adminDara O’Shea believes Ipswich Town can push top clubs in Premier League
Dara O’Shea is dreaming of a season that ends with Championship promotion and playing at the World Cup. Chief Football Writer Stuart Watson spoke to the Ipswich Town skipper…
Relegated with Burnley in 23/24. Relegated with Ipswich in 24/25. Dara O’Shea’s reputation, however, remained intact. Last summer, multiple clubs showed interest in giving him another shot at the Premier League. Ultimately, however, he jumped at the chance to sign a new five-year contract in Suffolk.
“It’s just felt right here from day one,” explains the Dubliner. “I’ve always had that feeling of belonging and a sense of this being a home away from home.
“My first experience of Portman Road, just after I’d signed, was the Fulham game. I remember being on the bench and saying to the lads, ‘this is unbelievable’. I’d never experienced anything like that as a home player – that backing, that following, that atmosphere.
“I became hooked by there not being many clubs around the area and how everyone supports the club here. It’s amazing.
“In the summer, yeah, there were opportunities to explore different things. But I understood what I wanted and what I needed in my career. I understood the growth that this football club still has left and I wanted to be part of a new group that could create our own history here.
“To become that stable Premier League club that is pushing the top teams – I do think that’s something that can be done. Sometimes it’s easy to say, ‘we should be here, we should be that’, but I think this club honestly can.
“You can see the infrastructure improving around us. You can feel the ambitions of Mark (Ashton) and the owners. So when the proposal was put forward to sign a new long-term deal it really was an easy decision.
“I sat down with my partner and it just made the most sense for me. I’m 26 now. I’ve come off the back of two relegations. I wanted to be a part of a project and hopefully get that feeling back of winning a lot of games.
“The chance to step back up to the Premier League at this club is something that really excites me. And I’m putting a bit of pressure on myself to make that happen.”
‘Cristiano Ronaldo then…’ A wry smile breaks across the face of O’Shea. He knew the question was coming.
Over the last few days, Town’s skipper has played a key role in the Republic of Ireland keeping their World Cup qualification hopes alive against the odds. And there was a clash with one of football’s all-time greats along the way.
Ireland led 2-0 in Dublin last Thursday night. O’Shea grappled Ronaldo in the box. The Portugal legend threw a frustrated elbow in response. Down went O’Shea. Ronaldo, following a VAR review, was given his marching orders and left the field miming a two-fisted crying action to anyone and everyone around him. High-profile journalist Piers Morgan, a good friend of Ronaldo’s, then accused O’Shea of ‘diving like an Olympic swimmer’ on his 8.8m followed ‘X’ account.
“I think it’s a bit embarrassing really, all that – both from Piers and a bit from Ronaldo too, but that’s football. The game is the game,” says O’Shea.
“His reaction when going off… It wouldn’t be me doing that, but that’s him. He’s very passionate about his country and obviously himself. I get that. He’s been at the highest level as long as he has, so he’s going to be frustrated. I think we frustrated them all night and that’s probably where it all stemmed from. Thankfully, the referee viewed it from a neutral point of view.
“I’ve seen that people are trying to make me out to be the bad person. I’ve been getting all sorts of comments from Ronaldo fans, which is a bit weird. But I think when you throw an elbow like that it doesn’t matter who you are, you’re going to get sent off.
“I don’t know what Piers and Ronaldo have got going on. I think we’ll leave that one there.”
The drama didn’t stop there. Sunday’s epic 3-2 victory in Hungary, sealed in the 96th minute by hat-trick hero Troy Parrott, means Ireland go into next March’s World Cup play-offs by the skin of their teeth.
“That was my 41st cap for my country and I waited 40 games for a feeling like that,” says O’Shea. “I’m a proud Irish man. I’m an Irish fan first and foremost. I understand the importance of games like that and what they can do for the country. When I see the videos of people back home in Ireland celebrating, it nearly puts a tear to the eye seeing how much it means.
“It brings me back to the feeling I had when Robbie Brady scored against Italy in the Euros in 2016. I was there with my mates and my dad that day. To have now been a part of a moment like that myself, alongside some lads I’ve been playing with since I was 14 or 15, is just so special. We haven’t done anything yet though. We’ve now got to go and finish the job.”
Ipswich have registered an average of two points per game – automatic promotion form – since the transfer window closed.
The upcoming spell of seven games in 22 days, starting with the visit of Wrexham on Saturday, will tell us much more about where Kieran McKenna’s men are at.
“I definitely think we’re a better team and a better group than at the start of the season,” says O’Shea. “I think each moment we’re together we’re definitely evolving and growing. We’re always trying to push and learn.
“I think we’re in a good place, but we’re not where we want to be yet. We understand there’s a long way to go and there’s a lot still of football to be played.
“We knew all along that this season was never going to be plain sailing. Just because you may be perceived to have the best team and spent a lot of money that doesn’t guarantee you anything in this league. We know we have to fight for and earn everything.”
I finish by asking O’Shea how the following sounds: A season that ends with him leading Ipswich back to the Premier League and and then going off to play at a World Cup in North America.
“The possibilities of both of those things is something that drives me every single day,” he replies.
“To get ourselves back in the Premier League and to get Ireland to a World Cup would be mega.
“I’d be a very, very happy man if those two things happen and I do believe there is a chance that those two things will happen.”
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