Caoimhín Kelleher GK Brentford b.1998

[John83]

Randolphs position at number 1 has to be under threat if he spends season on bench
I think that's unlikely unless his form dips badly. If there was another keeper playing even Championship football every week, maybe, but not a kid in his first season in League 1, no matter how he plays.

[Eirambler]

Kelleher not even getting the cup games this season. He has a few weeks to find a loan move or it'll be another half a season wasted for him.

[elatedscum]

Having seen Lincoln’s keeper tonight, there’s a team he’d get into easily...

[Charlie Darwin]

Purely commenting on what I have seen of kelleher, and the limited amount of time i saw of Bazunu cant justify anything either way. I think the whole thing of him playing 16 has sorta clouded everyones judgement, some getting a little bit giddy. At the time rovers were without 2 keepeers, and iI think as soon as Mannus was back from injury he went straight in again - but that might be education related or other things I dont know.
Not exactly. He got into the Rovers team at 16 because the Canadian international ahead of him's confidence was gone (he quit football a couple of months later) and the back-up wasn't up to it. Mannus was signed a few weeks after Bazunu came through (he was supposed to arrive in January but was persuaded to stay in Scotland for a few months) and got an immediate start because Bazunu was injured (and at that stage in negotiations with Man City) and kept his place.

[tommy_c12000]

A sad situation. He needs a loan so badly. Liverpool holding onto him just in case...he should have 50 plus senior games under his belt by now.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/caoimhin-kelleher-liverpool-transfer-stance-19099423.amp (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/caoimhin-kelleher-liverpool-transfer-stance-19099423.amp)

[seanfhear]

A sad situation. He needs a loan so badly. Liverpool holding onto him just in case...he should have 50 plus senior games under his belt by now.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/caoimhin-kelleher-liverpool-transfer-stance-19099423.amp (https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/caoimhin-kelleher-liverpool-transfer-stance-19099423.amp)

I think this quote from a fan lower down might have some realism in it.

“ If he was that good, he would have upstaged Adrian by now. Just get another experienced goalkeeper e.g. Subasic from Championship and let the young goalkeeper leave on loan to another club to gain experience and more game time. "

[Olé Olé]

That is very true. The writing was on the wall after the Atletico game. Klopp gave Adrian another shot this season and it's been more of the same. He should have cut his losses by now and sounded like he was keen to up to deadline day with a move for Gazzaniga. Even if they don't bring in a more experienced keeper, Kelleher should be in line for a league game. If not, get the hell out of there for a year.

[Eirambler]

Those comments from Achterberg just read like empty platitudes to me. Hopefully the Allison situation might work to his favour and Liverpool are forced to bring someone in short term, because I can't see them picking Kelleher.

There's an arrogance at Liverpool and some other clubs that, because you are training with the first team, that's as good as playing matches. It's not and at this point there's no guarantee that he will make it as a professional goalkeeper, let alone a top level one. He desperately needs a loan to develop and to give him a chance at least to make it in the game.

[Trequartista20]

Ben Foster possibly on his way to Anfield. Could free up Kelleher to get that loan move.

[ColourfulPeanut]

They would want to be quick and already have a club lined up. Not much time to get the move through.

[elatedscum]

Apparently he had a loan move to the dutch league arranged before Alisson’s injury:

“Caoimhin Kelleher was exceptional for the U21s and in training Alan Kelly, our goalkeeper coach, can’t believe how good Caoimhin Kelleher is”, said Kenny.

“We really need Caoimhin Kelleher to get matches under his belt as we feel he is ready to play for us. He is good enough to play for Ireland, but he’s not playing matches so it’s an issue.

“He would have benefitted from that [move] we feel, but it’s not easy to play at Liverpool. They are the best club team in the world, they are world champions.”

[Diggs246]

Am I missing something here, I have never seen him play a game where I have walked off thinking wow this guy is good? ?

[pineapple stu]

I guess it depends what the Dutch league club was. Simon Power was on loan in Holland last season for example.

[elatedscum]

Am I missing something here, I have never seen him play a game where I have walked off thinking wow this guy is good? ?

Maybe the training doesn’t yet match the competitive performances? Have seen plenty of kelleher games at 23s and in the cup and for the 21s and he’s shown glimpses but I wouldn’t have thought he was ready to play for ireland.

The only positive is that every coach who works with him seems to be really positive about his quality...

[Razors left peg]

Kelleher might be the 1st case of a young Irish player being rated higher by his coaches than fans on here :D

[tetsujin1979]

Hopes to organise a loan move in the new year: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40078763.html

[Stuttgart88]

Am I missing something here, I have never seen him play a game where I have walked off thinking wow this guy is good? ?Same. I even think Conor Kearns looked better for the U21s. This one will be very interesting to keep an eye on.

[irishfan86]

Given how confident/capable he is as a footballing goalkeeper I almost wonder if coaches are overlooking the fundamentals of the position when analyzing him. I hope he’s as good as some of the goalkeeping coaches seem to think.

[elatedscum]

Interesting watch on the FAI Instagram page. Goalkeeper training.

