Things will come full circle for Shelbourne striker Mipo Odubeko on Friday night.
As a child growing up in Jobstown, he would sometimes ramble down to Tallaght Stadium and plead at the gates to be ball boy for Shamrock Rovers games. Occasionally he'd get the nod.
These were the days when Gary Twigg was banging in goals for the Hoops. The prolific Scotsman made a big impression on a young Mipo; now the 22-year-old is aiming to upset the same supporters he once walked among in Dublin 24.
"I grew up down the road from Tallaght Stadium so if you got there early enough, and if you begged them hard enough, they would let you be a ballboy at the games," Odubeko recalled.
"So me and a couple of my mates would go down two or three hours before kick-off and yeah, we'd get to be ballboys at the Rovers games. I grew up loving football so they were my early experiences in football, stuff like that.
"It's funny how life is. Going back there with the (Republic of Ireland) Under-21s, it was always enjoyable, even when we trained there a couple of times the day before games, I really enjoyed it. It’s a place I enjoy going back to."
Odubeke came to Tolka Park over the winter with a big reputation and a point to prove. He has three league goals to his name in 11 matches (two in his last three) but could have trebled that tally. He's constantly among the action, and has a tendency to shoot on sight.
Roddy Collins' recent assertion that Odubeko is "probably one of the worst finishers I've seen in Irish football" was given short shrift by Damien Duff, who described it as "a really poor comment". Odubeko insists the criticism was water off a duck's back.
"I didn't really pay attention to it," he said. "I think a few people showed me what he said but yeah, I didn’t really pay any attention it. Stuff like that just motivates me to get better, to improve my finishing."
Having Duff in his corner is obviously a help, while Odubeko revealed he uses another well-known Tallaght striker for inspiration.
"Growing up where I grew up all you knew was Robbie Keane, ye know? All we knew was Robbie Keane.
"He was everyone's idol, and there were a couple of times he came back to the school. I played for Crumlin when I was younger, he played for Crumlin as well so there were a couple of times he would come down to the astro and stuff like that. Growing up where I grew up, everything was Robbie Keane.
"(Duff) says it to me all the time in training. When we're doing extra finishing he’s always banging on about the side foot (finish). He calls it 'The Robbie Keane'. That’s our thing."
Asked if he's improved under the ex-Ireland winger's watch, Odubeko's reply was emphatic: "Yeah 100%, 100%. I think he's a great coach, and not only is he a great coach, he’s a very good human as well. I feel like he’s the first manager that’s put his arm around me.
"His demands for me are very high because I think he knows what I’m capable of. He’s shown me a lot of love, even before I came here and since I’ve been here, so yeah I’m really enjoying working under him."
"I'd like to think they'll be ready and they’ll be looking for three points tomorrow night."
It'll be an interesting battle tomorrow. Shels, who pipped Shamrock Rovers to the title last season, have only lost once so far but six draws - more than any other team in the division - means they're on the same number of points as the hot-and-cold Hoops.
Stephen Bradley's men are bruised after the Bank Holiday Monday collapse against Bohs; Shelbourne expect a reaction. There's also a chance Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson will be in attendance, with Odubeko openly declaring his ambition to earn a senior call-up at some point.
"As long as I'm doing well for Shelbourne and I score goals, and the team's winning, then I'd give myself every chance to be in the conversation," he said.
"It's in the back of my mind but it's not my main focus now.
"Shamrock Rovers are a really good side and have really good players but I feel like we're a good side too and we’re showing that in the dominance we’re having in the last couple of games.
"Bohs came from behind and beat them on their home patch. I'd like to think they’ll be ready and they’ll be looking for three points tomorrow night. It should be a good game."
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