A couple of weeks ago you may have seen Darragh O'Neill making punting actually look like a skill during an All-Star game for Colorado University. While the catch and punt were impressive in themselves, we were really only featuring it because of the interesting side-bar that O'Neill is from Cork. His father Colm was an All-Ireland winner with the Cork footballers in 1989 and 1990, while his uncle is none other than Maurice Fitzgerald. At the time we also mentioned his brother Shane, who has been making a name for himself with the Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
And just to further prove how talented a sporting the family the O'Neills are, Shane, who has broken into the Rapids team in earnest in recent months, has today been called up to the USA Senior team by Jurgen Klinsmann for the upcoming friendlies against Chile and Panama.
O'Neill can play in defence or midfield but as the USA have selected him in defence here, we'll go along with them, however, as you can see from his first goal for the Rapids back in May, he can certainly pick out a finish.
So why is he not playing for Ireland? We spoke to Shane back in May 2013 and even then it seemed he had his heart set on representing his adopted homeland. The O'Neill's moved from Cork to Colorado when Darragh and Shane were young boys and although they returned to Ireland every summer, Shane told us that, away from home at least, he does feel more American.
My parents both come from Ireland, they lived there for 30 years, so it’s a very Irish culture at home. Around my friends though I feel American. It’s a bit of both I suppose.
That's not to say Ireland weren't interested. O'Neill was invited to train with the u-21's a number of times but as a product of the American underage system, he decided to stay where he was and now, it must be said, that decision has born fruit.
I’ve talked to the Ireland Under-21 manager a few times and I was asked to go over for a few days of training before the game against Holland, but I was already in camp with the U.S team so it didn’t work out.
I’m just taking it in stride, I’ll see what opportunities come but I’m not going to close any doors, I’m up for anything. I’m not too worried about it right now. I’m just focused on paying with the U.S Under-20s and I’ll see what happens.
