From Celbridge to Cincinnati via New Zealand, meet the Irishman preparing to face Bayern Munich at the Club World Cup
Dylan Connolly was playing in the Leinster Senior League two years ago, now the 25-year-old defender finds himself in the US with Auckland City where he will test himself against the German giants, Benfica and Boca Juniors
'One aspect of serendipity to bear in mind is that you have to be looking for something in order to find something else.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
'He has that Corkness in him. It's not arrogance' - The brilliance of Cathal O'Sullivan
AT THE END of his very first training session in charge of Cork City, Tim Clancy sidled over to teenager Cathal O'Sullivan and asked him where he wanted to be in 18 months' time, at which point he would be 18. 'England,' replied O'Sullivan, without missing a beat. Six months later, Clancy asked him the same question and received the same, instant answer. By England, O'Sullivan means the Premier League. That move looks likely to come to fruition this summer, with Crystal Palace among the top-flight English clubs interested. 'He can be whatever he wants', says O'Sullivan's team-mate Seani Maguire. 'He's one of the best young fellas I've probably played with, and that includes in England.' O'Sullivan has been on a three-year professional deal with Cork City, but that expires at the end of this year. Had he been tied longer-term to the kind of deal St Pat's struck with Mason Melia, O'Sullivan's transfer fee would likely have exceeded €1 million. City must therefore decide whether to lose him at the end of the season for nothing but a mandated compensation fee of approximately €290,000, or sell him this summer and negotiate a sell-on clause and performance-related add-ons. Advertisement The latter is the likeliest to come to pass, though it would mean City will have to stave off relegation this season without a key attacking player, given O'Sullivan has played in all but 21 minutes of their last 13 games. O'Sullivan has been playing off the right side of Cork's attack under new manager Ger Nash, but is viewed as being most effective in central areas, if not as a number 10, then as an attacking player drifting inside on to his left foot to create from the half-spaces. O'Sullivan's raw talent is easily discerned, and was obvious to Cork City's academy when he first arrived, playing in an U13 team that featured Matthew Moore, now at German club Hoffenheim. He was rich in game intelligence: O'Sullivan knew when to carry the ball and when to pass, and knew the right time and weight to put on that pass. He also had the innate intelligence to understand how to use his small frame. He effortlessly took the ball on the half-turn, knew how to angle himself to shield possession and then push away from pressure, and developed the kind of craft needed to help him beat his opponent. Watch how O'Sullivan will sometimes skip by his marker and then run under his arm, knowing the opponent then has only two options: let him go, or foul him with such blatant cynicism they are likely to be booked. The City academy quickly realised their work with O'Sullivan was mainly about coaching off-ball work, as they were determined not to coach the natural talent out of him. O'Sullivan in action against James Norris of Shelbourne in a recent Premier Division tie. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO Modern academy dogma teaches players to take two to three touches and then pass, to the point their dribbling abilities can be hammered out of them. City academy head Liam Kearney had his own experience like this, signed by Nottingham Forest as a winger and then told to pass more often and dribble less. O'Sullivan has continued to express himself at first-team level, as anyone who has take a trip to Turner's cross of late will attest. 'He just loves playing football,' says Kearney. 'When I look at Cathal, he has that Corkness in him. It's not arrogance, it's, 'I believe I am very good and I am here to show people that.'' But talent alone is never enough. 'You can see as clear as day how good he is on the ball, I think it's just his attitude towards everything', says Maguire. 'I think that's what teams in England will look for first.' That attitude has already been tested. The O'Sullivan secret was long out by the time he was 16, and thus was subject of interest from clubs in England and across Europe. Then, in a training session with the Irish U16s, he leapt to attack a back post header and landed awkwardly on his knee, suffering a serious ACL injury. A lonely, isolated rehabilitation followed, during which the overseas clamour to sign O'Sullivan was somewhat stalled. He recovered, however, with figures at the club remarking at the physical shape in which he returned. Consider his recovery as part of that above mantra. I believe I am very good and I am here to show people that. He has some areas in which to improve, with seven goals and seven assists across 43 league games in both tiers for City a return with some room for improvement, though O'Sullivan is widely seen as a profile of player who will flourish in a team stocked with better players. And while Maguire is among those to attest to O'Sullivan's toughness, an elite-end Premier League academy will also have the staff and resources to do a little more work on his upper body strength and his explosiveness. 'He'll definitely play for Ireland, he's that good', says Maguire, 'and he'll definitely go and play at the highest level in football in England.'
