaw City's narrow defeat, in a game that took a while to spring into action. With little between the sides, it took until just before a quarter of an hour played for the first chance on target. Tottenham Hotspur bound Mason Melia got up early over opposing striker Djenairo Daniels to power home a header from Barry Baggley's outswinging corner to get his side in front. The new Rebels boss, Nash, had just arrived in Dublin from Sweden on the day of the game and watched on from the stands and would have been concerned as his side looked vulnerable from set-pieces. Minutes later Saints skipper Joe Redmond's downward header from the opposite side was almost bundled over the line. The visitors tried desperately to get back level and at the half hour mark another teen sensation, Cathal O'Sullivan, blazed over. But again it was the home side who looked more dangerous and moments later should have doubled their lead. Kian Leavy, turned sharply in the middle of the park and released Jake Mulraney in behind the City defence. The pacey winger opted for power as he raced into the area and was bravely denied by Tein Troost who stood big. Aidan Keena, who had been quiet by his standards, went agonisingly close to doubling his side's lead, fashioning some space by beating a couple of challenges and from just outside the area blasted just wide of the upright. Just before the break O'Sullivan was back in the thick of things making a clever run from the right wing inside behind the Saints defence. Daniels played a perfectly weighted pass to find the 18-year-old but was eventually smothered by the recovering Pat's backline. Just five minutes after the interval Melia played a tidy slide rule ball for Keena who narrowly missed the far post as the home side pushed for another. But if you don't take your chances at this level you get punished and just before the hour mark, skipper Charlie Lyons punished the home side. Following an Evan McLaughlin corner the Captain levelled with a header of his own, looping the ball high to the back post. And with less than a quarter of an hour remaining the turnaround looked to have been completed when Al-Amiin Kazeem was adjudged to have handled substitute Milan Mbeng's clever cut back as he shaped to cross. Fellow substitute Seani Maguire showed all his experience calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner. In a season of late goals, it was the home side who found not one but two as firstly, Zack Elbouzedi was on hand to tap home from Simon Power's brilliant low cross. Elbouzedi turned provider, turning the ball inside to Jamie Lennon who broke City hearts, smashing home to spark a wild pitch invasion and chaotic scenes to ensure all three points stayed in Dublin on this occasion. ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond (Grivosti, 71'), Hoare, Kazeem; Leavy (Kavanagh, 36'), Lennon, Baggley (McClelland, 77'), Mulraney (Power, 77'); Keena (Elbouzedi, 71'), Melia CORK CITY: Troost; Nevin (Mbeng, 70'), Anderson, Lyons, Kiernan; Fitzpatrick (Bolger, 57'), Murray, McLoughlin (Maguire, 70'); O'Sullivan, Nelson, Daniels Referee: Paul Norton
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Teenage kicks - 10 of the best League of Ireland emerging stars
Brexit rules altered the landscape for the Irish footballing export market, raising the threshold from 16 to 18 for the age players can join UK clubs. That has resulted in budding talent remaining at home, unless they emulate the route Kevin Zefi and Cathal Heffernan took to the continent, and debate has swirled about whether gems are at a disadvantage. Only certain clubs can afford to enlist teens on professional contracts and offer full-time training. Here we look at 10 players in that age-bracket between 16 and 19 who are thriving in the League of Ireland and are worth a look in the flesh at venues nationwide this weekend. Mason Melia (St Patrick's Athletic) Mason Melia will join Tottenhmam Hotspur in January. File picture: Ryan Byrne/Inpho Officially Ireland's first €1m sale, the striker ended speculation about his next destination by agreeing a deal to join Tottenham Hotspur next January after he turns 18. He was blooded by St Patrick's Athletic as a 16-year-old debutant, won the FAI Cup in 2023, the same year he featured at the U17 Euros. Now in possession of the No 9 jersey, the responsibility rests easily on his shoulders, as he showed by opening the scoring against Shamrock Rovers last week. Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers) 16-year-old Michael Noonan became the Conference League's youngest ever scorer with his goal against Molde this season. St Pat's were planning for Melia's departure by chiselling out his successor with sporadic exposure for Noonan last year but he wasn't prepared to operate in his elder's shadow and so made the jump to their Dublin and title rivals over the off-season. Anyone thinking he'd be assimilated slowly into the team would have been shocked when he started and scored in the Conference League playoff away to Molde, creating history as the competition's youngest scorer. The 16-year-old was back at school the following morning and opened his league account last week against Bohemians. Cathal O'Sullivan (Cork City) Cathal O'Sullivan has been tiped for stardom since 14. File picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile Turner's Cross bore witness to the 18-year-old's sorcery on Monday when the creative spark turned the game in City's favour during the last five minutes. O'Sullivan has been tipped for stardom since the age of 14 and admirably recovered from an ACL rupture to revel in City's First Division title success. Tougher tests in the Premier this term have been passed with distinction and a move to the English top-flight in the summer looms. Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson and U21 manager Jim Crawford have both watched the mercurial maestro over the past fortnight. Cillian Tollett (Galway United) Cillian Tollett scored against Derry City last week. File picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Having been afforded his bow by John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan last October, the striker celebrated his 17th birthday in the run-up to this season kicking off in February. The forward from Oughterard at the gateway to Connemara has featured four times since, grabbing a goal in last week's clash against Derry City. He's also scored for Ireland and was part of the squad that recently clinched a place at the U17 World Cup this coming November. Owen Elding (Sligo Rovers) Owen Elding has scored five goals in 10 games for Sligo Rovers. File picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile Another precocious striker, Elding has replicated his father Anthony by spearheading the attack of Sligo Rovers. Five goals in 10 matches so far this term for the division's bottom team is impressive for the man who only turned 19 last month. Elding was born in England but grew up in Ireland so should qualify through residency but has yet to be capped by his adopted home. On his current trajectory, that's an inevitability. Lewis Temple (Shelbourne) Shelbourne's Lewis Temple has repayed Damien Duff's trust. File picture: Andrew Conan/Inpho Breaking into a defence that conceded just 27 goals along their 36-match trail to the title was a task for the teenager but Damien Duff felt it was opportune this season. He's been around the Shelbourne set-up since Duff became boss senior boss in 2022, marvelling during last season's loan at FAI Cup semi-finalists Wexford, and was primed to freshen up the Reds defence. The strapping defender who was a karate black belt at the age of 12 and kicked into action with a man-of-the-match performance against St Pat's. A broken bone in his foot has only slowed, rather than curbed, his ascent. Cathal McCarthy (UCD) Cathal McCarthy (blue) will join Hull City in the summer. File picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile Another centre-back, McCarthy is on his way to Hull City on a two-and-a-half year deal in the summer after the Tigers tied up a double-deal with Hugh Parker. He's been allowed to remain with the Students on loan to facilitate the completion of his Leaving Cert and they'll require his presence to catch the front three of Dundalk, Bray Wanderers and Cobh Ramblers. Initially with Klub Kildare, he joined the Students in time to feature in the Uefa Youth Cup and developed into a cultured defender. Vinnie Leonard (Dundalk) Vincent Leonard is an old-school defender. File picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Another member of the World Cup bound U17 Ireland squad, Leonard is a throwback defender, a bulky figure whose priority on clearing danger appetising to his various suitors. Ciarán Kilduff has leaned on a legion of teens to resurrect relegated Dundalk and Leonard is the bedrock in central defence. He's broken all manner of records, the youngest debutant at 15 last year and goalscorer seven weeks ago. Billy O'Neill (Bray Wanderers) Billy O'Neill has been training with Brentford but is attracting interest from European clubs. File picture: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile Six straight wins has Bray motoring and integral to their revival is a player who only hit his 17th birthday milestone last month. O'Neill's artillery from the wing has already seen him training with Brentford while a clutch of European clubs, including Juventus, are monitoring his progress in case he chooses to depart before he can do so to the UK at 18. Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers) Arsenal are reported to be in talks to secure a pre-contract deal for Victor Ozhianvuna File picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Also 16, and on track to be at the World Cup in Qatar, Victor Ozhianvuna has been long spoken of as a standout among a talented Rovers underage team. He enjoyed a purple patch in June with involvement in the Conference League playoff against Molde and sub at Lansdowne Road against Bohemians. He was a whisker away from providing a precious equaliser. Likely to stick around until he's 18, Arsenal are in talks about securing a pre-contract deal, banking a €1m-plus fee for the Hoops.
