It’s a little-known fact that a youthful Lincoln City side progressed to the Lincolnshire Senior Cup semi-final this evening (Wednesday), with a 4-0 win against Boston United.
A City side featuring Hayden Cann, Oisin Gallagher, and Gbolahan Okewoye brushed the Pilgrims aside in a low-key affair. Those three players were all on the scoresheet for the Imps, as was one Gbemi Arubi. Arubi scored just before half time, and unless it is an extreme coincidence, it could be the same Gbemi Arubi who appeared several times for League of Ireland side Shelbourne last season.
Arubi is a 19-year-old striker who was described by Damien Duff as having ‘a bit of X-factor’ earlier in the season (I would link, but the quote came from The Sun, so I won’t). He’s been a part of the Ireland Under 19 squad, earning his first call-up in May 2022 and was still involved in February this year. He’s been at Shelbourne since Under 15 level, and he came on for the final minutes of their 3-2 win against UCD in October – the same 3-2 win in which Jack Moylan scored a hattrick, watched by Jez George and Liam Scully.
He’s made eight appearances for Shels, all from the bench, and as yet hasn’t bagged a goal. The total time he’s been exposed to senior football over those eight games is 155 minutes, so he is very much a youngster with potential rather than a player who has already broken through.
Still, a goal in a quarter-final for the Imps is not to be sniffed at, so it’s worth remembering the name. If he is to move to the club permanently, it would take our Irish contingent to seven (Moylan, Mandroiu, O’Connor, Gallagher, Roughan and Duffy). Interestingly, whilst there have been some critics of our shopping in those divisions, all have senior experience in the side, bar Moylan, and have added value and depth to the first-team squad.
Who knows, perhaps we’re gently polishing a diamond in the Under 19s.