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Mason Melia

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Mason Melia
Melia warming up with St Patrick's Athletic in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2007-09-22) 22 September 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 St Patrick's Athletic
Number 9
Youth career
0000 Newtown Juniors
0000 St Joseph's Boys
0000 Bray Wanderers
2022–2023 St Patrick's Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– St Patrick's Athletic 41 (8)
International career‡
2021 Republic of Ireland U15 6 (0)
2022–2023 Republic of Ireland U16 6 (2)
2022–2024 Republic of Ireland U17 22 (10)
2023– Republic of Ireland U19 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01:02, 1 October 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11:31, 10 September 2024 (UTC)

Mason Melia (born 22 September 2007) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for St Patrick's Athletic.

Early life

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A native of Newtownmountkennedy, County Wicklow,[1] Melia attended the Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, captaining the school's under-15 side to the 2022 Leinster U15s Shield, getting a goal and an assist in the 3–0 final victory.[2]

Club career

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Youth career

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Initially in the academies of Newtown Juniors, St Joseph's Boys and Bray Wanderers, Melia moved to League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic in the summer of 2022.[3]

St Patrick's Athletic

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2023 season

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His performances for the youth team of St Patrick's Athletic earned him a call up to the senior squad in January 2023, and he made his debut in a Leinster Senior Cup, coming off the bench to score in a 3–1 loss to Wexford.[3] In doing so, he became St Patrick's Athletic's youngest ever player and youngest ever goal-scorer.[3][4] In May 2023, with Eoin Doyle suspended and Tommy Lonergan ill, Melia was again drafted into the senior squad, and made his league debut as a substitute for Conor Carty in an eventual 3–0 win against Drogheda United in the LOI Premier Division.[5] He became the club's youngest league debutant, and the third youngest in league history - behind Sam Curtis & Evan Ferguson.[5][6] After the game, manager Jon Daly lauded Melia as an "exceptional" player.[7] Following his performances for St Patrick's Athletic, he was linked with a move to English Premier League side Liverpool in March 2023.[8] On 30 June 2023, Melia came off the bench to score his first senior league goal in a 7–0 win over UCD at Richmond Park, with the goal making him the youngest ever goalscorer in the League of Ireland Premier Division at 15 years and 281 days old.[9] In August 2023, he spent time on trial at Manchester City.[10] On 20 August 2023, Melia scored the winning penalty in a 4–3 shootout win over Derry City in the second round of the FAI Cup after a 0–0 draw at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.[11] On 22 September 2023, on his 16th birthday, Melia came off the bench in the 83rd minute against Dundalk, before going on to win a penalty in injury time which he took himself and scored to secure a 3–1 win.[12] On 9 November 2023, it was announced that Melia had signed his first professional contract with the club, signing a 3-year contract to keep him with the club until the end of the 2026 season.[13] On 12 November 2023, Melia came off the bench in the 57th minute of the 2023 FAI Cup Final, making him the youngest ever player to play in an FAI Cup Final, as his side beat Bohemians 3–1 at the Aviva Stadium in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881.[14][15]

2024 season

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His first goal of the 2024 season came on 22 January in a Leinster Senior Cup game away to Usher Celtic.[16] Melia scored his first league goal of the season on 1 August 2024, coming off the bench in the 77th minute at home to Sligo Rovers and finding the bottom corner 9 minutes later from 25 yards to help his side to a 3–0 victory.[17] On 10 May 2024, Melia scored the final goal of the game in a Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers in a 2–2 draw at Tallaght Stadium.[18] On 31 May 2024, Melia scored a backpost header to open the scoring in a 2–1 win over Galway United to help his side to their first league win under new manager Stephen Kenny.[19] On 25 July 2024, Melia made his first European appearance of his career, starting up front in a 3–1 win over Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the UEFA Conference League.[20] On 1 September 2024, Melia replaced Aidan Keena from the bench in the 76th minute at home to Drogheda United and scored the final goal of the game by finding the bottom left corner from 25 yards in the 93rd minute of a 4–1 win.[21] On 5 September 2024, he again scored after coming off the bench, this time heading home the winner in the 68th minute of a 2–1 win away to Dundalk at Oriel Park, just 6 minutes after coming off the bench.[22] Melia was voted by supporters as the club's Young Player of the Year at the club's end of season awards night.[23]

Personal life

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Melia is the nephew of former Republic of Ireland international footballer and sports agent Clive Clarke.[24][25]

International career

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Melia has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15 to under-17 level.[8][26] He was part of the Irish under-16 side to win the 2022 Victory Shield, scoring in a 4–1 win in the final against Scotland.[27]

He scored a hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland U17 side in a 3–0 against Ukraine, helping them qualify for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, for which he was also called up.[28] At those championships he scored two goals in Ireland's final group game, against Hungary, in a 4–2 win which put his side through to the quarter-finals.[29] On 11 October 2023, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Armenia U17 in a 2024 UEFA U-17 Euro qualification fixture in Fermoy.[30]

