Burnley U21s have quietly put together an impressive season, with their campaign now set to culminate in a Premier League Cup final against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Ahead of the huge occasion, Striver spoke to young goalkeeper Oisin Cooney, who is currently enjoying his first season with the Clarets following a summer deadline-day move from Finn Harps.
The interview touched on his move from Ireland to England, learning from experienced first-team players, adapting to life away from home and his ambitions for both Burnley and Ireland moving forward.
Oisin Cooney Reflects on His Move From Ireland to Burnley
Moving from Ireland to English football can be a major adjustment for young players, but Cooney explained how quickly things developed after arriving on trial at Burnley.
“Yeah, honestly, it all kind of happened so fast at the start of the season. It was the last week of August I came over on trial, and then the last day of the trial was on the Friday, and I knew the deadline for signing was that moment. So, got a phone call Sunday night to come over and sign and yeah, the rest is history from there.
He added: “I was just delighted to get the deal done, obviously, when I come over on trial, Burnley were just promoted the Premier League so a really attractive club.
“It's been really good, and obviously there’s a great brunch of lads in there as well. I think it helps a lot whenever you have a good few lads that are all in the same boat, there's a lot of us living away from home and can't get home on the weekends and stuff like that. So, we’ve obviously made a lot of bit of a click there and we come together on our days off and get a bit of golf going or snooker or whatever it is, so that’s been really good.”
Senior Burnley Players Have Helped His Development
Cooney also highlighted the impact senior players have had on him during his first season around the club’s first-team environment.
The young goalkeeper specifically mentioned experienced stopper Martin Dubravka and the influence his professionalism has had on younger players at the training ground.
“Being around Martin Dubravka obviously, my family’s full of Newcastle fans as well, so obviously, whenever I came over and Martin was here, loads of experience, and you can see that with how he's performing this year, but as well, he's a really good guy off the pitch. He's a good laugh as well, but whenever he's serious, he's on it, and he drip feeds like all the other goalies as well as the 1st team, yeah, he’ll drop feed information and he'll help you out where you can.
“You learn a lot from just watching as well, I feel like it doesn't need to all be communicated like your eyes tell, or a picture speaks 1000 words, so even just being up there and watching them and how he manages himself, emotionally, even never gets too high, never gets too low. I think that's the biggest lesson I've learned from them.”
The emotional side of professional football is often overlooked for young players, but Cooney’s comments show how important mentality and consistency can be within elite environments.
Irish Players Continue to Inspire the Young Goalkeeper
The 19-year-old also spoke about the inspiration he takes from current Irish players performing at the highest level of English football.
Ex-Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was one player he specifically pointed to as an example of what young Irish footballers can achieve through hard work and sacrifice.
“Yeah, they're massively inspiring. I think that the story that's there for everyone to see is Caoimhin Kelleher, just similar to myself, just playing for his local club in Cork and over to Liverpool at 16 and never really looked back. He was there for the best of 10 years. I think it's there for everyone to see as well how humble he is and just how hard working he is and he's definitely somebody that you'd aspire to be too, in the way he plays and the way he is off the pitch as well.
“Also, you realise how much sacrifice they have to make moving away from their family. I think people see all the good stuff that these guys get to play every weekend in the Premier League, but they don't sometimes see the sacrifices. Moving away from your family, moving away from your friends, new environment.
He added: “But yeah, definitely have gained a lot of respect for them type of guys, yeah, and especially Josh Cullen here as well. He was really good when I came, obviously he knew from my accent on the 1st day that I was obviously Irish, so he came over and said to let him know if I needed anything, so that was really comforting as well.”
The transition from Irish football to England can often be difficult for young players, making support systems inside clubs incredibly important.
Burnley Cup Final Opportunity Could Cap Off Strong First Season
Burnley U21s now have the opportunity to end their campaign with silverware when they face Sunderland in the Premier League Cup final.
For Cooney, the occasion represents both a collective achievement and a personal milestone after adapting quickly to football in England.
“Yeah, it'd mean a lot, you know? From a personal point of view, I think it's been a really good season for myself.
“Since I came back from Christmas, I think I've really kicked on and kind of got really comfortable in my surroundings, comfortable in the building, I think it really kicked off. So yeah, on a personal note, yeah, it'd be really good to cap off the season.
“But it's not even just the players or coaches, it's the staff, it's the dinner ladies. It's the likes of Ash doing the media. It's the groundskeepers, I think of everyone who puts such a big massive effort in, I don't think it should just be the players that should just get the recognition for this.”
Ireland U21 Ambitions Remain a Major Goal
Looking ahead to next season, Cooney made it clear that earning a place within the Republic of Ireland U21 setup is one of his biggest personal targets.
“For next season, obviously, I've got a little taste of what the first-team environment's like, but for next season, I think I'd really want to spend even more time in the first-team environment, I've been really lucky this year with exposure.
“I don't think I've really kept it quiet, but I really want to get back in with the Irish under 21s next year. I think that's a big personal goal of mine, I’ve been lucky enough to play for Ireland under 16s, 17s and under 19s. So, I think getting in with under 21s next year would be a massive step.”
For now, the focus remains on finishing the season strongly with Burnley U21s, but Cooney’s ambitions for both club and country are already clear.
