Cork's Mark O'Mahony makes his first Premier League start for Brighton as Irish trio win promotion with Palace
Crystal Place players celebrate with the Women’s Championship trophy at Selhurst Park, London. Photo: Rhianna Chadwick/PA Wire
Despite the result, it was a memorable afternoon for Brighton’s Mark O’Mahony today as the striker made his first Premier League start in their 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Having signed a new three-year-deal with the Seagulls earlier this month, the Corkman made his first top-flight start against Mark Travers’ Cherries this afternoon. The Ireland U-21 cap had come off the bench in each of the last two games for Roberto De Zerbi’s side but was named in the starting 11 earlier today for the first time in his career.
The 19-year-old came off at the break as Brighton’s winless run extended to six games. O’Mahony made his U-21 debut last month off the bench as Jim Crawford’s side thrashed San Marino 7-0, while the striker also scored two goals in three U-19 Euro qualifiers late last year.
The Carrigaline man and his fellow academy graduate Odel Offiah both came in for praise after their first top-flight starts, with de Zerbi saying “they did well and gave us new energy” following the defeat.
Also speaking before the trip to Bournemouth, De Zerbi hailed O’Mahony and compared him to another Irish striker at the club, Evan Ferguson, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
“I think Mark can be the new Evan Ferguson,” said De Zerbi.
Marcos Senesi is challenged by Mark O'Mahony at the Vitality Stadium. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“Mark is good in terms of possession and understands the play better. We have to think in the future, and I’m excited to think in the future because the young players have a big potential and will improve for sure.”
Elsewhere, it was also a day to remember for Izzy Atkinson, Abbie Larkin and Hayley Nolan as the Ireland trio won promotion to the Women’s Super League with Crystal Palace today.
The Eagles will play top-flight for the first time next season after a scoreless draw against Sunderland on the final day saw Laura Kaminski’s side secure the Women’s Championship title.
Nolan and Atkinson started at Selhurst Park with a record attendance of 6,796 taking in the historic result for the London side as they secured the second-tier title.
Nolan arrived at the Eagles last summer, while Atkinson and Larkin both signed last January, with all three set to become the latest Ireland internationals to feature in the English top-flight next term, alongside the likes of Arsenal's Katie McCabe and Everton's Courtney Brosnan.
