'I just couldn’t believe it went in' - Young Irish footballer scores first Liverpool goal

Irish athlete Conor Bradley scored his first Premier League goal and was named Man of the Match as Liverpool defeated Chelsea at Anfield last night (Wednesday January 31). 

Bradley, who hails from just outside the village of Killeen in west Tyrone, ran with Finn Valley AC as a teenager. 

The 20-year-old cracked in a superb second goal in Liverpool’s 4-1 win, a victory that keeps the Reds five points clear at the top of the Premier League.

“Its a very proud moment,” Bradley beamed. "It’s something that I’ve dreamed of for a long time. I feel like I’m in a dream. It’s unbelievable.

“I just couldn’t believe it went in. It’s been brilliant. I just have to try and take my chance. I feel like I’ve done pretty well and I just want to keep it up.”

As well as a 39th minute goal, Bradley also provided the assists for Diego Jota and Dominik Szoboszlai, while Luis Diaz added a fourth.

“He will be absolutely delighted and it’s no more than his performance deserved,” Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler said of Bradley, adding: “That was not the finish of a full back.”

Bradley, who has been capped 13 times by Northern Ireland, played 68 minutes before being replaced by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Bradley joined Liverpool FC’s Academy in 2019 and in May 2021 he signed a three-year pro contract.

He made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup tie against Norwich in September 2021 and Jurgen Klopp spoke in glowing terms of the right-back.

The Liverpool manager said: “He is incredible. Wonderful. People have told me that the crowd was signing his name already. It’s just great.

“I think he is flying at the moment. He is working hard. He is a good footballer and has helped us so much. It is incredible.”

As Bradley raced clear before riffling past Djordje Petrovic, there were those at Finn Valley AC who were taken back in time.

Bradley won the 2013 Donegal juvenile cross country championship in the blue and white vest of Finn Valley. The event was held at Porter’s Field in Castlefin and Bradley, then a schoolboy in Aghyaran, delivered an eye-catching display, digging deep to grab the gold.

He followed up a few months later at the 2014 school sports at Finn Valley, winning the 600m, staving off Letterkenny pair Liam Hannigan and Joseph Aidoo.