Ryan O'Kane (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ryan O'Kane | ||
| Date of birth | 16 August 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Dundalk, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sligo Rovers (on loan from Shelbourne) | ||
| Number | 28 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Glenmuir | |||
| Rock Celtic | |||
| –2018 | Bellurgan United | ||
| 2018–2019 | Home Farm | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2020 | Warrenpoint Town | 3 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | Cliftonville | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Dundalk | 93 | (8) |
| 2025– | Shelbourne | 5 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Sligo Rovers (loan) | 3 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09:23, 26 July 2025 (UTC) | |||
Ryan O'Kane (born 16 August 2003) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers, on loan from Shelbourne.
Career
[edit]Youth career
[edit]Born and raised in Dundalk, O'Kane played with local clubs Glenmuir, Rock Celtic, and Bellurgan United, before being called up to the Dundalk Schoolboys League's representative side for the SuperCupNI in 2018, in which he scored 3 goals in 5 appearances before being named Junior Player of the Tournament.[1][2] He then moved to one of Dublin's top academy sides Home Farm before earning a move to NIFL Premiership club Warrenpoint Town.[3]
Warrenpoint Town
[edit]O'Kane made his senior debut for Warrenpoint Town on 10 August 2019, aged just 15, when he came off the bench for the final 20 minutes against Larne.[4] He made a further 2 senior appearances for the club but made no more after manager Stephen McDonnell was sacked, with O'Kane being released at the end of the season.[3]
Cliftonville
[edit]In July 2020, O'Kane signed for fellow NIFL Premiership club Cliftonville, but struggled to make a breakthrough at the club and became disillusioned with the game, to the point of considering quitting professional football, before being released in early 2021 without having made a senior appearance for the club.[3]
Dundalk
[edit]On 19 February 2021, O'Kane signed a 3 year professional contract with his hometown League of Ireland Premier Division club Dundalk, the club which his grandfather Tony was previously the chairman of.[5][6][7] He made his debut for the club on 26 March 2021, coming off the bench in a 2–1 defeat to Finn Harps at Oriel Park.[8] O'Kane made his first career appearance in Europe on 13 July 2021, replacing Daniel Kelly in the 69th minute of a 1–0 win away to Welsh side Newtown in the UEFA Europa Conference League.[9] He made 10 appearances in all competitions during his first season with the club.[10] He scored his first career goal in senior football on 26 August 2022, when he equalised in the 76th minute away to Wexford in the FAI Cup, as his side went on to win 3–2 after extra time at Ferrycarrig Park.[2] On 7 October 2022, he scored his first league goal for the club, in a 2–1 defeat to St Patrick's Athletic at Oriel Park.[11] On 24 October 2022, he signed a new 2 year contract with the club.[12][13] On 1 May 2023, O'Kane scored his sides second goal of the game in a 2–0 win away to UCD, finding the top left corner from 25 yards.[14] In the summer of 2023, he featured in all 4 of his sides UEFA Europa Conference League games as they knocked out Bruno's Magpies of Gibraltar before being knocked out by KA of Iceland.[15] He was named the club's Young Player of the Year for 2023.[16] On 19 July 2024, he made his 100th appearance for the club, in a 2–1 defeat at away to Drogheda United in the FAI Cup.[17] O'Kane made 36 appearances in all competitions in 2024, scoring 4 goals as his club were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division, ending a 16 year spell in the top flight.[18][19]
Shelbourne
[edit]On 26 November 2024, it was announced that O'Kane had signed a long-term contract with Damien Duff's Shelbourne.[20][21] He made his debut for the club on 7 February 2025, replacing Harry Wood from the bench in the 72nd minute of the 2025 President of Ireland's Cup which his side defeated Drogheda United to earn the first medal of his senior career.[22] Having made just 5 substitute appearances in the league by June 2025, O'Kane was sent out on loan in search of more regular first team football.[23]
Sligo Rovers loan
[edit]On 1 July 2025, O'Kane joined fellow League of Ireland Premier Division club Sligo Rovers on loan until the end of the season.[24] On 25 July 2025, he scored his first goal for the club, with an 89th minute winner to complete his side's comeback from 2–0 down to win the game 3–2 away to relegation rivals Cork City at Turners Cross.[25]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played on 25 July 2025[26]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Warrenpoint Town | 2019–20 | NIFL Premiership | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 | ||
| Cliftonville | 2020–21 | NIFL Premiership | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dundalk | 2021 | LOI Premier Division | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 21 | 3 | ||||
| 2023 | 34 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4[c] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
| 2024 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 1 | 36 | 4 | |||
| Total | 93 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 109 | 10 | ||
| Shelbourne | 2025 | LOI Premier Division | 5 | 0 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Sligo Rovers (loan) | 2025 | LOI Premier Division | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||
| Career Total | 104 | 9 | 9 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 122 | 11 | ||
- ^ Includes Irish Cup & FAI Cup
- ^ Appearance(s) in the County Antrim Shield
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the President of Ireland's Cup
- ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup
Honours
[edit]Club
[edit]- Shelbourne
Individual
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Agency, ZOMA Brand (March 12, 2021). "O'KANE ON CLOUD NINE". Dundalk FC.
