Ex-Irish League star stages his own cup final

A former Irish League player who is missing the beautiful game during lockdown, has put on his own version of the local season’s showpiece.
By Graeme Cousins
Published 8th Apr 2020, 19:00 BST
Updated 9th Apr 2020, 09:45 BST
Kieran played the game against his children wearing the Cliftonville kit he wore in the 2009 final against CrusadersKieran played the game against his children wearing the Cliftonville kit he wore in the 2009 final against Crusaders
Kieran played the game against his children wearing the Cliftonville kit he wore in the 2009 final against Crusaders

Kieran O’Connor, who played for a number of clubs across the Irish Premier League and Championship, staged the ‘Irish Cup Final’ in his back garden on Saturday.

Cliftonville (Kieran) beat Crumlin Star (his children Keagan, seven, and Killian, four) 3-0 in the game which was watched and filmed by a crowd of one (Kieran’s wife Roisin).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The highlights package that Kieran posted on Facebook (it’s been viewed almost 2,000 times) included interviews with the manager of Crumlin Star Paul Trainor.

The teams take to the field for the 2020 Irish Cup FinalThe teams take to the field for the 2020 Irish Cup Final
The teams take to the field for the 2020 Irish Cup Final

The 38-year-old who lives on the Antrim Road in Belfast, played for Larne, Glenavon, Armagh, Newry, Coleraine, Donegal Celtic, Distillery and Cliftonville. Until Saturday, he had never won the Irish Cup.

He said: “I played in the final for the Reds versus the Crues in 2009. We were beaten 1-0 by a Mark Dickson goal. That’s my actual cup final kit and runners-up medal used in the video we made.

“The best I got domestically was a couple of runners-up in the league and I won a couple of Co Antrim Shields and played in Cliftonville’s first ever win in Europe. I scored in two games against FC Dinaburg.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Asked who came up with the idea of holding an Irish Cup final in their back garden, Kieran said: “My two kids are football nuts. Keagan plays for Crumlin Star and Killian plays at Cliftonville so my wife Roisin is tormented by us. Our cup final was just a bit of fun.”

He said he and his sons were missing football a lot but had come up with ways to fill the void: “It’s handy having a big garden to play in and great for kids but to be honest I’m old school. For me kids kicking a ball against a wall and doing keepy ups is the best practice.”

Kieran, who works for a children’s charity – MACS NI – supporting children and young people, retired from playing last year at Crewe United where he linked up with his friends Eamon McCarthy and Ronan Scannell.

He was also behind an Irish League Masters event in Larne last month which had to be cancelled. Over 140 former players were due to take part and it’s hoped the event can be rearranged during the summer.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Meanwhile a number of Irish League stories have been circulating on Twitter.

Gerry Flynn has continued to post daily stories. One of the funniest concerns a half-time team talk during which Coleraine manager Marty Quinn inadvertently booted a Jaffa Cake at Rory Hamill.

Ex-Portadown player Alfie Stewart contributed the story of Marty Magee doing an impersonation of Ronnie McFaul with sock tie-ups as strands of hair.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Related topics:CliftonvilleColeraineLarne