In November 2023, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U19 side, for their 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification games against Albania, Slovenia & Belgium.[31] On 10 September 2024, Melia scored his first goal for the U19s, in a 1–1 draw away to Slovenia in a friendly.[32]

In October 2024, Melia received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 team, for their 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification games against Norway and Italy.[33][34]

Career statistics

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As of matches played 30 September 2024[35]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
St Patrick's Athletic 2023 LOI Premier Division 10 2 2 0 0[a] 0 1[b] 1 13 3
2024 31 6 1 0 6[c] 0 3[d] 1 41 7
Career total 41 8 3 0 6 0 4 2 54 10
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
  4. ^ 1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup & 2 appearances, 1 goal in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

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Club

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St Patrick's Athletic

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ McCadden, Mark (July 24, 2024). "Stephen Kenny will call on 16-year-old to lead the line for St Pat's in Europe". Irish Mirror.
  2. ^ "CCA School News 27 May 2022". colaisteca.ie. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Gorman, Daniel (2 February 2023). "Wicklow's Mason Melia scores screamer for St Patrick's Athletics and breaks records in the process". independent.it. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Melia Becomes Saints Youngest Scorer". stpatsfc.com. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b Connaughton, Gary (13 May 2023). "15-Year Old St Pat's Debutant Is The Next Name For Ireland Fans To Keep An Eye On". balls.ie. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  6. ^ Doyle, Garry (13 May 2023). "Ireland's Mason Melia has world at his feet - only 15 and already a first-teamer". irishmirror.ie. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  7. ^ O'Connor, Sean (13 May 2023). "St Pat's interim boss hails 'exceptional' Mason Melia after 15-year-old becomes club's youngest league player". independent.ie. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b Cavilla, Tom (22 March 2023). "Liverpool 'make move' to sign 15-year-old striker but face Premier League competition". liverpoolecho.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  9. ^ "15-year-old Mason Melia becomes youngest Saints scorer in rout of UCD". Independent.ie. June 30, 2023.
  10. ^ Harrington, Eoin (August 6, 2023). "Reports: Irish Wonderkid On Trial At Manchester City". Balls.ie.
  11. ^ "FAI Cup Report: Derry City 0 – 0 St. Patrick's Athletic AET (Saints win 4-3 on penalties)". Extratime.
  12. ^ McNamara, Ronan (September 22, 2023). "Lonergan on the double as Saints sink Dundalk" – via www.rte.ie.
  13. ^ "Melia Signs Three Year Professional Contract". www.stpatsfc.com.
  14. ^ "'Anto looked at me like I had ten heads' – How young guns led St Pat's to Cup glory". Independent.ie. November 12, 2023.
  15. ^ O'Hehir, Paul (November 12, 2023). "Big things predicted for young Saints after cup glory". Irish Mirror.
  16. ^ "LSC Report: Usher Celtic 3-3 Saints". www.stpatsfc.com.
  17. ^ "'They have taken a lot of stick' – St Pat's boss Jon Daly hits back at criticism after Saints sink Sligo". Irish Independent. 2 April 2024.
  18. ^ "St Pat's teen star Mason Melia denies Shamrock Rovers in Dublin derby thriller". Irish Independent. May 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Buttner, Paul (May 31, 2024). "Melia and Nolan on target as St Pat's beat Galway" – via www.rte.ie.
  20. ^ "St Pat's return to form with impressive European win over FC Vaduz". Irish Independent. 25 July 2024.
  21. ^ Geraghty, Darryl (September 1, 2024). "St Pat's profit from Drogheda red for comfortable win" – via www.rte.ie.
  22. ^ Rogers, James (September 5, 2024). "Kenny's Saints see off Dundalk despite son Eoin scoring" – via www.rte.ie.
  23. ^ https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9702
  24. ^ "The uncle, the nephew and a moment of fate for promising Ireland prospect". www.independent.ie. May 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Fallon, John (May 25, 2023). "Jon Daly confident of success with St Patrick's Athletic". Irish Examiner.
  26. ^ Mason Melia at WorldFootball.net
  27. ^ O'Donoghue, Conor (5 November 2022). "Ireland won the 2022 Victory Shield after beating Scotland". irishpost.com. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  28. ^ "15-year-old Melia hits hat-trick as Irish U17s take step closer to Euros qualification". the42.ie. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  29. ^ "'Best feeling ever' – Ireland U17s cresting Euro wave". May 24, 2023 – via www.rte.ie.
  30. ^ "REPORT | MU17 | Melia hat-trick inspires Irish win | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  31. ^ "MU19 | Mohan names squad for U19 EURO qualifiers | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  32. ^ "REPORT | MU19 | Slovenia 1-1 Ireland".
  33. ^ "Ireland Under-21 squad named for Norway & Italy EURO Qualifiers". www.fai.ie.
  34. ^ "Melia features in Ireland U21 squad for first time". October 3, 2024 – via www.rte.ie.
  35. ^ Mason Melia at Soccerway
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