Premier League: Cork stars finally get their chance to shine

THE past fortnight has been a rather special one for Cork footballers plying their trade across the channel.

Firstly, there was the exploits of Chiedozie Ogbene, overcoming the odds by scoring against Liverpool at Anfield for Luton. And while the Hatters were overturned 4-1 by the home side, Ogbene garnered a lot of praise for his efforts from pundits and fans alike. Indeed, former Liverpool defender and now Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was full of praise for the former Coláiste Chríost Rí student and one time Nemo Rangers’ Gaelic footballer for his performance down the wing against Carragher’s former club.

While Luton were well beaten in the end, the fleet-footed efforts down the wings by the former Cork City and Limerick player thrilled both Hatters’ fans and watching neutrals alike. With Carragher comparing Ogbene’s ability to turn full backs inside out to that of Thierry Henry and the French Premier League star’s ability to put Carragher himself on the wrong foot during his playing days.

Ogbene’s goal must have been sweet for the Corkman as he has had to work hard through the divisions to make the top, and extra sweet as he was a Liverpool fan in his youth, and he didn’t hide his joy in the fact that he scored a dream goal in the home of his schoolboy fantasy team.

Ironically, Ogbene’s goal came against another Corkman currently hitting a purple patch in his club career. Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has being doing a stalwart job filling in for injured Liverpool No 1 Allisson Becker since the start of February.

Blackrock wall

The former Ringmahon Rangers schoolboy star stepped up during Liverpool’s injury crisis to not only fill in for the Brazilian shot stopper, but has been called on to do much more, as the Merseyside club has struggled with a host of first-team injuries meaning that Kelleher has had to be extra vigilant as Liverpool’s defence has come under added pressure due to the lack of experienced outfield players in recent games.

This fact came to a head in last Sunday’s Carabao Cup final when Kelleher, more so than any other player with the possible exception of captain and goal-scorer Virgil van Dijk, came to the rescue of his side on numerous occasions, standing tall to stop the onslaught of Chelsea attacks with some heroic blocks on what looked like certain goals for the Blues.

Kelleher added to that prestigious performance midweek when, especially in the first half, he denied Southampton on three clearcut occasions, to keep a clean sheet as ‘Klopp’s Kids’ ensured Liverpool advanced in the FA Cup with a 3-0 victory.

This run of success for the Cork-born keeper is notable simply for his ability to step up and do an accomplished job when you consider the lack of game-time he has had been between the sticks for Liverpool over his career. His limited match practice is understandable when you are No2 to one of the best goalkeepers in the world in the shape of Alisson. Despite this, it must also be noted that Kelleher has played pivotal roles in many of the major moments of success for the club in recent years, showing an uncanny ability to pop up with key performances when he is most needed.

Beyond that, it is unlikely that he will usurp Alisson’s position any time soon, leading to constant speculation on whether he is happy with his role behind the Brazilian at Anfield yet garnering multiple titles and medals or whether he is eager to move to another club for the opportunity of forging his own role as a Number 1 somewhere else.

Goal-rush

One of the clubs strongly linked with the Blackrock native is Celtic, north of the border in Scotland, where another Cork native, in the shape of Adam Idah has been lighting up the scoreboard with his five goals in the last three matches with the Glasgow giants.

Idah, on loan from Norwich, has immediately had a positive impact on Celtic’s recent faltering Premiership title bid, scoring two penalties against Hibernians and two from play when coming on as a sub against Motherwell to turnaround Celtic’s fortunes from losing positions. Then on Wednesday, he scored Celtic’s second goal in their emphatic 7-1 triumph over Dundee.

Idah also added a crucial assist in the draw against Aberdeen in one of his first matches with the club. Five goals and an assist in five games is not a bad haul and manager Brendan Rodgers will no doubt be grateful for this immediate return his fellow Irishman has brought to the club since his move north.

Idah seems to be flourishing in Scotland getting the service and space, and maybe more notably, time on the pitch he did not get in Norwich. His goal tally has already raised speculation that the former College Corinthians player might consider a full-time move to Celtic, following the footsteps of so many other Irish and Cork stars, such as Colin Healy, Liam Miller and Roy Keane.

His future Irish career may well also be better served by regular playing time in Celtic.