Focus back on the league and this weekend's opponents Cabinteely after becoming a viral sensation... UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns has had a week he won't forget after his sensational last-minute over-head kick in the 1-1 draw against Cork City Under
Focus back on the league and this weekend's opponents Cabinteely after becoming a viral sensation...
UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns has had a week he won't forget after his sensational last-minute over-head kick in the 1-1 draw against Cork City Under 19s.
With the Students 1-0 down in stoppage time, Kearns went up for a last-minute corner and sensationally converted an over-head kick which went viral and has led to international publicity.
Following the equaliser, Kearns was invited on to Sky Sports' Soccer AM show and admits it has been a 'surreal' seven days for the UCD stopper.
Kearns said: "It's been a bit surreal to be honest. It hasn't really sunk in, to see yourself all over social media and to get everyone calling you, it has been something else.
"I've never really gone up for corners before in my life as I've never needed to. I knew what I had to do when I went up there and in training, I'm always confident on the ball.
"Obviously, I'm not a natural goal-scorer. I might have done it to joke around before but really, I was just as surprised as anyone else when it went in."
Whilst on the show, Soccer AM asked him to re-perform the now-famous over-head kick on the show and Kearns became a viral sensation once again when he repeated the feat.
Kearns continued: "I was concentrating not showing myself up in front of my mates. I had to do one in the rehearsal and I missed it completely so I knew when it came round to it, the pressure was on.
"It was a bit of fun and I didn't take it overly seriously. It was a relief to see it go in and maybe it shows it wasn't as much of a fluke!"
The goal maybe over-shadowed what was an impressive point against a strong Cork City U19s side who had featured in the UEFA Youth League last season.
UCD claimed the SSE Airtricity U19s League title last season with a 4-1 win in the final against Galway United and Kearns says the club is determined to claim more silverware this season.
"We'd never picked up a point down at Cork before so it was a really good result for us. The way we've started this year, it's really good and positive for us," Kearns said.
"Everyone at UCD is really close, from the 17s to the seniors as we train together quite a lot. It wasn't just a win for the team but a win for the entire club.
"The 17s narrowly missed out in the final last year so we won't to do it again this season and push for more silverware."
GK recreates his viral overhead kick! But how does it compare to the original? #SoccerAM pic.twitter.com/in4O0MZ6Vx
— Soccer AM (@SoccerAM) April 15, 2017
Fixtures
SSE Airtricity League - U19 Northern Division
22/04 Drogheda United v St. Patrick's Athletic, United Park, 12pm
22/04 Bohemians v Longford Town, IT Blanchardstown, 12pm
22/04 Finn Harps v Sligo Rovers, Finn Park, 1pm
22/04 Monaghan-Cavan FP v Dundalk, Gortakeegan, 2pm
23/04 Athlone Town v Derry City, Athlone Town Stadium, 2pm
SSE Airtricity League - U19 Southern Division
22/04 Bray Wanderers v Limerick, Carrickmines, 2pm
22/04 Galway United v Wexford, Eamonn Deacy Park, 2pm
22/04 UCD v Cabinteely, UCD Bowl, 2pm
23/04 Cobh Ramblers v Cork City, St. Colman's Park, 2pm
23/04 Waterford v Shamrock Rovers, RSC, 2pm
SSE Airtricity League - U17 Northern Division
21/04 Sligo Rovers v Finn Harps, The Showgrounds, 8pm
22/04 Derry City v Athlone Town, Wilton Park, 2pm
23/04 Dundalk v Monaghan-Cavan, Oriel Park, 2pm
23/04 Longford Town v Bohemians, City Calling Stadium, 2pm
24/04 St. Patrick's Athletic v Drogheda United, IT Blanchardstown, 8pm
SSE Airtricity League - U17 Southern Division
22/04 Shamrock Rovers v Wexford, Tallaght Stadium, 2pm
22/04 Cork City v Cobh Ramblers, Bishopstown Stadium, 2pm
23/04 Kerry v Cabinteely, Mounthawk Park, 2pm
23/04 UCD v Galway United, UCD Bowl, 2pm
23/04 Bray Wanderers v Limerick, Carrickmines, 2pm
