Caoimhín Kelleher windfall a reward for 'fantastic work' done by Cork soccer club 

News that Cork amateur soccer club Ringmahon Rangers is to receive an unprecedented €3m sell-on windfall from its former goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher’s transfer has been met with excitement locally.

The 26-year-old Cork native has signed for West London club Brentford from Liverpool for a reported initial fee of £12.5m (€15m).

He has joined the London club on a five-year contract, with the club having the option of extending his stay by a further 12 months.

The shot-stopper played most of his underage football at the southside club, and Ringmahon is reported to have agreed a 20% sell-on fee with Liverpool when he moved to Merseyside — the largest ever sell-on payment received by an Irish club.

Of that 20% fee, 20% is set to pass to Mr Kelleher’s first club, Whitechurch-based Rockmount AFC.

Ringmahon’s reported €3m payday has been greeted as “fantastic news” by former Sinn Féin councillor and lord mayor of Cork, Chris O’Leary.

“Caoimhín’s windfall is just brilliant for the club, which does fantastic work with young people who might not otherwise get that chance in life,” Mr O’Leary said.

“The knock-on effect of this, and it’s fantastic news, will be felt not just in Ringmahon Rangers but in the wider Mahon community as well. It is such as great community club, and it has always been open to children right across the community. There will be great benefits outside of the club as well, which shows you the strength of the club.”

Pádraig O’Sullivan, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North Central, said the windfall was great news for Rockmount.

“What is brilliant about this is that the clubs that nurtured Caoimhín Kelleher will now be able to look to the future with a bit more confidence and know that they will be able to nurture the next Caoimhín Kelleher, and all the other young people who will benefit from being members of those clubs,” Mr O’Sullivan said.