Keeping it North American

When Joe Biden took up the office as Vice President of the United States of America, a North American born goalkeeper was the current holder of a set of League of Ireland and FAI Cup winner's medals and went on to win an FAI Cup Final the following season.

When he is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, another North American netminder may have achieved a similar feat. 

Back in 2008, New Jersey native Chris Konopka was the reserve goalkeeper at Bohemians when the outstanding Brian Murphy started between the sticks in their all conquering double winning side.

2009 saw the American join Sporting Fingal shortly after Biden was sworn in as Vice President and the Morton Stadium outfit picked up the FAI Cup that November, the same month Murphy departed Dalymount for Ipswich Town.

During their run to the final, Liam Buckley's men beat Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-finals, after a replay and extra time. In goal for Rovers was Canadian born Alan Mannus with Konopka on the opposite substitute bench.

Northern Ireland international Mannus went on to record a league title with Shamrock Rovers in 2010 and left halfway through the 2011 season to join Scottish Premier League outfit St Johnstone. Konopka himself made a number of moves in the summer of 2011- joining Columbus Crew and then New York Red Bulls.

Mannus, under the coaching of Kenny Shiels, won the Scottish Cup in 2013/14, while Konopka lifted the Scottish League Cup in 2016 during a short spell at Ross County alongside Liam Boyce - Boyce started up front for Northern Ireland in Mannus' last start for his country in November 2016, a week after Donald Trump was elected as President elect of the United States of America.

2018 saw both Konopka and Mannus return to partnerships which had served them well in the past. The American, answered a Spring call from Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock, to join his former Bohs' teammate Brian Murphy and gain promotion to the Premier League with The Bluebirds.

A couple of months later Mannus returned to Tallaght Stadium to join Shamrock Rovers, now being managed by Stephen Bradley alongside whom he won a league title in 2010.

2019/20 saw changes abound as Biden announced his intention to run for the presidency and was selected as the Democratic candidate before winning the public Presidential vote.



Mannus won the FAI Cup with a penalty save in his first full season back in the League of Ireland before claiming the league title in his second. Brian Murphy left Cardiff City to join his hometown Waterford FC and play LOI for the first time since departing Bohs while Konopka, whose last LOI club was Waterford, signed for the Tampa Bay Rowdies but has yet to play.

In January 2021, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the next President of the United States of America and Bohemians will be in Europe. That much is certain - before then there are a few questions to be answered.

Can Mannus be the second North American born ‘keeper to win consecutive FAI Cup Finals and can Longford, sporting the same black and red colours as Bohemians and with an American substitute goaltender - Luke Dennison- earn promotion to the Premier Division for the first time since a Democrat was last in the White House?

Place your votes now! 

 

    About Tom O'Connor

    Dundalk based reporter following the league since Monaghan United’s goalless draw against Athlone Town in 1996. Special interest in education and underage football. Shortlisted for the 2018 FAI Communications Award for series on Life beyond … View Full Profile