THE DARA’S WIDE OPEN
Sweeney backs pal to keep on making the most of his chances in Kenny’s Irish team
RISING Ireland star Dara O’shea is reaping the rewards of his education at League Two’s school of hard knocks.
That’s according to his former Exeter City team- mate Pierce Sweeney, who has been following the West Brom ace’s rise to the senior international ranks with interest.
Th e p a i r we r e d e f e n s i v e p a r t n e r s - i n - c r i m e f o r t h e Grecians during the 2018/ 19 season, when O’shea made 33 appearances on loan from the Baggies.
And Bray man Sweeney – now in his fifth year with Exeter – feels t hat was t he making of t he 21- year- old, who won his first senior Irish cap in October.
S t e ph e n Kenny pr omot e d O’shea from the Under- 21s in October when his squad was hit by Covid withdrawals.
O’S hea st ar t ed i n Finl and , replaced crocked John Egan early on in the England friendly at Wembley then started against Wales and Bulgaria in November.
It was a joyless year for the national team but O’shea was a surprise success and could have a long future in the side. “It’s an unbelievable story,” said Sweeney. “We had a pl ayer at E xet er ( Jimmy Oates) who played with Dara on loan at Hereford and he recommended him to us.
“It took him a while to get used to League Two football, but the minute he did it was a breeze for him.
“He would have liked to play total football as he came f r o m We s t B r o m’s academy and t h ei r
Under- 23s, where the centre- halves play out from the back.
“But League Two pitches are not as good a s C h a mpi o n s h i p o r academy level so there was no time for that.
“It’s about getting up the pitch, wi n n i n g y o u r h e a d e r s a n d playing against grown men with 500 games under their belt who might elbow you, stick a head in and cut you.
“He had a bit to l earn and made a couple of mistakes here and there. He came out of the team, and then back in.
“It didn’t look like it affected him and his mentality got a lot stronger purely from playing in front of 6,000 and 7,000 fans every week. It was sink or swim and he a dapt e d well a gai nst v a st l y experienced men who are driven t o win matches at al l costs because they ’ve mortgages to pay.”
Under former Baggies boss Slaven Bilic ( inset), O’shea broke through at West Brom last season and has been a mainstay in the Premier League.
A n d S w e e n e y i s convinced his pal can become a big player for Ireland.
“P e o p l e g e t opportunities because s o m e o n e e l s e w a s injured, unavailable or just n o t p e r f o r mi n g a n d t h a t happened for Dara,” he said.
“He took it with both hands. He played right- back, left- back, right- sided centre- half, left- sided centre- half …. he’ ll probably turn up in goal in March!
“But he was doing that before West Brom and it ’ l l only give managers more reasons to pick him.
“He has seized the opportunity and looks comfortable in that environment.
“He’s a good defender, good in the air, a great lad and humble.”