Aidan follows One Direction

Pars on loan striker seeks to make his mark at Dunfermline by scoring goals.

The town of Mullingar is 50 miles north west of Dublin on the road to Sligo. It has a population of 21,000 but listed on Wikipedia as one of Mullingar’s notable persons, nestled on a list between Niall Horan from One Direction and Ryanair supremo, Michael O ‘Leary is the Pars on loan signing Aidan Keena. In typical Irish wit the 19 year old quipped to the website:-

“That will tell you more about Mullingar more than it will tell you about me to be honest. I know of them but I wouldn’t say I know them personally. It is a very small town but a lot of talent came out of it.”

Signed on loan from Hearts on 31st August, Pars fans have had to wait to see just how great a talent is Aidan Keena. He has now recovered from surgery and has joined Dunfermline for training.

Keena, a member of the St Patrick`s Athletic under 19`s squad, was called up to the first team by manager Liam Buckley for pre-season in January 2017 despite being just 17 years old.

He scored on his first team debut, in a 5–0 win over Bluebell United in a friendly. Keena made his first official appearance in senior football on 24 February 2017 when he came on as a 67th-minute substitute in the Saints opening game of the season against Bray Wanderers.

“In my first game I came on off the bench and got sent off. It wasn’t the best start.” With Pats trailing 2–0, Keena set up Graham Kelly for an 85th-minute goal before being shown a straight red card in the 91st minute for a late tackle on Dylan Connolly.

“I scored 18 in the reserves in the first season there and then scored 19 in 13 games in the second season before I came over here.

“I got a bit lucky with some of the people talking about me. I played with the reserves last year, did reasonably well and got a few chances in the first team as well. I went out on loan in the second half of last season and scored a few goals. That did me no harm.”

Jon Daly was responsible for taking him from Dublin to Edinburgh:-

“He is from Dublin as well and was asking about Dublin if there were any strikers around and somebody threw my name in the hat. I came over on trial and did well against Dalkeith. I scored a couple of goals, he liked me and I liked the club so I signed.”

Aidan played 85 minutes in Andy Kirk’s Hearts reserves in their 3-2 League Cup win against Kilmarnock last Monday and he now hopes that he is given the chance to score goals for Dunfermline:-

“That is a striker’s job but I will work hard and do my bit off the ball. When I do get the ball I’d like to think that I am decent as well. Hopefully I show that and I’m not choking on these words down the line.”

His appearances for Hearts reserves mean that he cannot play for Dunfermline reserves. The lack of goals in the first team might work in his favour:-

“I was working with the lads last week and the goals will definitely come. For whatever the reason, they are not scoring many right now but I’m sure that will subside now.”

Aidan has enjoyed his short time at Dunfermline and praised the spirit of the dressing room:-

“I get on with all the lads. They treat me like any other player who has just come in to train.

“I’m reasonably quick, right footed and prefer playing upfront but can play behind the striker or wide as well. I like scoring goals.”

Niall Horan and Michael O ‘Leary beware, Aidan Keena would love to be the most notable person from Mullingar.

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