Northern Ireland goalkeeper Dermot Mee 'to get on with it now' after Manchester United moment in front of 82,000 at Dublin friendly
Former Northern Ireland under 21s goalkeeper Dermot Mee is determined to grab the moment after his hands-on role in Manchester United’s Dublin delight.
Birmingham-born Mee has represented Northern Ireland across the underage sides thanks to his grandmother’s County Tyrone connections and was last capped by the under 21s in 2022.
He made his mark at Croke Park on Wednesday as a second-half substitute against United’s fierce rivals Leeds United in a friendly fixture that attracted a capacity crowd – with the 23-year-old declaring after the celebrations “I've got to get on with it now”.
And over 82,000 fans got to watch Mee make a penalty shoot-out save to deny Leeds’ Harry Wilson as United won 5-4 after the 1-1 draw across normal and extra-time.
"It's always nice being able to get out on the pitch for a start, but when there's a trophy, it's against Leeds, it's insane...in a match like this with 82,000 people, it's so hard to treat it as a friendly,” said Mee on the official United club website following play at the home of the GAA. “Growing up playing for Manchester United, you understand the rivalry and being in front of 82,000 people...there's no way of it really being a friendly.
"I think since the manager's been in and Craig Mawson, the goalkeeping coach and some of the other coaches and staff that are in there, they've always put the belief in me.
"Sometimes it's a difficult place for me, not playing many games and stuff, but getting the opportunity and showing what I'm about and showing that I can step up when needed...I'm very thankful to the manager and Craig for showing the belief in me.
"I've got to get on with it now, hopefully...it doesn't feel like a friendly, to try and get to the corners and make them saves, you've got to get the adrenaline going and really get aggressive with it.
"Credit to Craig and the work we do before the penalty shoot-out, it's given me a chance to know where some players go and potentially get after them and win us the game and help get us over the line.
"Being in and around close quarters 24 hours a day, I think that's really where we get benefit on these training camps, because you really get to know people...the camaraderie is really good.”