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Irish Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stephen Kenny explains substitution of hat-trick hunting teenager Mason Melia
Stephen Kenny has explained his decision to substitute two-goal hero Mason Melia with 14 minutes still to play in Friday's 2-2 draw with Waterford. St Patrick's Athletic were leading 2-1 when Kenny sent on Aidan Keena for the 17-year-old Tottenham-bound striker. Melia's two goals brought his tally so far this season to six - with four of those coming in his last four appearances. However, Pat's busy recent schedule had taken its toll on the youngster, who had started his fourth game in just 14 days. 'He did brilliantly,' said Kenny. 'I'd like to have left him on, but it was his third game in a week. 'Waterford probably had the advantage of not having a midweek game, so he was obviously very tired after two tough games against Cork and against Rovers. But Mason did brilliantly overall, his two goals were excellent. Really good.' 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. Pat's extra game was last Monday's 4-0 hammering at the hands of Shamrock Rovers - a match that was moved forward due to both teams' European commitments later in the summer. Ireland Under-21 striker Melia's brace on Friday was hailed by his manager. 'They were brilliant finishes, absolutely terrific and he did really well,' Kenny said. 'He is scoring different types of goals. He missed three months, so he has come back and done really well in the last few weeks." Kenny described the draw with Waterford as a 'fair result.' However, he added: 'We're disappointed not to hold out for the win as well. 'I think when you are not at your best you have to try to find a way to win. To concede in the first minute was really poor from our point of view, so to dig in and come back into it and score two goals was terrific. 'We are disappointed but the players gave everything, got two great goals and Waterford played well against us. 'They've had a lot of good results, they have beaten Shelbourne, Bohemians and Derry, and you can see why. Their front two are a real handful and they proved so tonight. But we've got to keep going.' There was more bad news on the injury-front on Friday night when Chris Forrester, who returned ahead of schedule from a groin injury, appeared to suffer a recurrence early in the second-half. 'Well, we'll have to see,' said Kenny, when asked about Forrester. 'He trained fully (on Thursday) and he was okay. We'll have to see. 'I didn't think Chris would be back until after the break, but he trained yesterday, put himself in the picture and wanted to play. 'I wasn't really pushing him, he wants to play himself. He showed a great attitude in that regard.'
The 42
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Mason Melia hits fine double but Waterford earn 2-2 draw with St Pat's
St Patrick's Athletic 2 Waterford 2 Paul Buttner reports from Richmond Park CONAN NOONAN SALVAGED a deserved point for Waterford with a late equaliser in this thrilling roller coaster at Richmond Park. Mason Melia's brilliant first half brace looked to have got St Pat's back to winning ways after Monday's 4-0 mauling at Shamrock Rovers. But having taken an early lead, John Coleman's Blues came to Inchicore to play and got their reward through the impressive Noonan 10 minutes from time. When Grant Horton's deep cross wasn't cleared, the ball ran for midfielder Noonan who rifled a low shot to the corner of Joseph Anang's net from a tight angle. Poor defending was the hallmark of St Pat's defeat in Tallaght and they carried that into this game to find themselves behind as early as 70 seconds. Blues' goalkeeper Stephen McMullen's clearance wasn't dealt with as Saints' skipper Joe Redmond's header came off the back of Barry Baggley's head. Are you even surprised?