Joe O'Cearuill(Image: INPHO/Donall Farmer)
View 7 Images
JJ Gabriel might be just 15 years of age, but the want-away Manchester United youngster is quickly gaining a high profile.
This week he was expected to make his first-team debut for the Red Devils in their League Cup third round clash with Brighton.
However, he stunned the Old Trafford giants - and the wider footballing world - by requesting to have his contract cancelled.
All appeared well with Gabriel, who featured for Michael Carrick’s side in pre-season against Atletico Madrid, when he scored a hat-trick on his Uefa Youth League debut last week.
But this bombshell has seen senior United officials open discussions with the player’s family in a bid to keep him at the club.
One of those family members is a former Ireland international who spent a season in the League of Ireland with St Patrick’s Athletic.
Joe O’Cearuill, capped twice under Steve Staunton in 2007, represents his son - and if reports are to be believed he had his son’s surname changed so that it would be more marketable.
Born in London, he qualified for Ireland through his mother, who was born and raised here. He was an Arsenal youth prospect but did not play in the first-team.
The St Pat’s side that O’Cearuill lined out for was packed full of star names.
Yet while it embarked on a memorable European run in 2008, while the defender was at Richmond Park, they finished way behind Bohemians in the race for the Premier Division title.
Bohs won by 19 points ahead of the second-placed Saints. And O’Cearuill wasn’t the only Ireland international - past or future - at the club.
Midfielder Keith Fahey would secure a move to Birmingham City on the back of his performances that year.
The following January, former Boys in Green defender Jeff Kenna would take over from manager John McDonnell in the dugout.
Under McDonnell, they made it to the first round proper of the Uefa Cup, beating Latvian side JFK Olimps along the way, 3-0 on aggregate.
Even more impressive was their two-legged victory over Swedish side Elfsborg.
Pat’s came back from a two-goal half-time deficit in the first-leg to draw that game 2-2, before they returned to Inchicore and won 2-1 to claim a 4-3 aggregate win.
That earned them a tie with Bundesliga side Hertha Berlin and after a 2-0 away leg defeat they held the Germans to a scoreless draw in Dublin.
The 2008 St Patrick’s Athletic squad was packed with star players. Here’s a look at some of O’Cearuill’s teammates at Richmond Park.
KEITH FAHEY
It was shortly after his second spell with St Pat’s - where he played alongside O’Cearuill - that Fahey broke into the senior Ireland team, making his debut in May 2010.
Keith Fahey celebrates with the FAI Cup(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
View 7 Images
The midfielder went on to win 15 caps and score three goals, including the winner away to Armenia in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Fahey played 58 times in the Premier League with Birmingham and 63 times in the Championship before he returned to Pat’s and won the FAI Cup in 2014.
JOSEPH N’DO
One of the most gifted footballers to ever play in the League of Ireland, the former Cameroon international and 1998 World Cup veteran was back for his second spell at Pat’s when O’Cearuill signed.
Joseph N'Do(Image: INPHO/Donall Farmer)
View 7 Images
N’Do left on-loan for Shamrock Rovers midway through 2008 and signed for Bohemians at the end of that season.
JASON GAVIN
The Dubliner made a total of 31 Premier League appearances with Middlesbrough. His most prolific campaign was the 2000/01 season when he appeared 14 times in the top-flight. Gavin’s first two Premier League games were against Newcastle and Manchester United in April and May 1999.
Jason Gavin(Image: INPHO/James Crombie)
View 7 Images
Capped six times at Under-21 level, he didn’t make the expected jump to the senior international stage.
In 2003 he signed for Bradford, and then had spells at Shamrock Rovers and Drogheda United, where he won the 2007 Premier Division, before St Pat’s, where he scored in the Uefa Cup clash with Elfsborg.
GARY DEMPSEY
Gary Dempsey and Cicero Santos of Hertha Berlin(Image: INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan)
View 7 Images
An FA Youth Cup winner with Everton, Dempsey enjoyed a successful spell in Scotland with Dunfermline and Aberdeen, before he moved to Pat’s ahead of the 2008 season. He also scored in the Elfsborg tie.
RYAN GUY
The California-born winger quickly established himself as a fan favourite at Richmond Park, where he spent four seasons before returning to the USA.
Ryan Guy(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
View 7 Images
Guy ended up playing MLS for New England Revolution and on the international scene he represented Guam 33 times.
He was famous for his long throw-ins, which he often pulled off while performing a front-flip.
MARK QUIGLEY
A gifted centre-forward, Quigley started his senior career at Millwall before he moved to Shamrock Rovers on-loan in 2005 and then St Pat’s on a permanent basis ahead of the 2006 season.
UCD's Ronan Finn and Mark Quigley of St Pat's(Image: INPHO/Lorraine O'Sullivan)
View 7 Images
Quigley’s goal kicked off the comeback away to Elfsborg, and in his four seasons at Richmond Park he scored 50 goals.
He was a Setanta Sports Cup winner with Bohemians and Rovers, and a Premier Division winner with Sligo Rovers before he returned to Pat’s in 2014.
Unfortunately, a back injury that required surgery meant he played no part in the Saints’ FAI Cup final win against Derry City. Quigley had played in every round up to the decider, where Pat’s won the Cup for the first time in 53 years.
Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond