Mason Melia

Mason Melia (born 22 September 2007) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for St Patrick's Athletic.

Early life
Melia attended the Coláiste Chraobh Abhann, captaining the school's under-15 side to the 2022 Leinster U15s Shield, getting a goal and an assist in the 3–0 final victory.

Youth career
Initially in the academies of Newtown Juniors, St Joseph's Boys and Bray Wanderers, Melia moved to League of Ireland Premier Division side St Patrick's Athletic in the summer of 2022.

2023 season
His performances for the youth team of St Patrick's Athletic earned him a call up to the senior squad in January 2023, and he made his debut in a Leinster Senior Cup, coming off the bench to score in a 3–1 loss to Wexford. In doing so, he became St Patrick's Athletic's youngest ever player and youngest ever goal-scorer. In May 2023, with Eoin Doyle suspended and Tommy Lonergan ill, Melia was again drafted into the senior squad, and made his league debut as a substitute for Conor Carty in an eventual 3–0 win against Drogheda United in the LOI Premier Division. He became the club's youngest league debutant, and the third youngest in league history - behind Sam Curtis & Evan Ferguson. After the game, manager Jon Daly lauded Melia as an "exceptional" player. Following his performances for St Patrick's Athletic, he was linked with a move to English Premier League side Liverpool in March 2023. On 30 June 2023, Melia came off the bench to score his first senior league goal in a 7–0 win over UCD at Richmond Park, with the goal making him the youngest ever goalscorer in the League of Ireland Premier Division at 15 years and 281 days old. In August 2023, he spent time on trial at Manchester City. On 20 August 2023, Melia scored the winning penalty in a 4–3 shootout win over Derry City in the second round of the FAI Cup after a 0–0 draw at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. On 22 September 2023, on his 16th birthday, Melia came off the bench in the 83rd minute against Dundalk, before going on to win a penalty in injury time which he took himself and scored to secure a 3–1 win. On 9 November 2023, it was announced that Melia had signed his first professional contract with the club, signing a 3-year contract to keep him with the club until the end of the 2026 season. On 12 November 2023, Melia came off the bench in the 57th minute of the 2023 FAI Cup Final, making him the youngest ever player to play in an FAI Cup Final, as his side beat Bohemians 3–1 at the Aviva Stadium in front of a record breaking FAI Cup Final crowd of 43,881.

2024 season
His first goal of the 2024 season came on 22 January in a Leinster Senior Cup game away to Usher Celtic. Melia scored his first league goal of the season on 1 August 2024, coming off the bench in the 77th minute at home to Sligo Rovers and finding the bottom corner 9 minutes later from 25 yards to help his side to a 3–0 victory. On 10 May 2024, Melia scored the final goal of the game in a Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers in a 2–2 draw at Tallaght Stadium. On 31 May 2024, Melia scored a backpost header to open the scoring in a 2–1 win over Galway United to help his side to their first league win under new manager Stephen Kenny.

Personal life
Melia is the nephew of former Republic of Ireland international footballer and sports agent Clive Clarke.

International career
Melia has represented the Republic of Ireland from under-15 to under-17 level. He was part of the Irish under-16 side to win the 2022 Victory Shield, scoring in a 4–1 win in the final against Scotland.

He scored a hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland U17 side in a 3–0 against Ukraine, helping them qualify for the 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, for which he was also called up. At those championships he scored two goals in Ireland's final group game, against Hungary, in a 4–2 win which put his side through to the quarter-finals. On 11 October 2023, he scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Armenia U17 in a 2024 UEFA U-17 Euro qualification fixture in Fermoy.

In November 2023, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U19 side, for their 2024 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification games against Albania, Slovenia & Belgium.

Honours

 * St Patrick's Athletic
 * FAI Cup (1): 2023