😮💨 Mason Melia turns the game around at Richmond Park! — League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 23, 2025 Advertisement Noonan hooked the loose ball into the St Pat's penalty area where Tommy Lonergan initially miss-controlled it. The danger remained when Sean Hoare failed to clear with the ball falling to Horton. His shot came back off St Pat's Sjoberg to tee up Tommy Lonergan, who scored in winning the FAI Cup with St Pat's in 2023, to calmly slip it past Anang. Clearly rattled, St Pat's surveyed going 2-0 down from Waterford's second corner of the game when the totally untracked Rowan McDonald bounced his header over. With St Pat's continuing to struggle to get a foothold in the game, Anang rescued them with a stunning save eight minutes later when tipping over Noonan's acrobatic bicycle kick. St Pat's needed something special to get them back into the game and it arrived on 28 minutes from 17-year-old Tottenham-bound Melia. Redmond was given far too much space to advance from deep to get a shot away. Melia showed his striker's instinct to cleverly nick the ball off Darragh Leahy, skip around him and drill it past McMullan. If that was good, it got better four minutes later when Melia put Saints in front with another stunning strike. Axel Sjoberg's long clearance, following a Waterford corner, was miss-controlled by James Olayinka on the halfway line. Showing power and pace beyond his years, Melia bustled past the sluggish Olayinka to race through and place his shot to the corner of the net for a brilliantly composed fourth goal in four games and fifth of the season. The game remained entertainingly open into the second half. Jake Mulraney's free kick shaved a post for St Pat's at one end before Lonergan's header from a Noonan corner was saved by Anang at the other. Another Noonan corner then almost brought an equaliser when coming off Hoare to strike a post before Waterford got their due reward on 80 minutes. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Hoare, Redmond, Breslin; Forrester (McLaughlin, 57), Baggley; Elbouzedi, Leavy (McClelland, 73), Mulraney (Power, 57); Melia (Keena, 76). Waterford: McMullan; McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Horton, Olayinka, Glenfield (McMenamy, 85), Noonan, White (Dempsey, 63); Lonergan, Amond. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
Irish Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mason Melia shines bright but St Pat's are held by Waterford
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC 2-2 WATERFORD It's easy to forget at times that Mason Melia is still four months away from his 18th birthday. Then he does things like score his side's second goal of Friday night's entertaining draw with Waterford and it's downright unbelievable that he is still only 17. The St Patrick's Athletic striker had already cancelled out former Saints frontman Tommy Lonergan's early opener when, five minutes later, he scored his sixth of the season. Melia showcased his strength, pace and calmness at the vital moment with a wonderful solo effort to hand his side a lead that was cancelled out nine minutes from time by Conan Noonan. There was a touch of North London rivalry to this one, as the Tottenham-bound Ireland Under-21 striker made light work of former Arsenal prospect James Olayinka. Waterford were on the attack, with Sam Glenfield's attempt to score thwarted by a Joe Redmond block, when Pat's defender Axel Sjoberg hooked the ball clear. It was just Olayinka and Melia in the centre-circle, as everyone else had advanced for a Waterford corner, and the ex-Gunner was closest to the dropping ball. But he miscontrolled and Melia pounced. Even though Olayinka was the last Waterford outfield player back, Melia still had plenty of work to do. 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 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. And that was a smart finish too. Before that, Pat's trailed to Lonergan's opener, which came from a comedy of errors at the back as, firstly, captain Joe Redmond headed the ball against the back of teammate Barry Baggley. The ball spilled to Lonergan, his poor touch looked to have closed the opening as Sean Hoare took control, but he too was guilty of a heavy touch and suddenly the ball was at the feet of Grant Horton. His shot was blocked by Sjoberg and Lonergan once again found himself in possession inside the Pat's area. This time he made no mistake, drilling a low shot past Joseph Anang. There were just 80 seconds on the clock at this point and Pat's were all over the place. Hoare blocked a Conan Noonan shot, as the on-loan Shamrock Rovers midfielder caused chaos in the final third. His eighth minute corner was met on the six-yard line by Rowan McDonald, but he directed his free header into the turf and over the bar. Horton and Padraig Amond were then both off-target as the visitors attempted to extend their advantage, while Noonan's spectacular overhead volley was tipped over by Anang. Pat's survived that spell of pressure to level through Melia, who got a toe to Redmond's low shot before Blues defender Darragh Leahy