Nightmare Debut
Credit:
I remember my home debut in the League of Ireland when I was 18 years of age for Bray Wanderers.
Jason Byrne had got injured the previous week so I was called up to take his place in a home tie
against St Pats. Although the game finished scoreless, I played really well and received the Man of
the Match award in what was my home debut for Bray. It was a great start to my LoI career and my
time at Bray Wanderers.
In July 2006, I left Bray and signed for Drogheda United. I remember arriving for my first training session on a Thursday ahead of a league fixture against St Pats on the Friday. I was named in the starting line up and therefore set out to make my home debut. The game panned out like a dream as I scored the first goal which sent us on our way to winning the game 2-1. Again, it was the perfect start to my career at Drogheda United and a dream home debut.
Next up was the now defunct Sporting Fingal, whom I signed for in 2009. After getting injured in the first game of the 2009 First Division season away to Waterford, I had to wait a couple of games to make my home debut. That came in the shape of Wexford Youths in the Morton Stadium. The game ended in a 2-0 victory for us and I scored the first goal right before half time which set us up nicely for the second half. Yet again, it was a fantastic home debut; to score and win the game.
That brings me onto my home debut for Derry City, last week against Sligo Rovers. When I signed for Derry back in January, the first thing I did was to check out the upcoming fixture schedule. Derry City at home to Sligo Rovers, what a game to make my competitive home debut in, I thought.
As the weeks flew by and the game came closer, I began to think of my previous home debuts and how successful they had been. I began to think and dream about what it would be like to score against Sligo at the Brandywell in my debut, in front of a packed, passionate crowd. There is no greater feeling than scoring in the whole world. Hearing the crowd cheering and celebrating after the ball hits the back of the net is something very, very special. And to do it on your home debut is certainly a dream.
Come game time last Friday night, although I had missed a lot of pre-season training due to niggling injuries, I had my head set firmly on the game. The Brandywell was absolutely rocking and the place was packed. The supporters at the game were immense for the whole game, getting behind the team and cheering every single player. That in itself was special to see and reinforced my belief that without doubt, Derry City have the best supporters in the league and are unquestionably the best I have ever played for. That’s what makes the next part even more painful and disappointing.
As we know, the game ended 1-0 to Sligo. Although they bossed the first half, I felt we more than dominated the second half and a draw would have been the fair result come the final whistle. With that said, the key moment in the game came just before the end of the first half. It was a key moment for the simple fact that although Sligo were in control for the majority of the first half, we had the chance to go in 1-0 up at half time, a scoreline that surely would have knocked the stuffing out of Sligo.
We received a penalty after a clumsy tackle on Gareth McGlynn. After been designated penalties before the game, on my home debut, I stepped up to take the spot kick. It was a very poor penalty and the keeper easily saved it. It was a major turning point in the game and it added to what was a nightmare home debut.
It has been a tough week since last Friday night with the thought of the penalty miss and losing the game still firmly in my head. The match against UCD can’t come quickly enough and although the penalty miss will not be forgotten, hopefully I can make up for it and be forgiven.
I had a friend ring me the other day who is a massive Celtic fan trying to cheer me up. He pointed to two instances where players who we all know well had absolutely nightmare debuts but went on to prove their worth. The second example is obviously the one I am more interested in and take heart from.
Jonathon Woodgate, the English International, after 17 months out through injury, finally made his debut for Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium against Athletic Bilbao. His first contribution to the match was to put the ball into the back of his own net. He then topped that by getting sent off 20 minutes into the second half.
Henrik Larsson; what a legend he is. Larsson is a player whom I have always looked up to and idolised. In 1997, Henrik Larsson had just switched from Feyenoord to Celtic. In a league match against Hibernian, with the score line level at 1-1, Larsson made his debut as a 59th minute substitute. He had only been on the pitch 15 minutes when his poor pass played in a Hibs player for the winner.
So, as I said, the game against UCD this Friday night offers the opportunity to make things right. It was a bad start but as my mum pointed out to me, things can only get better!!