[Stuttgart88]

Interesting watch on the FAI Instagram page. Goalkeeper training.Saw that. Honestly, nothing I don't think I could have done myself and nothing I don't do with my own son in the park. He's a decent enough teenage keeper. Stops and holds onto everything, literally everything, in training. Then lets in 8 every week for his school :)

In fairness, judging by the sound of ball hitting glove you can tell that the pace of the ball was probably a bit quicker than you'd get in junior football and that these guys have strong arms from gym work.

[paul_oshea]

I was thinking about this even with strong arms, you still need strong hands, gym work doesnt give you that, to hold onto the ball, the sound and pace of those was clearly fast and hard, but maybe the camera makes it seem harder/faster. BUt it was the thing that stood out for me, when you normally see on tv those saves even from behind the goal cameras(granted no sound) the pace or power doesn't seem the same.

But ya easy do in training, and much easier anticipate when you have clear sight.

Oh and I am better than Alan Kelly at keepy uppy.

[liamoo11]

Same. I even think Conor Kearns looked better for the U21s. This one will be very interesting to keep an eye on.

I think kelleher or buzuna will make all the difference when they play for us , hood on the ball unlike Randolph and willing to take up positions higher up the pitch to condense the space . Occasionally like bazuna at the weekend a worldwide from the other half will catch u but such an amazing help to your back 4 and midfield to not be stuck in your box protecting yourself

[Stuttgart88]

I think kelleher or buzuna will make all the difference when they play for us , hood on the ball unlike Randolph and willing to take up positions higher up the pitch to condense the space . Occasionally like bazuna at the weekend a worldwide from the other half will catch u but such an amazing help to your back 4 and midfield to not be stuck in your box protecting yourselfYep I can see that and can also see that the game is moving towards footballing goalkeepers. But I am old-fashioned and like my goalies to be good commanding goalies first and foremost. I think, for example, Arsenal looked far better with a big imposing keeper like Martinez over Leno. Similarly Celtic with Forster over Barkas. Keep goals first, be nice on the ball second! But I think that's becoming the less popular view now.

[tommy_c12000]

Starts ahead of Adrian in champs league vs Ajax. Allison with muscle injury. Game not a dead rubber. I’m as nervous as hell! Best of luck Caoimhin!

[Olé Olé]

Huge show of faith. Hopefully he can repay.

Far from a dead rubber is right- you can tell that Klopp has picked the strongest 11 available, and has seemed Kelleher worthy.

[DCWA]

That’s a shock. Brilliant opportunity but also massive pressure this is a big game for Liverpool after the home defeat to Atalanta and is a monumental one for Caoimhin, on such games careers have been built. Wish him all the luck in the world how great it would be for us to see a good, assured performance here.

[irishfan86]

When was the last time an Irish player played in the Champions League proper? Have a feeling it’s Darron Gibson, perhaps this was brought up recently — anyone with the definitive answer?

[geysir]

When was the last time an Irish player played in the Champions League proper? Have a feeling it’s Darron Gibson, perhaps this was brought up recently — anyone with the definitive answer?

Probably Robbie Keane, at least he's a definitive South American hero.

[DCWA]

When was the last time an Irish player played in the Champions League proper? Have a feeling it’s Darron Gibson, perhaps this was brought up recently — anyone with the definitive answer?

Eoghan O’Connell at centre half for Celtic against Barca in the Camp Nou, group stage 2016.

[Olé Olé]

He will take that for a first half. Two good saves. One from an offside effort. The second from a good long range shot. Distributions off both legs has been good, even from a good Ajax press.

[geysir]

Eoghan O’Connell at centre half for Celtic against Barca in the Camp Nou, group stage 2016.
Champions League proper?

How about Stokes? in his golden season with Celtic, scored v Ajax at CP.

[pineapple stu]

Group stages isn't proper enough?

Before O'Connell, it was probably foot.ie's current player du jour, Cillian Sheridan.

[geysir]

Group stages isn't proper enough?

Before O'Connell, it was probably foot.ie's current player du jour, Cillian Sheridan.
Did Eoghan play in the group stages? if so he's the last player to play in the CL proper (group stages).

[pineapple stu]

He did. Sub appearance in the 7-0 defeat in 2016

[geysir]

Caoimh gets the unbiased RTE motm.

[geysir]

Didn't Paul predict this would happen?

[irishfan86]

Solid if unspectacular Champions League debut. Both of the saves he made were ones “he should have saved,” if you know what I mean. The one from outside of the box that he dived for, he almost made it look a bit more spectacular than it was. Then the late save looked great in real time, but the replays showed it was right at him.

His best play of the match was actually his first half save on a play which was actually offside.

A very solid performance in the circumstances and an important match in his development.

I’ll add, given how many dry years we’ve had in terms of young players coming through, especially at big clubs, we can accept some hyperbole.

But one of the more encouraging things was his distribution. He was assured without messing around — an improvement over some of his cup performances for Liverpool where he often looked like he was going for an adventure.

[tommy_c12000]

Really good distribution, a few good saves and commanded his area well. The perfect introduction for Caoimhin.