could block the effort, then turned and fired a low drive across goal and inside the left-hand post. It was a great instinctive effort by the teenager, but he did even better to score the lead goal. Melia didn't get to turn his first senior brace into a hat-trick, as he was substituted for Aidan Keena in the 77th minute - and unfortunately for him he didn't get to be the match-winner either. Noonan made sure of that with an excellent finish from the tightest of angles, four minutes after Melia's departure, when he somehow squeezed the ball between Anang and his near post after sub Jesse Dempsey's shot was blocked. There was more bad news on the injury-front for Pat's, as Chris Forrester, just back from a groin injury, was forced off in the 56th minute with a recurrence of the problem. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang 7; Sjoberg 7, Hoare 6, Redmond 6, Breslin 6; Forrester 6 (McLaughlin 56, 6), Baggley 6; Elbouzedi 6, Leavy 6, Mulraney 6 (Power 56, 6); Melia 8. Waterford: McMullan 6; Burke 6, McDonald 6, Leahy 7; Horton 7, Olayinka 6, Glenfield 6, Noonan 8, White 6 (Dempsey 63, 6); Lonergan 7, Amond 6. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare). Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Conan Noonan snatches Waterford a point away at Mason Melia inspired St Pats
St Patrick's Athletic 2 Waterford 2 Conan Noonan salvaged a deserved point for Waterford with a late equaliser in this thrilling roller coaster at Richmond Park. Mason Melia's brilliant first half brace looked to have got St Pat's back to winning ways after Monday's 4-0 mauling at Shamrock Rovers. But having taken an early lead, John Coleman's Blues came to Inchicore to play and got their reward through the impressive Noonan 10 minutes from time. When Grant Horton's deep cross wasn't cleared, the ball ran for midfielder Noonan who rifled a low shot to the corner of Joseph Anang's net from a tight angle. Poor defending was the hallmark of St Pat's defeat in Tallaght and they carried that into this game to find themselves behind as early as 70 seconds. Blues' goalkeeper Stephen McMullen's clearance wasn't dealt with as Saints' skipper Joe Redmond's header came off the back of Barry Baggley's head. Noonan hooked the loose ball into the St Pat's penalty area where Tommy Lonergan initially miss-controlled it. The danger remained when Sean Hoare failed to clear with the ball falling to Horton. His shot came back off St Pat's Sjoberg to tee up Tommy Lonergan, who scored in winning the FAI Cup with St Pat's in 2023, to calmly slip it past Anang. Clearly rattled, St Pat's survived going 2-0 down from Waterford's second corner of the game when the totally untracked Rowan McDonald bounced his header over. With St Pat's continuing to struggle to get a foothold in the game, Anang rescued them with a stunning save eight minutes later when tipping over Noonan's acrobatic bicycle kick. St Pat's needed something special to get them back into the game and it arrived on 28 minutes from 17-year-old Tottenham-bound Melia. Redmond was given far too much space to advance from deep to get a shot away. Melia showed his striker's instinct to cleverly nick the ball off Darragh Leahy, skip around him and drill it past McMullan. If that was good, it got better four minutes later when Melia put Saints in front with another stunning strike. Axel Sjoberg's long clearance, following a Waterford corner, was miss-controlled by James Olayinka on the halfway line. Showing power and pace beyond his years, Melia bustled past the sluggish Olayinka to race through and place his shot to the corner of the net for a brilliantly composed fourth goal in four games and fifth of the season. The game remained entertainingly open into the second half. Jake Mulraney's free kick shaved a post for St Pat's at one end before Lonergan's header from a Noonan corner was saved by Anang at the other. Another Noonan corner then almost brought an equaliser when coming off Hoare to strike a post before Waterford got their due reward on 80 minutes. St Patrick's Athletic: Anang; Sjoberg, Hoare, Redmond, Breslin; Forrester (McLaughlin, 57), Baggley; Elbouzedi, Leavy (McClelland, 73), Mulraney (Power, 57); Melia (Keena, 76). Waterford: McMullan; McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Horton, Olayinka, Glenfield (McMenamy, 85), Noonan, White (Dempsey, 63); Lonergan, Amond. Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
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...
