Mansfield Spark

One player who could come into John Coleman’s thinking from July is defender Ronan Mansfield. The 19-year-old’s season on loan with the Fleetwood Town development squad came to and end last week and he is now back training with the Waterford first team. 

The former Cappoquin Railway Athletic man went on loan last August and was initially announced by Fleetwood as signing until last December, but that was extended through the full ‘24/’25 season. Ronan has played as a centre back all season – sometimes on the left of three centre backs – and that’s viewed as his position for the future, rather than at left back where he has lined out most often for the Waterford academy. 

 

Munster Senior Cup winner 2024

 

It’s been a terrific experience for him, playing virtually every game for, and even captaining, Fleetwood’s Under 21s. The Cods finished sixth in the northern section of the Professional Development League with Ronan facing Under 21 teams such as Burnley, QPR, Brentford, Southampton and both Sheffield clubs.

It all culminated in Mansfield being named as a substitute for Fleetwood’s League Two game away to Chesterfield last month which was an invaluable experience for a young player. Chesterfield’s 3-0 win was vital in helping them secure the final playoff spot.

Ronan was brought to the Blues at Under 15s level by Derek O’Brien in 2019 and went on to captain the Under 20s last year. He won the Shield with Waterford’s Under 19s in 2023 and the Munster Senior Cup in 2024 when he provided the assists for both goals in the final. Ronan made his League of Ireland debut as a substitute against Treaty United in June 2023 and got his first start away to Kerry that October. 

A graduate of Blackwater Community School in Lismore, Ronan went on to do the FAI/ETB Player Development course under the guidance of Paddy Carey and was known for being as dedicated to his education as the football side. He is not the only one in his family known to Blues fans as three of his cousins, Calum and Lee Costello as well as Peter White, have also played for the club.

 

(Adam Gee photography)

 

Hopefully, Waterford FC will reap the rewards of Ronan’s year in Fleetwood and the programme can be used to help develop other players too. Matt Lawlor was instrumental in the loan move and another academy player is due move to Fleetwood for a similar experience this summer. 

The Blues have been short of defensive options all season so the return of a promising young player like Mansfield is well-timed. Adam Queally is also back training with the first team as he continues his recovery from a groin injury so he could also come into consideration soon. Jesse Dempsey’s injury time appearance as a substitute in Dalymount Park last week was the first use of an academy player by the first team in a league match since Romeo Akachukwu’s final cameo a full year ago. The pathway followed by Mansfield may well change that in future.