World Watcher

As Ireland take to the field at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, one of the most important sets of eyes high up in the stand will belong to Waterford FC’s Shane Nolan. The team’s Performance Analyst, it is his task to produce opposition reports, assist with set-pieces, analyse in-game events live and relay clips and information to the coaches on the bench. With the intensity of the competition, the Qatari climate, and a group with teams as diverse as Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay, never has the need for opposition analysis and performance development been more obvious. The margins are small and the rewards great so every adjustment that can bring a competitive advantage is crucial and the man from the famous sporting family is uniquely-qualified to deliver it. The 33-year-old, who combines the national team with being Waterford FC’s Head Analyst, took time out to tell us about his role before departing for the World Cup. 

“Absolutely,” he answers emphatically when asked if he was looking forward to the adventure. “As a nation, we don’t qualify for many tournaments. Unlike other European giants - France, England, Germany, etc - who are regulars at international competitions, it’s potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It will certainly be top of my sporting achievements proudly singing our national anthem at a World Cup.” He wasn’t the only familiar face who got to tick that box today. Ferrybank’s Gary Power is the kit manager for this squad while head coach Colin O’Brien had a spell with Waterford United in 2002 and coach John Cotter was on the staff of the Blues in 2020.

Speaking on the day of Waterford’s 1-1 draw away to St Patrick’s Athletic, Shane laid out the Ireland squad’s travel plans. “We report to Dublin next week and train for two days before flying out to Qatar. We will then have four days of preparation before our first group game on the 5th of November.” All of the tournament’s matches take place in the remarkable Aspire Zone sports complex in the city of Al Rayyan which, itself, is part of the Doha metropolitan area. “I’ve only seen photos of the accommodation,” Shane told me, “but I think there is something like ten teams staying in our hotel which shows the infrastructure available over there. Our training and match venues are all within twenty to thirty minutes of the hotel.”

 

Shane (right) with brothers Brian, Billy, Eddie, nephew Jack and family friend Jordan

Shane’s journey to this point in his career included an internship with Hibernians in Edinburgh and studying in SETU Waterford along with four years as a coach in the Blues’ academy. His job with the international set-up has seen him travel the world since he started in 2020 and he is learning all the time. “Off the top of my head, I would say I’ve been to thirteen or fourteen different countries with Ireland. In just this World Cup qualifying campaign, I’ve travelled to Poland, the Czech Republic, Spain twice, and a short trip up the North of Ireland. I am very lucky to be in a position where I am travelling to many different countries as part of a job I really enjoy.”

Nolan has also been to the neighbouring United Arab Emirates with Waterford for preseason in 2023, but the weather conditions in Qatar are currently very different to the once-in-a-decade rainstorm that hit Dubai on that trip. Intense heat, with temperatures of 30 degrees and higher, will be a factor for Ireland throughout the World Cup and that was taken into account in preparing for the tournament. “Preparations have been really good. With the very hot conditions due in Qatar, we recently had international camps in Spain and the Czech Republic to try help us acclimatise to the potential conditions we will face and also playing top quality opposition in these camps.”

With brothers Brian and Eddie, a former Ireland international, having played for the Blues and the youngest, Billy, hurling for the county, few families can match the Nolans for the pride they have in Waterford. It meant the world to Shane to play for his local club. After Bohs schoolboys, he had played for the Blues Under-20s and then spent five seasons with Wexford, but it was all about representing Waterford for the Nolans and Shane showed his enthusiasm the night before his first team debut when he tweeted that he was “like a child on Christmas Eve”. This was appreciated by the dwindling fanbase who were keeping the club going at the time - 565 watched that opening game of the 2015 season – to see how much it still meant for a local lad to wear the famous blue jersey. 

 

Celebrating THAT dramatic debut goal with Shaun Corcoran

And it was to be one of the most eventful debuts in the club’s history with Shane, as he says himself, grabbing a goal and an ‘assist’ in a 1-1 draw with Athlone at the RSC. “It’s probably the standout memory in my head playing for the Blues. It had it all and I was involved in it all! A gale-force wind into the city end goal, a ball in the air about thirty yards out and I thought it would be a good idea to head back to the goalkeeper. Obviously, I didn’t see Garbhan - the Athlone player - slowly walking out and he had acres of space to pass into the goal a minute before half time.” The grateful recipient of that gift was to take a different interest in the Blues many years later. “Garbhan Coughlan, who scored that night, is the brother of Ronan, who we know. The Coughlans are not shy about scoring goals at the RSC!” 

Fortunately, that wasn’t to be the end of the story. Tommy Griffin’s young side dominated the game and peppered the Athlone goal without finding a breakthrough. The home fans were set for a most frustrating start to the season with a disappointing defeat when full back Shaun Corcoran nodded the ball down to Nolan on the edge of the box in the 94th minute. With literally the last kick of the game, Shane unleashed a ferocious left-footed half-volley into the roof of the net and sparked wild celebrations. Elation and pride were mixed with bucketloads of relief for the then-23-year-old midfielder. “To cap off a memorable debut in the blue jersey, I managed to volley in a last-minute equaliser. The full-time team talk was more enjoyable than half time.”

Ireland are in a strong position already in Group J after today’s very impressive 4-1 win against Panama. Next up is a tough test against Uzbekistan on Saturday with both teams on three points after the opening matches. The group stage finishes with Paraguay next Tuesday and the Boys in Green will be looking to progress to the Round of 32 and beyond. As it happens, the final takes place the night before Shane (and his twin brother Brian) turns 34 and he wouldn’t mind still being in Qatar when he celebrates, admitting “A World Cup final would be a nice birthday present.”