The 42
10 hours ago
- The 42
Jobe Bellingham scores first Dortmund goal in 4-3 win, Inter close in on Club World Cup last-16
JOBE BELLINGHAM NETTED his first Borussia Dortmund goal in a gripping 4-3 win over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Club World Cup on Saturday. The English midfielder, who this month followed older brother Jude's footsteps in joining the German side, started for the first time for Dortmund. Sundowns of South Africa took a surprise early lead but Dortmund hit back strongly to triumph in sweltering conditions in Cincinnati at the TQL Stadium and move top of Group F. Lucas Ribeiro's fine solo goal put the CAF Champions League runners-up ahead, with the Brazilian charging forward from his own half before beating Gregor Kobel. Advertisement However Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams handed Dortmund their equaliser on a plate, passing the ball straight to Felix Nmecha, who stroked home. Both stoppers made good saves in an end-to-end clash before Dortmund claimed the lead through striker Serhou Guirassy. Dortmund won the ball high up the pitch and Julian Brandt crossed for the Guinea international to score with a fine leap and header, continuing his fine form this season. Bellingham, who joined earlier in June from Sunderland for 33 million euros ($37 million), netted Dortmund's third just before the break. Williams parried a cross into his path and after controlling on his chest, Bellingham drilled home. Meanwhile, Valentin Carboni struck the winning goal in stoppage time as Inter Milan came from behind to beat Urawa Red Diamonds 2-1 on Saturday and knock the Japanese team out of the Club World Cup. Ryoma Watanabe got an early opening goal for Urawa Reds, who were backed by a noisy contingent of their supporters at Lumen Field in Seattle. But captain Lautaro Martinez had got Inter's equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Monterrey of Mexico in their first match at the tournament, and he repeated the trick to level matters here with 12 minutes to go. Carboni, the 20-year-old Argentine who had not made an appearance for Inter in more than two years, then appeared in the 92nd minute to give the Italians the victory. The result leaves Cristian Chivu's team in a good position to now go and qualify for the last 16, while a second defeat in as many matches means Urawa Reds are eliminated. – © AFP 2025
The Irish Sun
18 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Former Premier League manager is told ‘f*** you' by his own player before he shushes him in furious Club World Cup row
EX-PREM boss Bruno Lage has been embroiled in an astonishing touchline spat with his OWN player. The Benfica boss watched his side see off Auckland City 6-0 in the Club World Cup on Friday night. Advertisement 3 Benfica boss Bruno Lage was involved in a furious row with Orkun Kokcu Credit: Getty 3 The ex-Wolves manager was seen shushing his player during the row Credit: Getty Lage decided to shuffle his pack in the Orlando heat, replacing Orkun Kokcu with ex-Swansea City midfielder Renato Sanches. But Kokcu was furious at being subbed, refusing to shake Lage's hand as he skulked from the field. Portuguese outlet Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL A furious Lage confronted Kokcu and was seen shushing him by placing a finger on his lips. And after Sanches netted Benfica's third, the boss headed back to the bench to carry on the feud. Kerem Akturkoglu was seen holding Kokcu back, preventing the incident from escalating as Lage again shushed his own player. Advertisement Most read in Football Exclusive Lage claimed after the match that Kokcu was guilty of only wanting to "win and score goals". BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He said: "We decided that Renato should come on. "Regardless of the players' form, I make the decisions. Advertisement Bayern Munich beat Boca Juniors 2-1 at the Club World Cup "In the last game, we started with Renato, and Kokcu came on later and helped us. "That's how it was today, too. I saw the behaviour of a consistently professional athlete. That was a unique experience. "He has always behaved very well both on and off the field. He has the desire to help the team. "I make the decisions I have to make, no matter who it is. I've proven that many times. Advertisement "I look at the player's current situation and make my decisions calmly." 3 Lage, 49, took charge of Wolves in the Premier League between June 2021 and October 2022. He won just 19 of 51 games at Molineux, but was hampered by an injury crisis to his strikers. Advertisement Julen Lopetegui replaced Lage in the Midlands, with the Portuguese taking charge of Botofago in Brazil before joining Benfica for a second stint last summer.
