McKeown "didn't know too much" about first ever Cabo goal

On a night when Cabinteely FC made history by winning their first competitive game as a League of Ireland side, John McKeown admits to being proud of having a central role in creating that history – even if he didn't know too much about it.

Though left-winger Kevin Knight and Cabo skipper Robert Maloney also came close to netting, it was 23 year old midfielder McKeown who scored the Blackrock side's first ever League of Ireland goal – capitalising on a goal-mouth scramble in the 43^rd minute to ultimately give Eddie Gormley's men a win which leaves them at the top of the First Division table, for 24 hours at least.

When asked by Extratime.ie how it felt to make history, McKeown replied: “When you put it like that, it's pretty decent to be fair. It hasn't properly sunk in yet. It was a great time to score, two minutes before half-time. I didn't know too much about it, I don't know if we won the header or if they won the header, the ball literally just bounced right in front of me and I just seen the open goal and I stuck it in.

“Obviously it's great for everyone coming out and great for everyone involved in the club. I've only been here a month but I know there's work gone on for the last two years to try get the club to where it is today, so it's great to be able to do it for them.”

It was Maloney who won the initial header from the Shane O'Neill corner which created the opportunity for McKeown to pounce, and the former Dundalk man was impressed by his captain's composure during a very tense and scrappy game.

“I know Rob from Dundalk two years ago, he's a top lad to be fair, and a great captain,” said McKeown. “Going in at half-time after scoring, obviously the adrenaline was flying, but Rob, and Eddie as well, cooled us down at half-time and told us that there was still another 45 to go, that if we kept working hard there was a great chance to win this match.

“I think we surprised a few people today, I think everyone was writing us off, but it's a platform to build on now,” added McKeown. “It'll be a long year, but the lads that we have there are hungry lads, myself included.

“We're lads that probably just didn't get the lucky breaks we deserved elsewhere. Lads who were in England, like Rob and Evan [Finnegan], who have a point to prove which I think is a great thing in football.”

McKeown himself feels he has something to prove after suffering a succession of injuries in his last few seasons which have hampered his progress, including a broken foot in November. After leaving Dundalk's u19s, he signed for UCD only to make the move back to Oriel Park in June 2013.

He made two appearances on the bench for the Lilywhites as they finished second in the league to St. Patrick's Athletic, but he never made a first-team appearance for the club.

“It was very tough,” admitted McKeown, “Stephen Kenny had just come in [at the start of the 2013 season] and they signed Stephen O'Donnell, Stephen McDonald, Richie Towell, John Dillon, Keith Ward, so it was tough to break in – but I think we have something good at Cabinteely and I can't wait for this season.”

The NUI Maynooth student is now looking ahead to Monday's Southside derby against UCD at Belfield in the 1^st round of the EA Sports Cup – and he admits he is relishing the prospect of facing a club he has enjoyed a bit of rivalry with already.

“I'm looking forward to it having played at UCD and not getting the lucky break with the first-team,” said McKeown. “I've a bit of rivalry with the college teams as well because I'm in Maynooth University.

“They beat us three weeks ago in the league final [of the CUFL Premier Division; UCD won 6-5 on penalties after a 0-0 draw]. We won the Collingwood Cup there last season with the university as well [Maynooth beat NUI 2-1 at Belfield]. I like playing against UCD, it'll be nice to go back and try put one over them.”