In-form Dolan grabbing NI attention

A run of six goals in six games for Shane Dolan has kept Carrick Rangers in the hunt to avoid relegation from the Carling Premiership, but it has been a huge change from a frustrating last few years for the striker.

Dolan only joined Carrick Rangers in January but a successful stint has seen his name mentioned by the top teams in the North of Ireland. But Dolan has his mind firmly set on a relegation scrap with Carrick.

“I’ve been linked with a few teams, but I’m not even thinking about it,” the former Athlone Town and Drogheda United striker said. “It’s always nice but I’m concentrating on the end of the season, I wont even think about it until then.”

The striker has spent some time over the past years on the injury table, but Dolan has got back to full fitness and is reaping the rewards.

“I missed some of the season injured, so Mick Cooke invited me down to train with the club for the last quarter, to get back training and I was grateful for that opportunity so it was to get my fitness back up.

“Now I’m fit, I just want to get out and play and make a name for myself. It’s gone pretty well, six goals in six games so I’m flying at the minute. I got my first goal against Linfield and it’s gone well from there. I’ve set a target so hopefully I’ll get to it.”

With the club battling to remain in the Premiership, Dolan has endured a tough spell as the club lie four points behind Dungannon Swifts and Glenavon.

“It’s been very tough. When we came in we knew the position we were in, we knew it was going to be hard but we’ve picked it up a bit. We’ve Glenavon next, I think we have to win it to have any chance.”

Having been without a club after the end of the League of Ireland season, Dolan linked up with the PFAI training camp and earned himself a contract in the process.

“I was with the PFAI team and I was doing the training camp there and I played the game against Bohemians in Dalymount Park, it went okay, but then I got a phone call the next day from the assistant manager in Carrick asking if me and few of the lads would go play a training match.”

“The PFAI was brilliant though. Colin Hawkins and Trevor Croly were brilliant, the setup was brilliant, training was excellent. The PFAI were brilliant to us, I’m very grateful to them, they gave us all a opportunity to keep fit and ticking over and keep our names out there.”

That led to Dolan getting a call from Carrick Rangers about a trial. That successful trial finally led to a deal on the table for the 24-year-old.

“I had a missed call in work from an English number, and I had a voicemail. At first I didn’t really know who it was, I didn’t know a lot about the team to be honest, but we had a good chat. I got in touch with Philly [Byrne) and Thomas [Hyland] about coming too, it was like a fresh start.

“We went up and played the trial game, we won 2-0 and I scored two. So he called me back over afterwards and just said that they wanted to sign me. We’re very determined to keep the up.”

With Dolan, along with Hyland and Byrne, living in Dublin, travelling to Belfast for training and matches can take time, but Dolan insists there isn’t a problem to it.

“Most games are in and around Belfast, further away game are probably only half an hour past Belfast, so it’s never more than an hour and half or two hours away. We went up to try something different and to get a different experience.”

“Myself, Thomas and the other lads who signed train with Monaghan United in the Phoenix Park with Roddy [Collins]. Roddy was very kind to us to let us go down and train with them. Then we travel to Belfast for the other training session.”

With just four games left in the season for Carrick Rangers, and his name being linked with big name clubs in Northern Ireland, does the future lie in Carrick Rangers or is a return to the League of Ireland on the cards for Dolan.

“I haven’t fully thought about it to be honest, we just need to get these games played now, just focus on getting as many points as we can. I have my own targets of a few more goals this season and then I’ll decide. I haven’t decided to go back down, I haven’t thought about it really yet. I’ve got my chance here and I’m grateful for it."