RD Goalkeeper 121

My name is Ryan Donnelly, founder of RD Goalkeeper. I’m a 19-year-old goalkeeper coach with a deep passion for developing young goalkeepers through high-intensity, match-realistic training sessions.

My journey in football began at Crumlin United, where I played at Premier level and earned selection for the DDSL Representative Team for two consecutive years. During this period, I competed in an All-Ireland Final, won Leinster Titles, and lifted the Sligo Cup.

At U13, I progressed to the League of Ireland with Bray Wanderers, spending three years training under top-level goalkeeper coaches. I later joined Shelbourne FC for a season before returning to Crumlin United at U17, where I had a standout year—winning a treble, receiving Player of the Year honours, and recording the most clean sheets in the league. I also secured medals at U18 and in the Leinster Senior League.

At U18 level, I enjoyed further success, winning the league and capturing Leinster and All-Ireland titles with the DDSL, while also representing the Leinster Football Association. As captain of the U19 side, I led the team to a league and cup double, while playing regularly at senior level for Crumlin’s Saturday and Intermediate teams.

Following a successful playing career, I transitioned into coaching—starting with the Crumlin United Academy, where I worked with goalkeepers aged 6 to 17. This experience gave me a strong foundation in goalkeeper coaching and a deep understanding of player development across age groups and ability levels.

I currently hold the PDP 1, PDP 2, 7v7, and 9v9 coaching certifications, and am actively working towards my goalkeeper-specific coaching badges. I am also Garda Vetted and have completed Safeguarding Training to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all players.

At RD Goalkeeper, my mission is simple: to develop the next generation of confident, technically sound goalkeepers through quality coaching that mirrors the demands of the modern game.