Oh and to that Sligo fan who come up to me after the game last week and said “what comes around goes around” and then walked off. Not a chance, it was 100% a penalty that night in the Tallaght Stadium!
In July 2006, I left Bray and signed for Drogheda United. I remember arriving for my first training session on a Thursday ahead of a league fixture against St Pats on the Friday. I was named in the starting line up and therefore set out to make my home debut. The game panned out like a dream as I scored the first goal which sent us on our way to winning the game 2-1. Again, it was the perfect start to my career at Drogheda United and a dream home debut.
Next up was the now defunct Sporting Fingal, whom I signed for in 2009. After getting injured in the first game of the 2009 First Division season away to Waterford, I had to wait a couple of games to make my home debut. That came in the shape of Wexford Youths in the Morton Stadium. The game ended in a 2-0 victory for us and I scored the first goal right before half time which set us up nicely for the second half. Yet again, it was a fantastic home debut; to score and win the game.
That brings me onto my home debut for Derry City, last week against Sligo Rovers. When I signed for Derry back in January, the first thing I did was to check out the upcoming fixture schedule. Derry City at home to Sligo Rovers, what a game to make my competitive home debut in, I thought.
As the weeks flew by and the game came closer, I began to think of my previous home debuts and how successful they had been. I began to think and dream about what it would be like to score against Sligo at the Brandywell in my debut, in front of a packed, passionate crowd. There is no greater feeling than scoring in the whole world. Hearing the crowd cheering and celebrating after the ball hits the back of the net is something very, very special. And to do it on your home debut is certainly a dream.
Come game time last Friday night, although I had missed a lot of pre-season training due to niggling injuries, I had my head set firmly on the game. The Brandywell was absolutely rocking and the place was packed. The supporters at the game were immense for the whole game, getting behind the team and cheering every single player. That in itself was special to see and reinforced my belief that without doubt, Derry City have the best supporters in the league and are unquestionably the best I have ever played for. That’s what makes the next part even more painful and disappointing.
As we know, the game ended 1-0 to Sligo. Although they bossed the first half, I felt we more than dominated the second half and a draw would have been the fair result come the final whistle. With that said, the key moment in the game came just before the end of the first half. It was a key moment for the simple fact that although Sligo were in control for the majority of the first half, we had the chance to go in 1-0 up at half time, a scoreline that surely would have knocked the stuffing out of Sligo.
We received a penalty after a clumsy tackle on Gareth McGlynn. After been designated penalties before the game, on my home debut, I stepped up to take the spot kick. It was a very poor penalty and the keeper easily saved it. It was a major turning point in the game and it added to what was a nightmare home debut.
It has been a tough week since last Friday night with the thought of the penalty miss and losing the game still firmly in my head. The match against UCD can’t come quickly enough and although the penalty miss will not be forgotten, hopefully I can make up for it and be forgiven.
I had a friend ring me the other day who is a massive Celtic fan trying to cheer me up. He pointed to two instances where players who we all know well had absolutely nightmare debuts but went on to prove their worth. The second example is obviously the one I am more interested in and take heart from.
Jonathon Woodgate, the English International, after 17 months out through injury, finally made his debut for Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium against Athletic Bilbao. His first contribution to the match was to put the ball into the back of his own net. He then topped that by getting sent off 20 minutes into the second half.
Henrik Larsson; what a legend he is. Larsson is a player whom I have always looked up to and idolised. In 1997, Henrik Larsson had just switched from Feyenoord to Celtic. In a league match against Hibernian, with the score line level at 1-1, Larsson made his debut as a 59th minute substitute. He had only been on the pitch 15 minutes when his poor pass played in a Hibs player for the winner.
So, as I said, the game against UCD this Friday night offers the opportunity to make things right. It was a bad start but as my mum pointed out to me, things can only get better!!
Oh and to that Sligo fan who come up to me after the game last week and said “what comes around goes around” and then walked off. Not a chance, it was 100% a penalty that night in the Tallaght Stadium!
