IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Dara O’Shea reflected on a proud moment as he led West Brom out in the Championship for the first time on Saturday.
A good day got better for the 23-year-old, who scored one and created another in his side’s 5-2 victory over Hull.
The result saw the Baggies move up to 13th in the table and the game was another milestone for O’Shea, who joined West Brom from St Kevin’s Boys in 2015 and has already made over 100 appearances at senior level.
“The emotion I’m feeling the most right now is immense pride If I’m being honest,” O’Shea told the club website.
“I’ve been here since I was 16 and just to play for the first team is a massive honour, but to lead the team out as captain in a league game is special.
“I’ll never forget this moment.
“I didn’t know I was going to be captain until before the game so it kind of came at me quite fast. The boss mentioned it in the team meeting before the game. I saw my name up to play and it had captain next to it too.
“I was just really happy when I saw it.
“I just prepared exactly the same way and approached it like I would any other game, to be honest.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do here, be a captain. I’m just really happy to have achieved it.”
The Irish defender endured a difficult season last year. He suffered a fractured ankle and ligament damage while playing in Ireland’s World Cup qualifier with Portugal and this setback meant he missed a large portion of the campaign.
However, the Dubliner has recovered well since then, starting all five of West Brom’s Championship games so far this season and helping register their first league win since the start of the campaign yesterday.
“It was almost a perfect afternoon and I say almost because I would’ve wanted us to have kept a clean sheet,” he added.
“I’m really disappointed we’ve conceded two goals in that game.
“Scoring goals is what we’ve been lacking of late. We’ve been playing well but we haven’t been scoring and we haven’t been winning. You need to score to win games and we’ve managed to get five today, which is really pleasing.
“It’s massive for the boys and the whole team. It proves what we are trying to do is right. Goals will come. It’s a really positive day.
“I’ll take the goal if they want to give it to me, but as a defender, I’d rather have kept a clean sheet.
“Everyone back home has been messaging me. I’m going to enjoy this moment and try and take it all in.”
Thank God for the bench…..never thought I’d say that!
Proud? Proud of scraping by a team that were hockeyed by Scotland last week? Pull the other one Andy
@5sZl1dX2: same team beat the almighty England Ray
Line out complete disaster need a hooker that will throw straight and ryan and Mccarthy need to live up to their big reputation
@frank walsh: paulie ??
@frank walsh: Leinster’s lineout hums along every week with Ryan and McCarthy having very few problems.
Bring O’Connell in to coach it and Beirne to “run” it in the same way he does the worst lineout in Europe for Munster and all of a sudden it’s a disaster.
@teuO6nLS: none of the provinces line outs are statistically very good. Having watched Leinster beat ulster last night neither was impressive except defensively
So much negativity. We won. There were years we never won. Support our team or STFU
@Tony Joyce: we’re top 2 in world and played badly in 3 out last 4 matches.
@Papa Kilo: so what
@Tony Joyce: Glad we won i cant take this negativity anymore i just want to swing at them
@Tony Joyce: how dare you call out Ray and his multiple accounts
The headline “Crowleys impact sees Ireland over the line” does a massive disservice to Craig Casey. He should have been the headline. Forget Crowley v Prendergast. Let’s talk about Casey v Gibson Park.
@Pud: plus the fact that prendergast had a superb game. He oozes class.
It’s a friendly 2 years out from a world cup and we won what are looking for
@Cathal Brennan: we’ve been shocking bar beating a team still hungover after beating Wales something very off at moment.
@Papa Kilo: are we expecting too much from leinster players having to deliver at a high level for club and Country.for some reason they not doing it for Farrell at moment.munster boys did well though.
@Papa Kilo:
@Matt Gilsenan: stupid comment but can’t be helped
@Papa Kilo: Shocking dear god we are a tiny country we win so many games id say we lost 7 games in 3 years won over 20 yes not playing like before the world cup but still winning
It’s been a very underwhelming autumn series. Got out of jail again today. The writing has been on the wall this season, however. Just look at the rubbish being dished out by the provinces. Gets worse every round. Let’s see if munster can improve on the pathetic showing of the other 3 this weekend.
@Ray Ridge: We’re England and we must use every opportunity to make Ireland and its people feel inferior to us
@Ray Ridge: won 3 out off 4 playing badly id take it everyday mr mizerable oh and munster won
@Ray Ridge: Leinster are top of the URC ya pleb hahaha. Ireland outplayed and beat the all conquering Australia without getting out of first gear. What does that say about you and your predictions. Series couldn’t have gone any better. 4 from 5 and plenty to work on and now we know what needs to be improved. Ireland didn’t wake up one morning sh/t£ as you would have people believe with your anti irish rhetoric. Why don’t you go on the English threads and praise the almighty there
The reality is the game is constantly moving and evolving and we have to be willing to go with it. We have played the same way for at least three years and we need to be adaptable which does seem to be a touch lacking. That’s not to say we throw everything out. Some of the innovation off the line out is brilliant but we need to focus on our set piece which are both suspect and then look at how teams have started to counter us. They’re all smart enough guys to recognise this and develop some other wrinkles to the game
Looking at it was a good test. Too many handling errors but it happens. All of the Autumn games we have been giving away cheap penalties. So things can only get better also we looked at a few fresh faces which is always good.
To many none leinster players on the pitch.Beirne,Aki,Hanson,Behlaim should all be dropped and replaced with leinster players.
@Ross Clancy: …learn to spell, !d!0t!
@Ross Clancy: all the money in Dublin and still couldn’t receive an education. It’s true what my grandmother used say, you can’t educate pork
@Ross Clancy: Nice sarcusm
@Ross Clancy: Ross you posted this after 9pm which is way past your bedtime. If it happens again santy will not be bringing you the harry potter Lego set you asked for
Much too much hype about Prendergast – never took the ball to the Aussie defence. Posed no threat. Good kicker from the hand but looked lost when Aussies rumbled forward.