Ireland under-21 Ryan Robinson turns down Premier Division football to go amateur

Ryan Robinson may may have been called up to the home-based Republic of Ireland under-21 squad this week, but the defender has taken a step out of league football by swapping Shelbourne for Leinster Senior League leaders St Mochta's.

The Dubliner has been a towering presence at the heart of Shelbourne's defence for the past three seasons, and had been due to sign for cross-city rivals Bohemians before deciding the rigours of the amateur game to be a better fit for the time being.

And his Mochta's boss Brian McCarthy has tipped him to make the step back up to league football sooner rather than later – but hopefully not before he helps them to win a first Senior Sunday title.

“I didn’t actually know the youngfella but I’d heard of him,” McCarthy told Extratime.ie.

“He finished up with Shelbourne and he was down with Bohs and looking to sign for Bohs, but the problem he had was he’d got a new job.

“A lad who signed for Waterford United who was with Wexford Youths last year [Paul Murphy] has come back down to play amateur football because he just couldn’t do it.

“I didn’t know Ryan but Luke Kelly, who’s a very good friend of his, said he was going to sign for Bohs but he just couldn’t commit to training four nights a week.

“He was willing to just take a step back because he needs to make a go of his job.

“Lads today in the League of Ireland are being offered expenses to train four nights a week when you have a full-time job.

“When he comes down to us, he plays two nights a week, Monday and Wednesday, then he’s free.

“I’m sure he’ll make the step up again when he gets into his job and finds his feet, but for the minute we’re thankful to have him.”