Mallow's Shane Reidy flies the Cork flag for Ireland

For 17-year-old Mallow sports fanatic Shane Reidy, life revolves around sport. 

Whether he is scoring goals on the soccer pitch, shooting hoops on the basketball court, swimming, playing darts in his bedroom or cheering on his beloved Tottenham Hotspur, sport is never far from his mind. Now, the Patrician Academy fifth-year student is preparing for the biggest sporting adventure of his young life after being selected to represent Ireland at the Special Olympics in Santiago, Chile.

Shane, who has been involved with Special Olympics Mallow since the age of 13, is one of a number of talented young athletes who will proudly wear the green jersey on the international stage.

His journey to the Irish squad is a source of enormous pride for his family, particularly his mother Deborah, who says the news is still taking some time to sink in.

"We as a family are extremely proud and still in shock that our boy will represent his country in doing something that he loves," said Deborah.

For Shane, however, the excitement of the opportunity was perhaps best summed up by one innocent question.

"Shane asked, do we need to get a bus to Chile, not realising how far away it is," Deborah laughed.

It is a question that perfectly captures the enthusiasm and innocence of a young man whose world is centred around the things he loves most.

And there is certainly no shortage of sporting interests in Shane's life. Soccer is his number one passion, and he trains with Special Olympics Mallow, but his sporting talents and interests extend across a wide range of disciplines.

Through Special Olympics Mallow, he participates in soccer, badminton, basketball and floorball. He also enjoys swimming, horse riding and table tennis. At home, he is a keen darts player and is particularly obsessed with young darts sensation Luke Littler, often practising his throws in his bedroom.

When he is not taking part himself, Shane is an enthusiastic spectator. He enjoys watching rugby and cricket, while also following his beloved Spurs. He even helps his dad out as a golf caddy.

"Shane lives for sport. It really is his outlet. He loves the company and social side of it. He loves to celebrate with a song and a dance."

Shane has autism, a mild learning disability and dyspraxia, and Deborah says that being involved in sport has brought enormous benefits to his life, particularly when it comes to his coordination, confidence and social interaction.

"Sport helps him with his coordination. At Special Olympics Mallow, all the kids are on a similar level to Shane, so it definitely helps with his interaction."

His recent performances at the MTU blitz, where his remarkable tally of nine goals attracted the attention of an FAI scout, opened the door to an even bigger opportunity. Following his achievements, Shane's name was entered into a selection lottery for the World Cup squad. He was subsequently chosen to represent Ireland.

Building blocks

Now, the countdown is on to Chile.

Shane will meet his new teammates in March, when preparations and training will begin ahead of the trip to Santiago next October. The build-up will also involve travelling to Dublin for training camps, including overnight stays, giving Shane the chance to experience another new challenge while preparing for the international competition.

Deborah believes that while the travel and preparation will be a big undertaking, her son is more than ready to embrace it.

"It will be great to see Shane tackle another challenge where he will have to travel to Dublin for training camps and stay overnight. But again, sport is his life and I have no doubt he will tackle it head-on."

Shane is also fiercely competitive, with a determination to win that Deborah believes will make him a valuable member of the Irish team.

He is a very competitive person and wants to win at all costs, so we know he will be a huge asset to the team."

Of course, there is one area where his competitive spirit may need a little work. His family never misses an opportunity to tease him about his unwavering support for Spurs.

"We slag him about following Spurs, so he is used to losing," Deborah joked.

For now, though, Shane has every reason to celebrate. From the sporting fields of Mallow to the international stage in Chile, his journey is a testament to his passion, dedication and the opportunities that inclusive sport can provide.

And while representing Ireland will undoubtedly be the highlight of his sporting career to date, for Shane, the greatest joy will likely remain the same as it has always been: playing the sports he loves, being part of a team, making friends and celebrating every success with a song and a dance.