NINE YEARS HAVE passed since Liam Kearney scored against Derry City to help Cork City win the Premier Division title.
The former Ireland U21 international departed his hometown club the following year for Shelbourne before returning in 2007 when their financial difficulties saw him leave again — this time joining Derry City.
While at Waterford United, an agent came calling to offer the winger the chance to play in Australia, and like so many other Irish people of his generation, he decided it was the right time to head Down Under.
He signed for Dandenong Thunder in the Victorian Premier League (to link up with former Drogheda United defender Stephen Gray) and won the title last year while also getting the opportunity to travel and experience a new way of living.
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“The way things were here at the time I had nothing to lose, ” Kearney, who is currently studying to be a personal trainer, told TheScore.ie. “I did a lot of different work over there and it opened my eyes to work outside football which I really enjoyed.
“At the end of the day we’re not all going to play football for the rest of our lives.”
Despite the time away, memories of playing alongside the likes of John O’Flynn, Joe Gamble, George O’Callaghan and Roy O’Donovan in that triumphant Cork team and European nights like the Intertoto Cup win over Malmo still live strong in the 30-year-old’s memory.
Cork have not been seen as title contenders in recent years but with John Caulfied coming on board in the close-season, the Rebels legend has brought new life into the club and optimism is high ahead of tonight’s SSE Airtricity League opener with the current champions St Patrick’s Athletic.
Kearney returned to Ireland in August and played with Munster Senior League heavyweights Avondale United while he waited for the transfer window to reopen. Now he is back at Turner’s Cross and eager to get playing.
The resources with Cork aren’t the same as they were when I was here before but that’s the same with a lot of clubs,” he adds. ”The ambition is definitely there. I can see it in his (Caulfied’s) face when he is speaking to the group and I can see what he wants.
“I feel it myself because I’ve come back and to get the opportunity just means I can’t wait to get going and get myself in the team.
“We have some very good players there now and have the likes of Danny Morrissey, Colin Healy and Gearóid Morrissey to come back in. They are very good players.
“I’ve got huge optimism but we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves because we’re definitely not the favourites to do anything this year. But if we can build that slowly then the future is bright.
“The league is open in my opinion. People might not be able to see past one or two clubs but there are always a few surprises and hopefully we’ll be one.”
Returning Kearney plans to bring the glory days back to Cork
NINE YEARS HAVE passed since Liam Kearney scored against Derry City to help Cork City win the Premier Division title.
The former Ireland U21 international departed his hometown club the following year for Shelbourne before returning in 2007 when their financial difficulties saw him leave again — this time joining Derry City.
While at Waterford United, an agent came calling to offer the winger the chance to play in Australia, and like so many other Irish people of his generation, he decided it was the right time to head Down Under.
He signed for Dandenong Thunder in the Victorian Premier League (to link up with former Drogheda United defender Stephen Gray) and won the title last year while also getting the opportunity to travel and experience a new way of living.
“The way things were here at the time I had nothing to lose, ” Kearney, who is currently studying to be a personal trainer, told TheScore.ie. “I did a lot of different work over there and it opened my eyes to work outside football which I really enjoyed.
“At the end of the day we’re not all going to play football for the rest of our lives.”
Despite the time away, memories of playing alongside the likes of John O’Flynn, Joe Gamble, George O’Callaghan and Roy O’Donovan in that triumphant Cork team and European nights like the Intertoto Cup win over Malmo still live strong in the 30-year-old’s memory.
Cork have not been seen as title contenders in recent years but with John Caulfied coming on board in the close-season, the Rebels legend has brought new life into the club and optimism is high ahead of tonight’s SSE Airtricity League opener with the current champions St Patrick’s Athletic.
Kearney returned to Ireland in August and played with Munster Senior League heavyweights Avondale United while he waited for the transfer window to reopen. Now he is back at Turner’s Cross and eager to get playing.
“I feel it myself because I’ve come back and to get the opportunity just means I can’t wait to get going and get myself in the team.
“We have some very good players there now and have the likes of Danny Morrissey, Colin Healy and Gearóid Morrissey to come back in. They are very good players.
“I’ve got huge optimism but we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves because we’re definitely not the favourites to do anything this year. But if we can build that slowly then the future is bright.
“The league is open in my opinion. People might not be able to see past one or two clubs but there are always a few surprises and hopefully we’ll be one.”
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