It’s often claimed that today’s sports stars inspire the next generation of athletes and light the way for children to follow in their footsteps.
That tends to be rhetoric, romanticizing the collective spirit that sport can create. In soccer’s case, the elite end of the game has never been more detached from the grassroots. But one departing Liverpool star is bucking that trend. Whether Caoimhin Kelleher can inspire a generation of Premier League-standard goalkeepers from Ireland is unlikely.
Still, his trailblazing path will allow youngsters from his local town to at least give their best shot. His departure from Anfield this week left many Liverpool fans with a sense of pride, gratitude, and general well-wishes. Liverpool's farewell post on social media underlined that sentiment, in contrast to the blunt goodbye message that accompanied Trent Alexander-Arnold’s exit.
Liverpool knows it has lost the division’s best no.2 goalkeeper. That a line of top-flight clubs were waiting to sign him demonstrates this. Brentford won the race and their supporters are relieved to have secured an excellent replacement for the outgoing Mark Flekken.
Perhaps the only club more excited about the transfer than Brentford is situated on the other side of the Irish Sea.
Ringmahon Rangers is a small provincial club on the south side of Cork, represented almost exclusively by players from the local community. Following Tuesday's transfer announcement, it’s set for an astronomical financial windfall.
A youthful Kelleher playing for Ringmahon Rangers
A youthful Kelleher playing for Ringmahon Rangers
Kelleher first came to Liverpool's attention when playing for Ringmahon, and as part of the player’s 2015 move to Merseyside, the Cork club inserted a 20 percent sell-on price on any future transfers.
That means a fee of around £2.5 million ($3.4M) will eventually end up in the club’s bank account, equating to just under €3M.
It’s a staggering figure that club secretary Sean Fitzgerald admits has overwhelmed some associated with Ringhamon.
“I don’t know what we’ll do with the rest once the helicopter pad is built,” he quipped in an interview with Liverpool.com. “People already have the money spent!”
Caoimhin Kelleher confirmed he is looking to leave Liverpool this summer
Kelleher leaves Liverpool as a Premier League legend.
He’s suddenly got used to speaking to the media, with an avalanche of interest following this unique tale over the past few days. On Tuesday, as Sean followed each twist and turn of the transfer, he spoke to everyone from the local papers to national radio shows and international broadcasters. It’s not every day Sky Sports takes an interest in the Cork suburbs.
“It has been off the charts,” Sean said, explaining he had to charge his phone three times due to the deluge of calls and messages.
He describes Ringhamon as the equivalent of an English Sunday League side - admittedly, a well-run one which is already equipped with excellent facilities due to government grants. Normally, around 100-200 people show up to the senior side’s home games.
Kelleher is among those still. He pops in from time to time when he’s back home.
“There are no airs or graces about him; no big flamboyant Premier League footballer lifestyle that you see some fellas have. He strolls in the gate and just says hello to everyone and watches the match.”
Proudly on display in the club house is the shirt Kelleher wore in the 2022 Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea, one of four shootouts he won as a Liverpool keeper. A signed note from Jurgen Klopp accompanies it.
But Ringmahon’s association with overseas professional clubs stretches beyond the new Brentford keeper. Former player Alan Browne is part of the Sunderland side that gained promotion back to the Premier League less than two weeks ago. Franco Umeh is forging a promising career at Crystal Palace, Cathal Heffernan is Newcastle Under-21 captain, and Jaden Umeh has even made the rarely-trodden path to Portugal and Benfica. They all began their soccer journeys at Ringmahon.
The club’s success is made even more remarkable given its close-knit links. “The one thing with us down in the Ringmahon was such a close community and like a big family.
“All our underage coaches; it’s all ex-players. Everyone lives in the vicinity of the pitch; Ringhamon Park is the center of Mahon. Every child here has played for the club.”
One child in particular stands out in his memory. “Caoimhin’s talent was obvious,” Sean reflected. “Well, as a striker!
“He had long blonde hair down to his shoulders, and he played with the Cork Select teams up to Under-14s. Then he went into goal. Three years later he signed for Liverpool. The rest is history, and looking at where he's gone to, you know he's just getting bigger and better.”
Now Kelleher’s legacy will live on in more than just status. Through his transfer to Brentford, the club is set to be remunerated beyond its wildest dreams. The €3M Ringmaham receives will be paid in installments over several years, and there will likely be even more to come, with a further £8M agreed in possible add-ons. Ringmahon is entitled to 20 percent of that, too.
“Our next plan is for a full-size Astro,” explains Sean, who is in no rush to spend the funds and wants to ensure it is allocated sensibly. “That could take another year or two with planning permission, and you have to try to get a bit of land and clear it.
He goes on to explain that Kelleher’s deal will “never be done again in Irish soccer”, with changes to Brexit laws preventing kids below 18 from travelling directly to England clubs, while the influx of professional teams in Ireland now hoovering up the best local talent means little money is trickling down to amateur sides.
“This money is there for the next generation of kids. It’s for my kids. My dad was there from 1951, and it got handed to me as secretary. I'm 41 now; my kids will probably get involved, their kids will get involved. People are very quick to spend money, but you've got to look at the bigger picture.”