Incredibly beautiful moment at the end when Jurgen ran straight over to hug Caoimhin. Jurgen no doubt has been a father-like figure since his youth days after Caoimhin experienced a personal loss. Really heart-warming

[elatedscum]

Great performance from Kelleher. Did everything you can could ask of him. No nerves. Two examples of excellent handling. Four good saves. If you’re talking about elite level, if Neres scored the rebound you might look at him not getting a bit more on the low save and pushing it away further.

But overall good saves, good distribution with both feet and with his hands, good handling on two catches.

He’s in a weird situation though, if he goes ahead of Adrian, does that mean that he’s less likely to be allowed to leave on loan in January?

[tetsujin1979]

O'Connell is the last player to appear in the group stages, also the other player, with Kelleher now, to appear in the Champions League proper but not be capped by Ireland
Sheridan is the last player to start a game before Kelleher

Kelleher is also the first Irish goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League group stages - Given only managed it in the qualifying round.

[Razors left peg]

Loved Klopps reaction to him afterwards. There was genuine happiness for Kelleher in it, not a fake Jose Mourinho do it for the cameras pat on the back.

Elatedscum makes a good point. Is he better off on loan or back up to Allison? Henderson is back up to De Gea at United in a similar situation with obviously a higher profile. I would imagine that if Kelleher has some more performances like tonight there would be a lot of clubs very interested in taking him.

[tommy_c12000]

Hopefully he will play the next two games as well and do a reasonable job. This will improve the quality of loan he gets in January. Loan should be priority unless Allison picks up long term injury and Caoimhin has genuine chance of number 1 in Jan

[elatedscum]

Hopefully he will play the next two games as well and do a reasonable job. This will improve the quality of loan he gets in January. Loan should be priority unless Allison picks up long term injury and Caoimhin has genuine chance of number 1 in Jan

Alisson's first season at Liverpool, he played 51 out of 53 games, including all 38 leagues and every champion's league game from the group to the final. Mignolet played 2 games, 1 in the fa cup and 1 in the league cup (they lost both). that's pretty much the worst case scenario for a second choice keeper.

Last season, by contrast, he played 37 games. Adrian played 18 (11 premier league, 3 champion's league, 3 fa cup, 1 other) games and Kelleher played 4 in the league cup (3) and fa cup (1). If you knew in advance, you'd play 22 games, you'd be pretty content. First injury, Alisson missed just over 2 months. It would have been more games missed if it wasn't for covid, he was injured for 7/8 weeks with the second injury and only missed 3 games. There was also a red card.

so far this season, Alisson has has two injuries (shoulder and hamstring) played 12, adrian 5 (2 premier league, 1 champion's league, 2 league cup) and kelleher 1. If Alisson does turn out to be a bit injury prone, which is possible, it might be a real opportunity to become a top keeper. Hopefully he does well if and when he gets another chance... His stock has certainly risen over the last 24 hours. From that performance, he looks like the most credible No.2 for Ireland...

[samhaydenjr]

So three good saves (the last one possibly very good as it did require fast reflexes and strong hands, even if it was straight at him), looked good with the ball at both his feet (important as you don't want forwards forcing you on to a weak foot), but completely misjudged the one cross he faced. Definitely a good confidence booster, but I'm still a little concerned about the crossing

[irishfan86]

I hope it’s just a confidence thing and that as he gets more action, he’ll be more assertive coming for balls. He did seem to be standing close to his line on crosses and letting his defenders deal with balls into the area. Perhaps given the situation he was even instructed to let defenders take the lead in some of those. The raw ingredients are there — hopefully he can now kick on, play on the weekend, and perhaps secure a loan move at a good standard for the second half of the season.

[jbyrne]

Caoimh gets the unbiased RTE motm.

the BBC sport website also gave it to him (as voted by the fans)

[Olé Olé]

Gauging the Irish public's reaction is funny at times. I just heard Newstalk introduce the sports news there with "Cork's Caoimhin Kelleher the hero as Liverpool..." I thought it was a stretch.

And maybe RTE giving him MOTM and Kenny Cunningham fawning over him all night is a bit over the top too.

There's definitely a piece whereby people are over-stating his performance. But there's definitely an aspect whereby a cohort will mount a backlash against this. See also Aaron Connolly. Give me the former anyways. No harm dwelling on something positive these days.

Kelleher came through that game for me with a 7.5/10. He was unscathed, which I'd mark down as 6. And I'd give him another .5 for 2 or 3 grand saves, decent distribution facing a press and it being his debut.

[tetsujin1979]

How did the English commentators pronounce his name?

[seanfhear]

Loved Klopps reaction to him afterwards. There was genuine happiness for Kelleher in it, not a fake Jose Mourinho do it for the cameras pat on the back.

Elatedscum makes a good point. Is he better off on loan or back up to Allison? Henderson is back up to De Gea at United in a similar situation with obviously a higher profile. I would imagine that if Kelleher has some more performances like tonight there would be a lot of clubs very interested in taking him.
Perhaps Klopp is just a better actor. How can you be sure that Klopp is that genuine. Sure people used to think that Mourinho was the Special Genuine One at one time !

[livehead1]

How did the English commentators pronounce his name?

With professionalism and the benefit of research, similar to that afforded to Doherty and many before him.