The “Conna Maradona”, who returned to Cork from Nottingham Forest, attracted much attention from other clubs due to his City exploits. This led to a move to the then cash rich Shelbourne (well, so we thought the time) but it was a switch that the player himself admits didn't quite work out.

A return to Cork City for a season was followed by spells at Derry and Waterford United before he surfaced at Dandenong Thunder, a Victorian Premier league club based in the Melbourne suburbs.

The now 31-year-old Kearney is ready for a return to the league after his spell away and told me why he’s returned and how excited he is to work under new Leesiders boss John Caufield.