Ryan O’Kane named Dundalk 1903 supporters club Young Player of the Year

Ryan O’Kane retained his title of Dundalk FC Supporters’ Young Player of the Year at Thursday’s end-of-season awards night, hosted by The 1903 at the Lilywhite Lounge.

The Ardee Road native, who turned 20 this year, played in 42 of Dundalk’s 44 competitive matches throughout 2023 – only missing the SSE Airtricity League defeats in August to Shamrock Rovers away and at home to Derry City due to a shin injury.

O’Kane bagged three goals over the course of the campaign and provided five assists for his teammates, two of which came against KA at home in the Europa Conference League.

“The season probably didn’t start off the way I wanted it to,” he told the Town End Podcast. “I was sort of in and out, and then halfway through, just after the break, I think it was after the goal against Drogheda and UCD, I came back in and I was really enjoying it. I think I made, in all competitions, maybe around 40 appearances. That was great for me, just to build on that experience and just keep playing as regularly as I can.”

The winger joined Dundalk in 2021, having previously spent time in the Irish League with Warrenpoint Town, where he made his senior debut in 2019 at the age of only 15.

Opportunities at Oriel Park were limited during what was a dysfunctional 2021 for the club, but after the appointment of Stephen O’Donnell as head coach the following season, O’Kane thrived and picked up the Young Player of the Year gong 12 months ago.

“Obviously 2022 was my introduction into playing regularly towards the second part of the season,” he added. “I really enjoyed it, I was starting to play regularly towards the end and didn’t want to stop when the season ended. Coming into last season, I kept working hard as I always do in pre-season.

“I’d always demand a lot off myself, no matter what. If I’m playing or not playing, I’ll always have high expectations. Coming into the last season, after having a good end to 2022, I probably expected a bit too much of myself. I was still 19, still kind of young, and it was my first proper season, so I probably expected a bit too much.

“When things weren’t going as I expected, it was a bit frustrating, but I’ve good people around me, I have good teammates. The gaffer was brilliant, and family and friends were great as well, having that backing when I wasn’t in the team and giving me good advice. I just kept the head, and thankfully in the second part of the season, halfway through, it lifted off again.”

In addition to becoming the club’s Young Player of Year for the second year running, O’Kane picked up the Goal of the Season award for his stoppage-time strike, in off the crossbar from outside the box, in a 2-0 win versus UCD away at the beginning of May.

Despite also being nominated for the Premier Division Goal of the Season, local lad O’Kane takes preference over the opener he bagged in April’s 3-2 win over Louth rivals Drogheda United – a goal that was scored right in front of the away support at Oriel.

“The goal against Drogs,” he replied when asked about his favourite goal of 2023.

“It was weird, we were so in control, we were battering them, but it was 2-2. I was like, we can’t, me after running over to their fans and celebrating and we’re going to end up drawing 2-2 here. When John (Martin) scored the winner, I was pretty relieved anyways, so I’d take that goal over the UCD one.”