EX-CLIFTONVILLE hero Ronan Hale has completed an international switch from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland after a lengthy process spanning months, sources confirmed.
The move, which Michael O’Neill has talked about extensively at press conferences, was subject to clearance by FIFA, which in some cases could take up to a year to be granted. However, in Hale’s case, the process took five months to get the rubber stamp.
The 26-year-old was capped at U19 and U21 level for the Republic of Ireland, scoring five goals in 12 games for the Boys in Green.
Since last August (when the international transfer process started), O’Neill has been looking at Hale “like he was our player”, such was both parties’ commitment to the transfer.
This is the north Belfast native’s second transfer in 12 months, having left his hometown club of Cliftonville for pastures anew at Ross County in the Scottish Premiership.
In his last game for the Reds of north Belfast, he scored two goals in last season’s Irish Cup final to help Cliftonville to their first triumph in the competition since 1979.
“If I take you back to the conversation I had with Ronan, I had a long conversation with him not long after he moved to Ross County and explained to him what the process was,” said O’Neill in October last year.
“He was very adamant that he wanted to do it and then the process started from there.”
That conversation between O’Neill and Hale was kickstarted after questions of why there was an in-form striker available (a problem area for Northern Ireland) and O’Neill was not trying him out in his squad.
“Because he has played for the Republic of Ireland. I wouldn’t pick a player unless he had committed to do an international transfer,” said O’Neill in reply, who then invited Hale to discuss that possibility with him.
Hale has excelled for Ross County this season and is hoping to be an instant selection for Michael O’Neill after scoring eight goals in 25 games for the Staggies.
Hale started his career with Birmingham City and has also had spells at Derry City, Larne, St Patrick’s Athletic and Crusaders during his career to date, with his brother Rory joining him on a few of those spells, at Derry City, Crusaders and their boyhood club of Cliftonville.
Rory has previously spoken about his own commitment to the Republic of Ireland and committed to the Boys in Green back in 2017.
“I grew up in north Belfast,” said Rory Hale.
“I’m Irish, my family is Irish and I want to play for Ireland. I’ve always been an Ireland fan.”
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