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O’Brien’s big gamble
 By
David Thorpe
Alan O’Brien’s football car-eer has been a tale of contrasts.
The Irish international pitted his wits against Germany’s Philipp
Lahm one of the world’s greatest full-backs on a balmy Saturday
night in Stutt-gart last September and the
following Tuesday night at a damp and cold Gateshead he played on the
wing for Newcastle United’s reserves in the Pontin’s League.
Now after four seasons training with the superstars of Newcastle’s
first team including Shay Given and Michael Owen the Dubliner has signed
for Scottish outfit Hibernian where the only superstars who are likely
to cross his path are those whom he faces in matches against Celtic and
Rangers.
Having produced some fine displays during his five caps for the Republic
of Ireland it had been thought that O’Brien would secure a contract
with a team in the English Championship but he opted to sign for Hibs
instead.
Having successfully made the step up from Newcastle reserve to international
winger while he was at St. James’ Park Republic of Ireland fans
will be wondering whether regular first team football at Hibs will see
O’Brien mature into a player of true international class.
Apart from those at Celtic the record of Irish players who join a club
in the SPL in the hope of furthering their international career is less
than flattering.
There are a host of Irishmen playing at clubs like Dundee United, Motherwell
and Aberdeen who despite being first-team regulars at club level are never
mentioned when international squads are being chosen.
One such player is former Aberdeen midfielder Gary Demp-sey who has just
signed for Yeovil Town.
A regular at the Pittodrie club last season as they qualified for the
UEFA Cup the Dubliner was never considered for an international call-up
despite playing in central midfield arguably the weakest area of the current
Irish team.
The last player to win a senior international cap while playing for
an SPL Club other than Celtic was the former Hibernian goalkeeper Nicky
Colgan who enjoyed a prolonged spell as third-choice keeper for the Republic.
Most of the Irish players who feature in the SPL joined from the Eircom
League including the former St. Pat’s strikers Trevor Molloy and
Paul Keegan at Motherwell and former Longford centre-half Sean Dillon
who is currently plying his trade at Dundee United.
With none of those players ever likely to win a senior international cap
Alan O’Brien must be pondering as he begins pre-season training
at Hibernian whether the international career which began which such highs
might fade as he pits his skills against such teams as Gretna, Falkirk
and St. Mirren. |
