Praise abound for son of Mayo native after debut for new club

New Stade de Reims midfielder John Patrick Finn delivered a standout performance on his first start for the French side in their 1-1 draw against Paris Saint-Germain.

The 21-year-old Madrid-born midfielder, who signed from Getafe just two weeks ago, was named in the starting XI for the Ligue 1 clash and showed promise before being substituted after 68 minutes.

“All our players are to be highlighted. It was John Patrick's first start, and he showed character,” said Reims manager Luka Elsner, praising Finn’s composed debut against a star-studded PSG outfit which included Ousmane Dembele, Fabian Ruiz and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Finn rose through the ranks at Getafe, making his La Liga debut at just 17. Despite being eligible to represent Spain and Cameroon, Finn has expressed his desire to play for the Republic of Ireland.

Though he has yet to feature in a competitive match for Ireland, Finn remains firmly in the FAI’s plans and with a tricolour wrapped around him at his recent unveiling it’s not difficult to see where his allegiances are.

Ireland’s lack of midfield options could open up the opportunity for John Patrick Finn to be included in future Ireland squads, particularly with the loss of Ogbene and Ebosele causing a selection head ache for Heimir Hallgrimsson ahead of the March international break.

Finn’s younger brother Brandon, who is still at Getafe, has also caught the attention of Irish scouts.

Capped at U-15 level by Ireland in 2021, Brendan remains a prospect for the national setup at youth level.