Ryan Meara
By Max O’Neill
The New York Red Bulls have an Irish ace up their collective sleeve.
Goalkeeper Ryan Meara is indeed very connected to his Irish roots, happily recalling a trip to Ireland as a kid with his youth soccer team, Yonkers United, and winning the Dublin Cup there.
He has family in County Mayo and got a call up to the Ireland U-21 squad during his rookie year, but the Red Bulls wouldn’t let him go.
Meara is one of the few athletes in any sport who might get to stay in his home area for his entire career.
He is from Westchester County, New York, went to college at Fordham University in the Bronx and was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in 2012.
Meara was sent out on loan with the hopes of getting playing time in 2015 – but only as far as New York City FC for that club’s inaugural season.
NYCFC, of course, plays its home games at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Meara discussed playing locally saying, “I feel very fortunate to have been able to play, this is my 6th season now and to be able to play in New York, the whole time is something I don’t take for granted at all.”
He talked fondly about being a young kid and going to MetroStars games at the old Giants Stadium, watching guys like Tim Howard play.
The Hudson River Derby is quickly becoming one of the biggest rivalries in Major League Soccer and Meara is one of only three players to play for both New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls at some point in their careers.
The other players who hold this honor are Jason Hernandez, who played for the MetroStars in 2005 and NYCFC from 2015 to 2016, and Mehdi Ballouchy who played for the Red Bulls from 2010 to 2012 and NYC from 2015 to 2016.
With regards to the blossoming rivalry, Meara said: “As just a pure soccer fan, I think it’s one of the best things to ever happen to soccer in New York, you know even, as you said I’m one of the few guys that’s been on both sides of it.
“But I think you see every time we play each other, it’s always a huge game it’s at Red Bull Arena or Yankee Stadium, it’s always close to sold out if not sold out and for the most part the games have been good.”
The last time the New York Red Bulls made the U.S. Open Cup Final was 2003 and they lost with Jonny Walker in net and they were playing against Jesse Marsch and his Chicago Fire squad.
This time around the Red Bulls were coached by Marsch when they played Sporting Kansas City for the cup.
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out for Meara, who started in goal, and his team. They lost a tight game 2-1.
But there’s always next time.
Meara, now 26 so still very young for a keeper, talked about the run that the Red Bulls had in this season’s cup tournament, which included a home win against NYCFC saying, “It’s been great, I mean, I think anytime you have a chance to win a cup, it’s something you are always excited for.
“So, we approached the Open Cup this year as a big opportunity to win something and for me personally it was great to get a run of games and just do my part within the team.”
The New York Red Bulls are the only original MLS franchise to be without an MLS Cup.
Last season, the Red Bulls USL team Red Bulls II had a successful season, finishing the regular season 21-3-6, which was good for the first in the league and the USL Supporter’s Shield.
In the playoffs, Meara’s heroics in a penalty kick shootout in the USL Eastern Conference championships vs Louisville City FC saved the day.
And then at Red Bull Arena in front of the New York Red Bull first team - who came back from Philadelphia in time to watch the game - the young bucks defeated Swope Park Rangers to win the USL championship.
Meara talked about that team and the desire to replicate the trophy win with an MLS Cup at home saying, “I think last season playing with Red Bull II was great for me, it was a great way for me to get a full season of games.
“Obviously, we had a great team, we set a bunch of USL records and then to lift that cup in the way we did, winning the final 5-1 at Red Bull Arena, it was great, it was something I’ll never forget, I think it has motivated a lot of guys to want to take the next step now and have that be whether it is an Open Cup, or an MLS Cup, take the next step and lift one of those cups.”
As the Red Bulls take to the field in various campaigns over the next few years it looks as if they will do so with Ryan Meara guarding the net.
Not bad at all for a local boy made good.
