STEPHEN MALLON WON’T be featuring for the Republic of Ireland at international level again after committing to representing Northern Ireland instead.
The Belfast native was capped by the North’s U15s but has since played for the Republic at U18, U19 and U21 level.
“I haven’t just come up with it and made the decision within a week or whatever,” he explained to The Derry Journal. “It’s been thought out over a year.”
The Sheffield United winger, who’s currently on loan at Derry City, won two Republic of Ireland U21 caps under Stephen Kenny in 2019.
Kenny has now moved on to take the senior job, with Jim Crawford succeeding him in the U21 role. Crawford initially omitted Mallon from a squad that assembled this week for a training camp, before issuing a call-up for the 21-year-old after several players withdrew. Mallon then disclosed his switch of allegiance.
He said: “I had a conversation with Stephen Kenny today and let him know I’ve made my decision. He said he was disappointed but wished me well.
“He knew it was a hard decision for me. It took me over a year to make and it wasn’t something which came lightly. It’s been a family decision.
“It’s more of a decision made with my head rather than my heart. I’ve grown up always wanting to play for Ireland but I feel switching to Northern Ireland is a good footballing move for me.”
In the semi-finals of last year’s Toulon Tournament against Brazil, Mallon started in a Republic of Ireland U21 side that included Aaron Connolly, Adam Idah, Jayson Molumby, Dara O’Shea and Caoimhin Kelleher, all of whom are with Stephen Kenny’s senior squad ahead of Thursday’s Uefa Nations League game against Bulgaria.
“I know I still have to be on top of my game and perform every week to get into the Northern Ireland side, but I feel there’s a clearer pathway for me there,” he said.
Mallon, who has yet to make a first-team breakthrough at Sheffield United, is contracted to the English Premier League club until next summer. He also previously had a spell on loan in Australia with A-League club Central Coast Mariners.
Oxford United’s Mark Sykes, a 23-year-old midfielder born in Belfast, recently opted to declare for the Republic of Ireland, despite playing for Northern Ireland at U21 level, as well as being included in several of their senior squads.
Mallon added: “It’s not about religion or anything like that. This is a football decision. I grew up supporting Ireland and watching Ireland games and wanted to play for them, but I feel Northern Ireland is a better option for me.
“There are not many U21 games left so it was best to make a decision and get myself settled into the squad and push on. The plan is to progress and get my first senior cap but I need to be on top of my game at Derry.
“It’s not easier with Northern Ireland. I have to give 100% because a senior cap would be a massive achievement.”
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Between the lines he’s saying he wouldn’t get a game for the Republic but he would for NI. Fair enough. Best of luck to him!
@Nicholas Ryan:
You make it sound like he’s being cryptic!
Time for a united Ireland team. 3/4 competitive home games in Dublin, 1/4 in Belfast. Home friendlies alternated between Dublin and Belfast. Zombie as the national anthem and the flag is a photo of Liam Neeson kicking Bono up the arse.
@Seàn Mc: or chasing a load of hens around in a barrel.
@Seàn Mc: kicking bono up the arse could be a uniting force for everyone both sides of the border. No matter what your background, we can all get behind that…..
@Seàn Mc: I and I suspect the majority of supporters would go nowhere near Windsor Park. A cauldron of anti-Irish hate and bigotry. And I dare say there are fans in the North that would say the same about Dublin
@Alan Roddy: I’ve been to a Northern Ireland
game in Windsor park when I worked up there about 10 years ago. I wasn’t speaking out loud or letting people know where i was from, but anyone I did speak to didn’t pass a remark and I heard no bigotry in chanting or singing. I know it happens, but recently when it has happened most have condemned it and my experience is people down here make out northern fans to be much worse than they are. Not much more of them are bigoted as ours are I’d guess…..
Swap deal with Mark Sykes
@……: You win some you lose some!
So he was left out of initial U21 squad so decided to switch for the second time. Could this go on and on till he plays a competitive international. Kind of a joke and shouldn’t be allowed to happen.
@Ardmore02: no – my understanding is once you pass 21 you are stuck with who you have registered with if you have previously switched countries (so grealish hasn’t played for England but can’t switch back as he switched before he was 21), or can switch only once if you haven’t played a competitive game (Sykes).
Politically, this is a really interesting decision and explanation
He won’t have adhered himself to the Billy boys with that explanation. Expect him to be roasted by them given that the reason he has given is a football one and not a nationality one.
This actually opens up a deeper conversation that needs to be had about our own team too. Is it OK for a player to choose Ireland because we’re more likely to play them or should they choose Ireland because they actually want to play for Ireland.
@Shameless McFly: plenty of players have chosen Ireland in the past becuase they are unlikely to play for England.Just the way it is now.
@Kingshu: Alex Bruce declared for us because he wouldn’t get in England set up and then for norn iron because he couldn’t get a competitive start for us. Nothing new in this.
It does though, perhaps, point to the fact that things are that little bit better up north that lads can feel Irish and still play for them. Which is a good thing (no matter how many on here would disagree).
@Augustus hoop: I wouldn’t feel Irish if the anthem being played before every match was GSTQ, the flags being waved were union jacks and the songs being sung were anti Irish.
@Jacks R. Back: For Irish Unionists it sits comfortable, irish Unionists are just as Irish, as irish nationalists. Paddy McCourt and McGinn have played, MoN as well. However I dont think this is a change, its more down to the money and shop window for bigger club moves that playing for playing for NI offers is the motivation.
@Kingshu: Yep. Exactly adds to my point too. we’re better off looking for the ‘wants to play for us’ rather than the ‘has to play for us.’
@Shameless McFly: For once, we are not the secondary option a lad has plumped for because his first option is out of his reach. It is the other way around. Why do you feel the need to drag flip this around to open up “a deeper conversation that needs to be had”? Relax man.
@Shameless McFly: I’d agree but to be fair we have been the 2nd choice for a large number of players who once they have pulled on the green shirt have done us proud. Its difficult to know a persons feelings weither thier motivation is just trying to get a big club move and more money, or will they truely buy in and give there all. We could prob all anme 10-20 players born in England that would have played for England if selected but as not have played for Ireland and done a sterling job.
Ah well, good luck Stephen.
I thought you were only allowed to change allegiance once. ?
Heard he’s fluent in irish