Gavin Kilkenny: 'It's just about taking your chance when it comes, so that's what I've done so far'

Gavin Kilkenny will once more be at the fulcrum of Ireland’s midfield ahead of two crucial qualifiers at home to Italy and Sweden. After some impressive appearances for Bournemouth this season, there were clamours for the former St. Kevin’s Boys player to make the step up to the senior team.

“Since the last international window, I got back into the team so that was a big plus. I’ve been playing since; we’ve had six games and I started five,” said Kilkenny.

Kilkenny found himself out of his club team after some senior players came back from injury, but not for long. The Dubliner took the setback in his stride.

“He (Scott Parker) spoke to me when he took me out. There was nothing I could do; it was a case of how I’d react and how I go about getting back in and then I needed a little bit of luck which I got because one of the other lads was injured and then I did well.”

“It’s just about taking your chance when it comes, so that’s what I’ve done so far.”

The rough and tumble of England’s second tier is a testing place for even the most experienced of professionals, which Kilkenny appreciates.

“It’s probably not what I expected. It’s not as nice as some people would say in terms of the style of football. You play against all different types of teams, I think that is one of the best things, you get a football education.”

“We played against Swansea at the weekend, and they wanted to play out from the back and were a proper footballing team. Then you play against a team the next week and they’re long ball with big strikers and it’s all hustle and bustle. You have people knocking you over so it’s a great variety. There’s no better education in a sense for a young player to learn because you’re getting a bit of everything. I think it has improved me massively.”

Kilkenny’s Ireland under-21 manager Jim Crawford has been pleasantly surprised by his development.

“For me if you would have asked me three years ago would I have seen him playing in that particular position, I would have said no. But working day in and day out with these players, Scott Parker has obviously seen that he can play in that deeper midfield role. He’s done the job excellently,” said Crawford.

Coming up through the underage ranks Kilkenny usually played out wide or in the number ten, now he is expected to start the attacks alongside midfield partner Conor Coventry.

“I probably moved into that position two years ago. I think it was just that I wasn’t really playing for Ireland at the time. I was doing a lot of training with the Bournemouth first team; I was training more so than playing,” said Kilkenny.

“I played a couple of cup games in the midfield against lower teams, so I think nobody really took it seriously in the sense that I was playing in a deeper role because it was like coming in for a cup game and then he’s not played again for 6 months and then covid hit.”

“Probably because I wasn’t playing as much for Bournemouth people didn’t realise, I was training the deep position for the last 18 months to two years so for me it was probably nothing new. The new manager has come in and he took that to another level in a sense as that might be my best position because previously for Ireland, I was playing out wide, because that’s where I played as a kid growing up. It just took for me to be playing regular first team for people to see that’s where I play.”

Kilkenny paid tribute to his club boss Parker in influencing his game.

“There’s no better man to learn off. He’s changed different things in my game, he’s changed the whole squad but especially myself in looking at the game in terms of how a midfielder needs to play,” said Kilkenny.

“It’s not just what you do on the ball or how you look on the ball, it’s a lot deeper than that and other aspects are most important. So, I think that was a big change in the way I see the position, he’s been massive because he’s been there and done it, so when he talks you listen. I think he’s been a big help.”

Italy and Sweden will offer Kilkenny some difficult challenges in the next two games, something the youngster is relishing.

“I think everyone is excited and looking at this in a sense of, not that we have nothing to lose but almost like we are going into it thinking we’ll have a right go here. There’s no holding back thinking we’ll go to Tallaght, and we’ll sit back in our own patch. I think everyone is excited in that sense that we’ll have a good go and put it right up to both teams.”

Kilkenny can foresee a pathway to the senior setup and has been encouraged by the breakthrough of former teammates such as Gavin Bazunu, Nathan Collins, Troy Parrott, Jason Knight, and Andrew Omobamidele to name a few.

“Seeing all the young players move up, they’ve all been involved in this group over the last number of years it gives us great belief and positivity knowing that there is a pathway there that maybe previously wasn’t always there within Irish football. It was there, but not in this sort of level.”

“We know the manager is more than willing to take young players up which is great because it gives you that motivation and that fuel to go sort of look the lads are doing great and if I keep going or whoever does well might get the chance. I think it’s great for Irish football and great for young players. It’s great for kids as well watching us, seeing that there is a pathway.”

Perhaps it won’t be long before we see Kilkenny play for the senior side.

Stephen Kenny: ‘We must have the courage to play out, we must not be fearful. We have to play with intelligence.’ https://t.co/DZ0Qx0eQSypic.twitter.com/tx0CsLzGYc

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) November 11, 2021