Delight as Mansfield Town recruit top class keeper coach

Mansfield Town believe that former Ireland international goalkeeper Seamus McDonagh is the perfect addition to their backroom staff.
Seamus McDonagh with Darren Randolph of the Republic of Ireland prior to their World Cup Qualifier against Wales in March 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.Seamus McDonagh with Darren Randolph of the Republic of Ireland prior to their World Cup Qualifier against Wales in March 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.
Seamus McDonagh with Darren Randolph of the Republic of Ireland prior to their World Cup Qualifier against Wales in March 2017 in Dublin, Ireland.

The ex-Notts County, Everton, Bolton and Rotherham star was this week named as the club's new goalkeeping coach.

Earlier in the season Conrad Logan was taking the sessions with fellow keepers Bobby Olejnik and Aidan Stone, but has since gone out on loan.

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McDonagh, who has worked closely with Martin O'Neill at both club and international level, has taken over and assistant boss Joe Dunne said: “We are delighted Seamus has been able to join us between now and the end of the season.

“It's a position that needed filling with the goalkeepers we have got.

“He has great experience and has worked at the highest level with the Republic of Ireland, following Martin O'Neill.

“He has been there, seen it, done it. But he still has that passion for the game – that hunger to improve people and keep driving on.

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“He doesn't live too far away so it's a perfect fit for both parties.

“He keeps in contact with the gaffer and when we knew he was available and the opportunity arose to get him in and get some help, we jumped at it.”

Dunne continued: “He brings calmness and great coaching knowledge.

“It's good for us as a staff to be able to speak to him and bounce things off him. He will give us great knowledge.

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“You look at the players and team he has worked with and at the highest level in big competitions. He will be brilliant for Stoney and Bobby.”

McDonagh is known to be a huge character in the game and Dunne smiled: “Graham (Coughlan) has know him longer than I have.

“But knowing what he's done in the game and all about him, and in the short time he's been in, listening to his great stories he's telling us, he's a great character to have around. We can only benefit from it.”

McDonagh won 25 caps for Ireland and made more than 400 appearances in the English leagues. He then became a goalkeeping coach, most recently working as head goalkeeping coach at Nottingham Forest.