‘One of the greats’

FORMER Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny has hailed his ‘midfield general’ Stephen O’Donnell as ‘one of the great Irish captains’ following his decision to hang up his boots last week.

Between them the two Stephen’s won 10 major honours during an historic six year spell at Oriel Park which included a Europa League group stage campaign in 2016.

Speaking to The Argus about O’Donnell’s decision to retire to take up a new role as the club’s Senior Opposition Analyst & Scout, Kenny said O’Donnell was so good he felt he could continue on playing if he wanted to.

‘I personally feel he could play on but I understand maybe why he wouldn’t if he felt he couldn’t get back to the level he had been at previously and the frustration that goes along with that.

‘He had a superb ability to control the tempo of a game and he always looked to play football in the right way. When he came back to score against Cork in the final match of 2014, you couldn’t have scripted that.

‘He had his injury problems but even in the game before he broke his leg last year against Pat’s I thought he was incredible.

‘He’s had one of the great League of Ireland careers and I wish him well in the future.’

Kenny enjoyed success himself on Friday night when he was named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association of Ireland Personality of the Year award winner for the third time, equalling the record of the great Jim McLaughlin.

In winning the award the new Republic of Ireland U-21 manager pipped Chris Shields (second) and Pat Hoban (third) to the award in a list of nominees that also included PFAI Player of the Year winner Michael Duffy and fellow managers Collie O’Neill of UCD and Keith Long of Bohemians.

Meanwhile, Gary Rogers missed out on the Goalkeeper of the Year award to Shane Supple of Bohs.