AUCK & AWE

Irishman Dylan hoping amateur Kiwi champs can surprise giants Bayern, Benfica and Boca at Club World Cup

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

DYLAN CONNOLLY knows he's not supposed to have days like these, not as an amateur footballer who has to shoehorn training sessions into his busy working life.

But sometimes you just strike it lucky and today he has arrived in America to take on some of the world's biggest teams at the FIFA Club World Cup.

From Celbridge, Co Kildare, the 25-year-old will be the sole Irish competitor in the expanded tournament that now incorporates 32 teams.

He plays for New Zealand's most successful club Auckland City and the amateur side have been drawn in the same group as Bayern Munich, Boca Juniors and Benfica.

Champions League winners PSG, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Chelsea, Juventus and Porto are among the other heavy-weight clubs involved.

"It's absolutely bonkers and still hard to believe," Connolly told Mirror Sport as he ramps up preparations for Auckland's opener against Bayern on June 15.

The Bundesliga champions are bringing their catalogue of stars to America and right-back Connolly will be part of a defence tasked with keeping Harry Kane (inset top) quiet.

"It's one of those things that, as you're saying it now, it still doesn't sound real," said Connolly when asked about trying to do a job on the England international.

Veteran striker Edinson Cavani (inset middle) - once of Manchester United - is still punishing defences for Boca, the giants of Argentina and Diego Maradona's old club.

And it won't be lost on Connolly that Greece star Vangelis Pavlidis (inset bottom) led the way for Benfica this season after smashing 19 league goals in 34 games in Portugal's top flight.

Connolly said: "Don't get me wrong, we're going to try our best as we've prepared so well and put so much into it.