Gary O'Neill
Encyclopedia
Gary O'Neill is an Irish
footballer who currently plays for Shamrock Rovers
in the League of Ireland
.
O'Neill, a striker
, received his footballing education at Tolka Rovers, before entering the professional ranks with Bohemian F.C.
in 2000.
He made his League of Ireland debut against Shamrock Rovers on 14 August 2000 but despite regular appearances as a substitute and occasional understudy to Glen Crowe
, O'Neill never established himself as a fixture in the Bohemians team during his three years at Dalymount Park
, which coincided with one of the most successful epochs in the club's recent history. In May 2002, with O'Neill by now relegated to the lowest reaches of the Bohemians pecking order under manager Stephen Kenny
, the striker lodged a transfer request to which the club readily acceded.
prior to the transitional 2003 season, commanding instant adulation from the club's supporters with a series of impressive performances for the Blues. Waterford, however, were abruptly deprived of the striker's talents during the mid-season break, when O'Neill announced his sudden and premature retirement from the game:
The 21 year old informed boss Jimmy McGeough
of his decision on Monday citing "domestic issues" as the reason behind his decision. McGeough is desperately trying to change the striker's mind, having developed a close relationship with him since his close season transfer from Bohemians. So far this season O'Neill has been instrumental in Waterford's fine start to the
campaign, helping the Blues to third spot after 12 games. However, unless he has a dramatic change of heart, his career could be over. "I hope he does have a rethink," said McGeough, "because he is a great fella, and as a player he is instrumental in our game-plan because he provides the link between midfield and attack. I loved working with him. His attitude was great and when he rang on Monday, I got the biggest shock of my life. He said it was the hardest call he ever had to make and while he did not elaborate on his reasons for leaving, he just said his heart was not in it anymore. I tried to persuade him to change his
mind and will do so again because I want him back. But I think he is gone." "I asked him if anyone was 'tapping him up' and he said no. I respect his honesty and he is one of the most honest players I know. He wouldn't go into it, but he
said he couldn't focus on the game at the moment, but I've told him that we're here if he changes his mind McGeough told the Waterford players the news on Monday night - the first time they had come together since the mid-season break.
"I said lads, we have good and bad news. The good news is that we are back together again and we are going to win the league. The bad news is Gary is gone. The players were disappointed because he was very popular." No specific details regarding O'Neill's departure ever entered the public domain, but it was widely reported that the striker had decamped to New York City
.
to spearhead Dublin City's
inaugural tilt at the Premier Division. He made a scoring debut on the opening day of the season http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2004/0320/Pg052.html#Ar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espite City's eventual relegation (the bleak culmination of an eventful season encompassing countless vicissitudes, three separate managers and the engagement of forty-three first-team players) O'Neill attained instant and unparalleled popularity amongst City fans, being named Dublin City Supporters Club Player of the Year in November. O'Neill was the only City player to feature in all 36 league games (although he was controversially dropped for a 4-1 defeat to Shelbourne
by newly-installed manager-cum-"consultant" Roddy Collins
in favour of former Bohemians colleague Alex Nesovic
, O'Neill did eventually participate as a substitute
.)
Frequently deployed as a lone striker at Dublin City, O'Neill's indefatigable endeavour and sound technique yielded eight goals and eight assists, a haul which incorporated two memorable strikes in City's twin victories over O'Neill's former employers at Bohemians. For his sterling contribution in an ill-starred cause, O'Neill was nominated for the 2004 PFAI Player of the Year Award, an honour eventually conferred on Shelbourne's Jason Byrne
.
in order to further his career. O'Neill was among a raft of players (including the erstwhile Bohemians trio of Colin Hawkins
, Glen Crowe
and Bobby Ryan
) signed to augment Shelbourne's championship-winning squad of 2004. However, the new signings failed to meld into a cohesive whole and O'Neill's first team opportunities were circumscribed by manager Pat Fenlon
's desire to cultivate a viable partnership between Crowe and Jason Byrne. Nonetheless, O'Neill registered a creditable tally of 7 goals from 18 appearances in the 2005 season.
