Oct 23,2024
For the McEneff brothers, a European meeting didn't feel like an inevitability.
Truth be told, like many, they weren’t exactly sure if the new UEFA Conference League draw format even made it possible but, on Thursday, they are set to cross paths competitively for the first time ever as Larne welcome Shamrock Rovers to Windsor Park.
Artificial intelligence had assisted draw-makers in Monaco in August and when all was said and done, a first major all-Ireland European clash was confirmed. With it came the chance for Larne’s Jordan and Rovers’ Aaron to finally sit in opposing dressing rooms, having never even shared one at senior level.
Moving to Arsenal's youth academy after representing Derry at Under-19 level, Jordan McEneff (23) finally made it back to his hometown in 2022, but his older brother (29) was long gone by then, playing for the Hoops, Hearts, Perth Glory and then returning back to Tallaght in January this year.
"Both of us were hoping for the big draw against Chelsea but I didn’t really know what way the draw worked before watching it because it’s a new format.
"I didn’t know we were able to get Rovers so when it came out we were straight on the phone, we couldn’t believe it.
"My da’s a Rovers fan so he’ll probably be in the Rovers end and my ma will be in the Larne end."
For the entire family, the novelty factor of the pair clashing - if selected - after both overcame recent knocks adds extra intrigue, as Larne try to bounce back from their loss to Molde while the Dublin side try to build on their encouraging draw with APOEL.
"We’ve never actually been on the pitch against each other," McEneff continued.
"At the start of the season, when I was still with Derry, I played against Rovers but he [Aaron] was out injured and, again, the game he played I was out injured.
"I’ve never played at Windsor. I’ve obviously went and watched games but I’ve never played there. The surface is unbelievable, the facilities and the stadium itself are great.
"Obviously, you’d be wanting to play at home in Larne, but it’s not a bad alternative."
McEneff’s move to Inver Park in August was another sign of Larne’s pulling power right now.
The back-to-back Irish League champions - their first and second-ever titles - weren't prepared to stand still, and the acquisition of Derry’s top scorer last season was a real statement of intent. To do it with the Candystripes right in the hunt for major honours only added an extra layer.
"To be fair it was hard [to leave Derry] because they’re still in the cup and they’re still in the running for the league so to have a league winners’ medal and possibly another FAI Cup medal would have been nice, and I think Derry can go on and do that.
"But after speaking to the manager [Tiernan Lynch] and the owner [Kenny Bruce] and just the vision they had both to play in Europe and to go and win leagues here, it’s something I wanted to do and I think it was the right decision."
It was a whirlwind start for the player at his new home, flying out days later to Portugal to come off the bench in the 2-1 loss to Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps before they turned things around in the second leg at Inver Park to become the first Irish League side to reach the league/group stage of a major European competition.
"To go to Portugal and then have the game at home and to win and qualify within a week of joining the club is probably the best scenario you could get when you join a club."
