Newport hero O’Brien looks to the future
AT THE end of last season, Mark O’Brien could quite easily have walked away from Newport County having safely establishing himself as modern-day hero at Rodney Parade.
However, that was never going to be the case.
Just four months after arriving in South Wales from Luton Town, the 24-year-old defender carved his name into the history books with the decisive swing of the boot that rounded off the Exiles’ breathtaking escape from the clutches of relegation last term.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a centre-forward that wouldn’t have been proud of the way the Irishman chested a flicked-on right-wing cross before volleying home to grab an 89th-minute winner against Notts County on the final day of last season, his first professional goal ensuring Newport would remain in League Two, despite being 11 points adrift in March.
Euphoria
The former Derby County man still revels in the euphoria of that unforgettable moment but, having since penned a new two-year contract with the club, he is keen to add a long-term legacy to his heroic role in the Exiles’ great escape.
“It’s a moment I’ll never forget,” said O’Brien. “To be my very first goal and then the significance of it; it’s something that will always live with me and something I’ll always look back at.
“I didn’t realise at the time how big the goal was but as time has passed, you let it sink in and realise what it’s done for the football club itself and the town.
“When I came in January, it was great to be given the chance because, at the time, I was down and out, looking for a club because I needed to play somewhere.
“It was great to get the opportunity and you look back at it now; to repay the favour after the games they gave me by scoring the goal that kept us in the league is basically the fairytale ending that you’ll probably only get once or twice in your whole footballing career.
“To get that in the six months I was here was brilliant and I’ll always look back and be grateful to the club but I’m not going to look back at it too much – we’re going to look towards the future and try and do something special this year as well.
“I’ve really enjoyed the time I’ve had here, so I knew straight away during the summer that I wanted to come back and I wanted to build on what we did last year.”
After coming through the ranks at Derby, where he made 35 Championship appearances, O’Brien’s career meandered at Luton, where he was twice sent out on loan to Southport in Non-League.
Joining Newport in January last year put the spring back in his step, though, and he is now looking to savour his new life in South Wales to the fullest.
O’Brien said: “I moved from Ireland when I was 15 to come and play football games – I didn’t come to sit in the stands, so when I got given the opportunity to come to Newport and play games, I took it with both hands.
Wanted
“To feel wanted again and feel like you’re part of something that could be really big was brilliant.
“It started off really well and I have every intention of keeping that going and creating more memories for the club.”
And it seems as though O’Brien and Newport are on the right road. Despite a series of away games in the opening weeks of the season while a new £750,000 pitch was installed at Rodney Parade, Newport headed into yesterday’s top-of-the-table clash at Exeter City in second place in League Two.
“The manager (Michael Flynn) has made some really good signings and kept the core that we had last year,” said O’Brien. “We gelled well as group over pre-season and it’s kind of kicked on from there. There’s a good team chemistry and it’s showing on the pitch.
“We’ve got a good squad. We don’t want to get too carried away but it’s been a positive start for us.”