O'Neill was accorded a prolonged run in the team early in the 2006 season, and vindicated Pat Fenlon's judgement with a spectacular run of goalscoring form which further endeared him to the club's supporters. However, a knee
ligament
injury sustained in the 1–0 June 6 victory over Derry City
and O'Neill's subsequent enforced absence from the Shels line-up allowed Glen Crowe
to reoccupy O'Neill's position in the forward line. O'Neill has recently regained his place in the first team (September 2006) due to the absence, through injury, of Jason Byrne.
O'Neill picked up a first medal of his career, when in November 2006, Shelbourne beat Bohemians 2-1 in Tolka Park
to clinch the 2006 league title. O'Neill appeared 22 times for Shels in the league, scoring 8 times. In all competitions, O'Neill played 30 times and scored 10 goals.
O'Neill was among a number of prominent Shelbourne players (including Stuart Byrne
and Ollie Cahill
) to leave the financially beleaguered club upon the conclusion of the 2006 season, signing for Dublin rivals St. Patrick's Athletic on 4 January 2007.
he moved to Sporting Fingal F.C.
in January 2009 http://www.eleven-a-side.com/first/news.asp?n=35470. Fingal achieved promotion to the Premier Division and better was to come as Fingal and O'Neill won the FAI Cup
when beating Sligo Rovers
2-1 at Tallaght Stadium
with Gary scoring the winner in injury time.
On February 22, 2011, he scored on his debut for the Hoops against Dundalk
in the Leinster Senior Cup which ended in a 2-0 victory for Shamrock Rovers
.
He made his League debut for the Hoops in the opening night win over Dundalk http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/67-2011-first-team-match-reports/1824-rovers-31-dundalk.
O'Neill is now playing for his sixth Dublin club which no other League of Ireland
player has achieved.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
footballer who currently plays for Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
.
O'Neill, a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, received his footballing education at Tolka Rovers, before entering the professional ranks with Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
in 2000.
He made his League of Ireland debut against Shamrock Rovers on 14 August 2000 but despite regular appearances as a substitute and occasional understudy to Glen Crowe
Glen Crowe
Glen Crowe is an Irish professional football forward who currently plays for Malahide United in the Leinster Senior League....
, O'Neill never established himself as a fixture in the Bohemians team during his three years at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
, which coincided with one of the most successful epochs in the club's recent history. In May 2002, with O'Neill by now relegated to the lowest reaches of the Bohemians pecking order under manager Stephen Kenny
Stephen Kenny
Stephen Kenny may refer to:*Stephen Kenny , Guantanamo detainee David Hicks' original lawyer*Stephen Kenny , Irish football manager...
, the striker lodged a transfer request to which the club readily acceded.
Waterford United
O'Neill joined Waterford UnitedWaterford United
Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
prior to the transitional 2003 season, commanding instant adulation from the club's supporters with a series of impressive performances for the Blues. Waterford, however, were abruptly deprived of the striker's talents during the mid-season break, when O'Neill announced his sudden and premature retirement from the game:
The 21 year old informed boss Jimmy McGeough
Jimmy McGeough
Jimmy McGeough is a former Northern Irish football player and manager.His clubs included Derry City, Lincoln and Waterford United....
