An Insight into the Area We Live in

Soccer Success – From Ballinasloe to
West Palm, Florida BY CIARA BERESFORD
Shane McInerney grew up in Kilgarve, Ballinasloe with
an ambition to play soccer. At the age of 18, he was
awarded a scholarship to an American University, and
a year later he took the plunge and moved stateside,
where he is currently based playing soccer and studying
for the final stretch of his degree.
Shane played with Ballinasloe FC at underage level and also played with
the Athlone & District Schoolboys League Team. “I used to train with
Tony Coyne throughout
my younger years, who
played a big part in my
development as a soccer
player”, he added. Shane
also played with Salthill
Devon FC and Galway
United for a few years.
“The main reason I
moved to America was
for the chance to be
playing soccer full time
while earning a college
degree”, admitted Shane.
“I got in contact with an
agent and was asked to
play at a showcase in
Shane being presented with a signed
jersey, as recognition for his individual
achievements for the 2015 season
representing his Univeristy team, Seahawks.
(L-R Head Coach - Joe Zakawoizc, Shane,
Assistant Coach - Alan McCann)
Dublin - within two weeks I had a lot of scholarship offers from all over
America. I signed to a junior college in Rochester, New York for a year
before transferring to Keiser University in West Palm, Florida for my final
3 years.”
Shane moved to America on his own, at the tender age of 19, “At that
point, I was working full time in Medtronic in Galway and playing for the
Ballinasloe Junior Gaelic football team. It was a huge decision, especially
at a young age and a lot of people didn’t think it was a good decision to
head stateside, but I knew if I went with the right attitude it would all work
out”, he stated.
Today, at the age of 23, Shane hopes to graduate from Keiser University
this summer with a degree in Business Management. Shane has been
playing soccer for his university each year and plays semi-professional
during the summer months.
Growing up in Ballinasloe, soccer wasn’t the only sport of interest to Shane,
who also played Gaelic football and hurling, reaching county finals at u16
and minor level. “I think the GAA helped me with my soccer career as it
added a more physical side to my game. Ballinasloe GAA club has produced
many county players over the years with the likes of Keith Kelly and James
Shaugnessy representing Galway at senior level, not to mention a few
players from our minor
Ballinasloe U10 team with coach, Tony
Coyne before a game against St. Francis.
(Shane as goalkeeper in the white)
team playing for Galway
minors also”, stated Shane.
“With regards to soccer
in Ballinasloe, we
played in the Athlone
and District Schoolboys
League. I remember our
u10 Ballinasloe team
travelled to Liverpool to
play against Halewood
in the annual Bob Paisley
cup, which we won. We
also beat a Liverpool
academy team on
the same trip! There’s
definitely a good youth system with regards to sport in the town, as a lot
of players have progressed and played at a high level whether it’s soccer,
Gaelic football or hurling.”
Shane has already achieved much success in his soccer career to date
including; playing for Ireland at the age of 15 in the Umbro Cup Galway;
receiving his first International Cap for Ireland at the age of 18; being Named
Defensive Player of the Sun Conference 2015 and also Being Named an All-
American in 2015. He hopes to play professional soccer either in America or
Europe, “Later on down the line, I would love to set up a scholarship agency
for young players from Ireland with an interest of playing soccer full-time
in America, while earning a degree at the same time”, concluded Shane.
Sen. Michael Mullins
For advice or assistance
Contact me at:
CLEAGHMORE, BALLINASLOE
TEL: 087 2607405
OR
SEANAD EIREANN,
LEINSTER HOUSE,
KILDARE STREET, DUBLIN 2.
TEL: 01 6183095
SPORT 49