THE LORD OF THE RINGS

Teenage striker is on the brink of his breakthrough most academy youngsters professional game is just but for a fantasy

- BY MARK MCCADDEN

FAR AWAY from the glamour of Champions League football, on a wet and windy day at the AUL, Dan Ring's 43rd goal of the season helps Shelbourne's Under-17s to a 5-2 win against Cork City.

The result sends the 2024 underage league title to the Tolka Park club.

Not long after that, Ring makes the first-team bench in a 3-2 defeat at home to St Patrick’s Athletic. A week later, as their game to Shamrock Rovers heads into injury-time, the young striker is finally rewarded for his prolific campaign with his senior bow.

It’s a 2-0 defeat and Shelbourne’s Premier Division title bid is on the rocks. But, in dramatic fashion, they win their final three games and Ring, a huge player in the 17s league triumph, can boast a tiny role in the club returning to the top of Irish football.

Fast forward to the present and Ring now has an FAI Cup appearance under his belt.

After appearing on the bench last week at Windsor Park, along with his pal from the Under-17s, goalkeeper Ali Topcu, the teenager is sprung from the bench for the final 11 minutes of Shels’ 4-0 win away to Fairview Rangers.

He is likely to be on the teamsheet again tomorrow night when the Reds host Azerbaijani football royalty Qarabag, regulars in the group stages of the Champions League and Europa League.

Ring features in a brand new RTÉ documentary called ‘Football Families’, a three-parter beginning on July 31, and the focus in episode one is on Shelbourne’s academy.