St Patrick's Athletic sign Ireland under-19 keeper Brian Maher to first pro deal

St. Patrick’s Athletic added to their 2018 squad on Friday with the announcement that 17-year-old goalkeeper Brian Maher has signed his first professional contract with the club.

The teenager, capped from under-15 to under-19 level for Ireland, has played for the Saints' under-17 side for the past two seasons having previously represented his local club Raheny United and St Kevin’s Boys.

That Pats side won the under-17 league title in 2016 before topping the Northern Elite Division in 2017, captained by Maher.

Maher told the club’s official website that he recognises the move to the first team will be a step up but one that he won’t be nervous about, having trained with the first team for over a year already.

“It's a great feeling to get my first professional deal done and now I can continue with our off season programme and be ready for pre-season in early January,” he said.

“I signed for this club as a 15-year-old because I knew that if I performed well that there were opportunities to progress. Liam told me this when I first signed and he's been true to his word.”

“Liam has said that it's about getting myself ready to be playing in first team games so I've just got to work hard and see where it takes me and hopefully I'll get my chance somewhere down the line,” he added.

“The training sessions at a higher level will also be really important for me and I'm looking forward to that.”

“I've been in with the first team for over a year training and I've been on the bench a few times so I won't be nervous heading into training in January.”

“The players and staff have been really good in helping me settle in and I think this helped me to just focus on my performances and hopefully that will be no different moving forward.”

Maher also played a number of games for Pats’ under-19 side last season and he will again be part of the Saints’ under-19 squad in 2018.

“I've really enjoyed my two seasons with the under-17s and also played some games for the under-19s last season and there's hopefully more to come from me.”

“I've just turned 17 and I think that it's definitely a big step up for me but nothing really changes.

“I'm still playing football for St Pat's as I have done for the last two years, so I just need to get that going with the U19s and also with the first team if I get the opportunity,” Maher said.

The teenager is currently in fifth year in secondary school and will be balancing his football with education – something he has spoken to the club about – and is confident he will have no problems dealing with that.

“I'm only in fifth year so it feels like the Leaving Cert is a long way away, but I've spoken to club about this and I won't have a problem in balancing both for a year or so and I'm sure I'll be fine with football and school.

“I just have to keep my head down just like a lot of the lads have done here before with school and also college and I'll be no different.”