- ^ a b Newberry, Niall (September 2, 2022). "Local talent Ryan O'Kane continues to impress for Dundalk FC". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ^ a b c "Ryan O'Kane nearly gave up football before Dundalk came calling – now he's emerging as a flying winger". www.independent.ie. August 19, 2022.
- ^ Reilly, Caoimhín (August 13, 2019). "Dundalk schoolboy makes Irish League debut at just 15". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ^ Agency, ZOMA Brand (February 19, 2021). "RYAN BECOMES A LILYWHITE". Dundalk FC.
- ^ "Former Dundalk chairman feeling proud as punch". Irish Independent. February 27, 2021.
- ^ https://www.extratime.com/articles/26646/teenager-ryan-okane-signs-three-year-pro-deal-dundalk/
- ^ "He's one of our own – O'Kane hoping to make an impact for Dundalk in 2022". Irish Independent. February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Ryan O'Kane looking forward to experiencing first European night at Oriel". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie. July 20, 2023.
- ^ https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/11138667/ryan_okane/?results=2021#detailed
- ^ Newberry, Niall (October 14, 2022). "Ryan O'Kane continuing to impress Lilywhites faithful". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ^ Agency, ZOMA Brand (October 24, 2022). "O'KANE SIGNS NEW TWO-YEAR CONTRACT". Dundalk FC.
- ^ "Highly-rated 19-year-old pens new contract with Dundalk". The 42. October 24, 2022.
- ^ "Teenager Ryan O'Kane scores screamer as Dundalk secure three points at UCD". Irish Independent. May 1, 2023.
- ^ https://www.extratime.com/player/stats/11138667/ryan_okane/?results=2023#detailed
- ^ Newberry, Niall (November 29, 2023). "Ryan O'Kane named Dundalk 1903 supporters club Young Player of the Year". www.dundalkdemocrat.ie.
- ^ "Dundalk FC hometown hero Ryan O'Kane set to make 100th appearance in senior football". www.independent.ie. July 18, 2024.
- ^ Agency, ZOMA Brand (October 16, 2024). "HOMETOWN TALK: RYAN O'KANE". Dundalk FC.
- ^ Agency, ZOMA Brand (October 18, 2024). "DUNDALK FC RELEGATED". Dundalk FC.
- ^ Donovan, Shane (November 26, 2024). "Ryan O'Kane seals move to Damien Duff's Shelbourne". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "Damien Duff secures first Shels signing of winter as Ryan O'Kane arrives from Dundalk". Irish Independent. November 26, 2024.
- ^ Pyne, Anthony (February 7, 2025). "Shels ease past 10-man Drogs to lift President's Cup" – via www.rte.ie.
- ^ "Ryan O'Kane is out to prove a point at Sligo Rovers having struggled for minutes this season at Shelbourne". www.independent.ie. July 1, 2025.
- ^ "Rovers agree deal for Ryan O'Kane – Sligo Rovers". July 1, 2025.
- ^ https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/ryan-okane-completes-stunning-sligo-rovers-comeback-to-break-cork-city-hearts-as-roy-keane-looks-on/a1170814829.html
- ^ "Republic of Ireland - R. O'Kane - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.