Dundalk FC goalkeeper George Shelvey excited to get going

New Dundalk FC goalkeeper George Shelvey insists that the number one jersey at Oriel Park must be earned, as he prepares to battle with Ross Munro for the first-choice berth.

Shelvey completed a transfer from English Premier League side Nottingham Forest prior to Friday night’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division opener at Shamrock Rovers.

Dundalk opted to start 22-year-old Shelvey, understood to have penned a one-year contract before looking assured at Tallaght Stadium as The Lilywhites earned a 1-1 draw.

“I don’t expect to play, I’ve got to earn the right to play,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where you come to. I’ve got to earn the right to play, in the gym, out on the pitch, out on the training pitch, the trust of the manager.

“Me and Ross are going to push each other as far as we can because that’s what a lot of GK unions are like. Whoever’s performing well and has got the most confidence to go out there and be the best player on the pitch, we’re pushing each other for that.”

Nottingham-native Shelvey joined his hometown club as a teenager in 2018 and was drafted into their Premier League squad for the 2022/23 season, featuring on the substitute’s bench on occasion, as well as training with the likes of Keylor Navas, Wayne Hennessey and Dean Henderson, who possess 222 international caps between them.

His CV also encompasses loan stints with Wealdstone and Mansfield Town, but a burning desire to play first-team football more regularly, coupled with Dundalk’s need to replace the already-departed Nathan Shepperd, may prove a perfect fit for both parties.

“I got a call from my agent at the start of the window back home saying, Dundalk are really interested about signing you,” recalled Shelvey. “It’s been talked about the whole window and from looking at it, it looked like a really good club, really big history, especially in the league as well with the big teams in it.

“I was training away (at Forest), it was in the back of my mind and when it came to fruition, I was really, really glad it got over the line.”

Shelvey admits that he had never before set foot in Ireland prior to his move to Dundalk, but is nonetheless looking forward to the competitive nature of the League of Ireland.

“First time (in Ireland), never had a Guinness either,” he quipped. “Obviously I know how big some of the clubs here are. The way the football’s played and everything, it’s going to be new to me, but as a goalkeeper, you just got to see what’s in front of you and react accordingly to it.

“I think for a lot of the lads it’s the same as me, where you come in here and you hear things about the atmospheres and the fans and everything. You’re excited for that, but I think you just got to play the game that’s in front of you and have them nerves, have that excitement and just use it as a boost.”

With one down and 35 fixtures to go, the next of which is at home to Galway United on Friday (kick-off, 7.45pm), Shelvey says Stephen O’Donnell has set demanding targets.

“He wants the ceiling to be as high as possible with the people that he’s brought through the door. This is a high quality squad and I think we know that. I think it’s just about all staying on the same targets, staying on the same boat and going from there.”