Shane O’Neill (left) playing in the MLS for Colorado Rapids. Credit: Ted S. Warren/AP/Press Association Images
IN 1993, TWO-time All-Ireland winner Colm O’Neill got the opportunity to start a new life in the US with his wife Christine and their young family.
The Cork footballer, who played in the Rebel team which won Sam Maguire two years running in 1989 and 1990, was accepted to do a two-year masters degree in business at the University of Michigan.
Having become friendly with another Irish man Tom Murray and his family, the pair went about opening two pubs — one in Michigan and the other in Colorado.
O’Neill’s two sons were both toddlers when they departed Ireland but would return to Midleton most summers. There they would get to watch their uncle, Maurice Fitzgerald, line out for Kerry’s senior panel.
Darragh (21) and Shane (20) may have chosen different paths but the strong sporting background has helped them excel in their respective fields.
Having played soccer and basketball growing up, Darragh turned his hand to American football and his kicking ability saw him become a punter for Colorado University. Although it is a hugely competitive part of the game to succeed in, he has been tipped for a career in the NFL.
That said, he isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“It was decent year,” Darragh told Damien O’Meara on RTE 2FM’s Game On. “The team as a whole is getting better but for me personally it was alright.
“For now I’m just focusing on having a good year next year. At the end of the day there are only 30 NFL punters. That is definitely the end goal but I’m just focused on next year.
“This year was a good one but there is always room for improvement and there are actually some Australians who had better numbers than me.
Darragh kicking during a NCAA football game for Colorado University. Credit: David Zalubowski/AP/Press Association Images
Younger of the two Shane hit the headlines last week when his solid displays for MLS side Colorado Rapids earned the defender a call-up to Jurgen Klinsmann’s 26-man US squad January training camp.
Eligible to play for Ireland, Martin O’Neill should be doing all he can to persuade the 20-year-old to commit to the Boys in Green and while he says he is keeping the door open, the main priority is to impress with the chance to play at this year’s World Cup in Brazil an outside possibility.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to see the standard and hopefully I can impress,” says Shane. “It’s a good start to the year. I’m really honoured.
“I was over in England training for a little bit and when I landed I had a couple of voicemails and text messages from the US staff and Jurgen to call them back.
“It was pretty surprising but at the same time I had a pretty decent season and they’re giving the younger guys a chance to see what we can do.
“Obviously until you’re fully capped who knows (which country he will represent),” he added. ” I’m going to go to this camp fully in the mindset of playing well for the US.
I’m not really thinking about it right now until I have to make a final decision. I’m not opposed to it but at the same time I’m focused on playing for the US because of this call-up.
Evidently proud as punch of the pair, father Colm says: “It has worked out very good. They have the best of both worlds — The opportunities here and they also know our relations in Ireland like they lived down the road.
“While America has been good to us and it’s home for the kids, Ireland means a lot to them as well.
“Every summer they head to Midleton and the only difficulty is when my wife is bringing them to a Munster final and trying to figure out what jersey for them to wear!
“The genes predominantly come from me. Maurice is an after thought,” he joked.
It’s scary to think how war mongering the UK is. For every war in the world the USA and UK always get involved like it’s some sort of videos game. Also the war crimes done in Ireland, Iraq, number of country’s in Africa and Asia by the British Army is something not to be proud off.
Totally agree.
Stick to the football lads. It’s in need of your full attention.
Of course they’re planning to, there’s still plenty of empire nostalgia in England as reflected in recent Brexit vote
@An_Beal_Bocht: Whats commemorating the lives of those who died fighting in WWI & WWII have anything to do with the British empire? Its showing respect for those who gave their lives in an awful conflict.
It’s not just ww1 and ww2. It’s every war and conflict they have ever been in, including Northern Ireland, Iraq, Afghanistan, India etc etc etc etc etc.
A leopard never changes its spots. They just can’t help been themselves. They tried their best bless the murdering, Racist B@@@@@@!!!!
So they’re commemorating the inhabitants of Nagasaki and Nazi soldiers as well?!
Way to stick it to the man.
They’re dead right. To hell with fifa.
But we all know there is more to this poppy wearing for the Brits than commemoration of their fallen heroes.
100yrs on its more about nationalism.
I’m also sure there are families of innocents in places like Iraq, Syria and perhaps even Belfast who don’t take so kindly to the liberators tag that the British army like to align with.
I’m also sure there are a few Germans in FIFA who just joy in rubbing it in the noses of the brexiteers
The Scots are also planning on having poppys on their kit that day, why is this being ignored??
And James McLean to get the usually abuse from the stands and online by the brave knuckle daggers.
Its plain to see very few commenters on here haven’t a scooby what the Poppy represents.
The real question is if Fifa prohinits display of symbols on international jerseys which could be interpreted as a political, religious or commercial why was nothing said about the 1916 commemoration on the Ireland jerseys earlier this year?
let them wear the poppy. there’s no harm in it. it’s symbols that blatantly want to stir up trouble fifa should be more concerned with rather than symbols of remembrance and honour.
So what does it represent? I think maybe you are the one who doesn’t have the Scrooby doo.
What it was originally intended to represent, what it has come to represent and what it actually stands for are all different things.
The media poppy pressure in the U.K. is relentless. It’s become a massive propaganda tool for the British Army.
Oh , you mean the one we wore to celebrate 100 years? These fools wear that bloody poppy every year. The pro Britannia vibe is cringe to the point that it makes me want to vomit
If very FEW haven’t a scooby then the vast majority completely understand the stupidity of footballers wearing the poppy. Nice double negative you ignoramus!
The 1916 commemoration was for a friendly game, which is not against FIFA rules.
And to be even more pedantic about it, it did not contain the Lily but merely ‘Éire 1916-2016′. In my opinion it was subtle and classy. There is nothibg subtle about the poppy and its appearance on our screens en masse for the month of November.
Is the FA chairman not Greg Dyke instead of Greg Clarke??
Hi Sean, No it was Greg Dyke but he has since been succeeded by Greg Clarke. Greg Dyke stepped down during the summer.
Hi Sean. No Greg Clarke replaced Greg Dyke earlier this summer.
No
@sean mcgoey: Hi Sean, just getting back to this comment now. Greg Clarke succeeded Greg Dyke as FA Chairman in July of this year.
And we care….Nooooo
Surely the British parliament has more pressing concerns than worrying whether or not their football teams wear a poppy on their shirt. Always happens at this time of year and I find it funny how far they go with it