of his decision on Monday citing "domestic issues" as the reason behind his decision. McGeough is desperately trying to change the striker's mind, having developed a close relationship with him since his close season transfer from Bohemians. So far this season O'Neill has been instrumental in Waterford's fine start to the
campaign, helping the Blues to third spot after 12 games. However, unless he has a dramatic change of heart, his career could be over. "I hope he does have a rethink," said McGeough, "because he is a great fella, and as a player he is instrumental in our game-plan because he provides the link between midfield and attack. I loved working with him. His attitude was great and when he rang on Monday, I got the biggest shock of my life. He said it was the hardest call he ever had to make and while he did not elaborate on his reasons for leaving, he just said his heart was not in it anymore. I tried to persuade him to change his
mind and will do so again because I want him back. But I think he is gone." "I asked him if anyone was 'tapping him up' and he said no. I respect his honesty and he is one of the most honest players I know. He wouldn't go into it, but he
said he couldn't focus on the game at the moment, but I've told him that we're here if he changes his mind McGeough told the Waterford players the news on Monday night - the first time they had come together since the mid-season break.
"I said lads, we have good and bad news. The good news is that we are back together again and we are going to win the league. The bad news is Gary is gone. The players were disappointed because he was very popular." No specific details regarding O'Neill's departure ever entered the public domain, but it was widely reported that the striker had decamped to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Dublin City
In 2004, O'Neill was enticed back to Ireland and to football by John GillJohn Gill (football manager)
John Gill is an Irish football manager whose last job was in charge of Dundalk FC. He is currently assistant manager of St. Pats....
to spearhead Dublin City's
Dublin City F.C.
Dublin City Football Club was an Irish association football club that played in the League of Ireland. They were formed in 1999 after a split within Home Farm Everton and they originally played as Home Farm Fingal before changing their name for the 2001–02 season...
inaugural tilt at the Premier Division. He made a scoring debut on the opening day of the season http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/2004/0320/Pg052.html#Ar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espite City's eventual relegation (the bleak culmination of an eventful season encompassing countless vicissitudes, three separate managers and the engagement of forty-three first-team players) O'Neill attained instant and unparalleled popularity amongst City fans, being named Dublin City Supporters Club Player of the Year in November. O'Neill was the only City player to feature in all 36 league games (although he was controversially dropped for a 4-1 defeat to Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
by newly-installed manager-cum-"consultant" Roddy Collins
Roddy Collins
Roderick 'Roddy' Collins , is a Irish former professional football player and current manager of Monaghan United. He has also worked as a television pundit, and is the brother of acclaimed former boxer, Steve Collins....
in favour of former Bohemians colleague Alex Nesovic
Alex Nesovic
Alex Nesovic is a Bradford-born English former footballer, who played in the forward position.Nesovic played for a number of clubs in his career including numerous League of Ireland clubs during its latter stages. These included Derry City FC, Bohemian FC, Finn Harps, Dundalk FC, Dublin City FC...
, O'Neill did eventually participate as a substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
.)
Frequently deployed as a lone striker at Dublin City, O'Neill's indefatigable endeavour and sound technique yielded eight goals and eight assists, a haul which incorporated two memorable strikes in City's twin victories over O'Neill's former employers at Bohemians. For his sterling contribution in an ill-starred cause, O'Neill was nominated for the 2004 PFAI Player of the Year Award, an honour eventually conferred on Shelbourne's Jason Byrne
Jason Byrne (footballer)
Jason Byrne is an Irish football player, currently playing for Dundalk in the League of Ireland.-Bray Wanderers:...
.
Shelbourne
Although he was contractually bound to Dublin City for another season following their relegation from the Premier Division, the club (which had rebuffed earlier overtures from Partick Thistle for O'Neill's signature in July 2004) agreed to release him to Shelbourne F.C.Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
in order to further his career. O'Neill was among a raft of players (including the erstwhile Bohemians trio of Colin Hawkins
Colin Hawkins
Colin Hawkins , is an Irish professional footballer. Hawkins is a central defender with Dundalk, and has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth and U21 levels.-Coventry City:...
, Glen Crowe
Glen Crowe
Glen Crowe is an Irish professional football forward who currently plays for Malahide United in the Leinster Senior League....
and Bobby Ryan
Bobby Ryan
Bobby Ryan is a winger currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks. Ryan grew up in Collingswood, New Jersey.-Playing career:...
) signed to augment Shelbourne's championship-winning squad of 2004. However, the new signings failed to meld into a cohesive whole and O'Neill's first team opportunities were circumscribed by manager Pat Fenlon
Pat Fenlon
Patrick "Pat" "Nutsy" Fenlon is an Irish former footballer and manager. He is currently in charge of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian....
's desire to cultivate a viable partnership between Crowe and Jason Byrne. Nonetheless, O'Neill registered a creditable tally of 7 goals from 18 appearances in the 2005 season.
O'Neill was accorded a prolonged run in the team early in the 2006 season, and vindicated Pat Fenlon's judgement with a spectacular run of goalscoring form which further endeared him to the club's supporters. However, a knee
Knee
The knee joint joins the thigh with the leg and consists of two articulations: one between the fibula and tibia, and one between the femur and patella. It is the largest joint in the human body and is very complicated. The knee is a mobile trocho-ginglymus , which permits flexion and extension as...
ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
injury sustained in the 1–0 June 6 victory over Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
and O'Neill's subsequent enforced absence from the Shels line-up allowed Glen Crowe
Glen Crowe
Glen Crowe is an Irish professional football forward who currently plays for Malahide United in the Leinster Senior League....
to reoccupy O'Neill's position in the forward line. O'Neill has recently regained his place in the first team (September 2006) due to the absence, through injury, of Jason Byrne.
O'Neill picked up a first medal of his career, when in November 2006, Shelbourne beat Bohemians 2-1 in Tolka Park
Tolka Park
Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne...
to clinch the 2006 league title. O'Neill appeared 22 times for Shels in the league, scoring 8 times. In all competitions, O'Neill played 30 times and scored 10 goals.
O'Neill was among a number of prominent Shelbourne players (including Stuart Byrne
Stuart Byrne
Stuart "Stuey" Byrne is a retired Irish footballer, who's last club was St. Patrick's Athletic. .Byrne made his debut Shelbourne appearance against Cork City in July 2002 and frequently contributed his considerable power to Shelbourne's attack, where he played a part in three league title victories...
and Ollie Cahill
Ollie Cahill
Ollie Cahill is an Irish professional footballer, currently playing with Bohemians in the League of Ireland. Cahill is primarily a left winger....
) to leave the financially beleaguered club upon the conclusion of the 2006 season, signing for Dublin rivals St. Patrick's Athletic on 4 January 2007.
Sporting Fingal
After two seasons at Richmond ParkRichmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
he moved to Sporting Fingal F.C.
Sporting Fingal F.C.
Sporting Fingal Football Club was a professional football club based in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The club competed in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. Former Shamrock Rovers manager, Liam Buckley was the club's manager while former Arsenal player, John Devine...
in January 2009 http://www.eleven-a-side.com/first/news.asp?n=35470. Fingal achieved promotion to the Premier Division and better was to come as Fingal and O'Neill won the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
when beating Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers F.C.
Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
2-1 at Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium
Tallaght Stadium is a football stadium in the Southside suburb of Tallaght, Dublin. Shamrock Rovers originally announced details of the stadium back in July 1996...
with Gary scoring the winner in injury time.
Shamrock Rovers
O'Neill signed for Shamrock Rovers in February 2011.On February 22, 2011, he scored on his debut for the Hoops against Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
in the Leinster Senior Cup which ended in a 2-0 victory for Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
.
He made his League debut for the Hoops in the opening night win over Dundalk http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/67-2011-first-team-match-reports/1824-rovers-31-dundalk.
O'Neill is now playing for his sixth Dublin club which no other League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
player has achieved.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
- Shelbourne - 2006
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
- Sporting Fingal - 2009
- Setanta Cup:
- Shamrock RoversShamrock Rovers F.C.Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
- 2011
- Shamrock Rovers
External links
- O'Neill's profile at official Shelbourne website.