“Playing for Ireland and wearing the jersey is just unbelievable,” O’Leary beams. It has been a whirlwind so far, but this is only the beginning. She’s done it on the biggest stages for the Ireland U16 and U17s in recent weeks and months, and likewise, in this, her debut Women’s National League season. What a moment for 16-year-old Lia O’Leary and her first goal for the Reds! - Shelbourne FC May 28, 2022 O’Leary, a Transition Year student at Portmarnock Community School, is predominantly a winger her lightning speed and goal-scoring ability, in particular, catching the eye. “They’re both obviously on the road all the time and we both really appreciate that.”Īnother special mention must also go to the family’s dog, a spoiled Cavachon named Bailey. “My parents do a lot of hard work behind the scenes, bringing us everywhere,” she later adds. He says he supports them for us, but they’re better to watch!”
Myself and my brother are Liverpool fans, my Dad is a West Ham fan because apparently it was the first match he saw in colour and they were playing, but he’s a Liverpool fan as well. “Football is just huge in our house, there’s always a match on the TV. “It’s good to have someone to train with as well – especially in the lockdowns, we did a lot together, which I think, stood to us. Long before that, though, herself and Cian, who’s 13 and also represents the Reds at League of Ireland level, grew up playing together. O’Leary spent most of her early underage days with the boys, and at 11 or 12, made the move to Shels. She has clearly benefited hugely from the crossover of sports, as well as playing with boys for a good chunk of her younger years. I was doing gymnastics when I was very young as well, and then I joined Portmarnock Nippers Academy and went from there.”Īlso a talented athlete - she still runs with school, competing across 1500m, 800m and 200m in the days surrounding our meeting - it was a natural gravitation towards focusing on the beautiful game. “It was football and gymnastics for a while. “Ever since I could walk… I was like two or three when I started kicking a ball around,” Kinsealy native O’Leary smiles. Her mother, Gill, also played a bit, while her younger brother, Cian, is a rising star at Shelbourne too. Lia’s father, Willie, was a very good player himself, lining out for Bohemians, for one, and later managing Portmarnock FC. Now one of the youngest to score a senior goal for the Reds, there’s plenty she does know.įootball couldn’t be avoided in the O’Leary household. I’m the youngest in the squad this year, and apparently I’m the youngest-ever girl to play for Shels. Apparently I’m Shels’ youngest female player. Not only can the talented footballer walk the walk on the pitch, she can talk the talk off it.Īs background information is confirmed, O’Leary points out: “I turned 16 just a few weeks ago. She offers expansive answers, helpful facts and colourful anecdotes, breaking away from the usual one-word responses and clichés, and comes across as a grounded, level-headed, pleasant kid.
The Republic of Ireland and Shelbourne teenage star is a little nervous at first, but settles in nicely as she gets comfortable with her surroundings in a coffee shop around the corner from Tolka Park.
They can be quiet and shy understandably lacking in media experience and more often than not, confidence. WHEN IT COMES to profiling young, up-and-coming sportspeople, it’s often easier to talk to those around them than the subject themselves.
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