Young Offaly soccer star making waves Stateside

TALENTED Tullamore soccer prospect Mark Holton scored twice to help his United States college team to victory this week.

The Colaiste Choilm past pupil, who is on a soccer scholarship at Campbellsville University, Kentucky bagged the brace on his debut for the Campbellsville Tigers against Midway University Eagles.

Still only 18, Mark completed the Leaving Certificate this year and is one of two Midlands boys at Campbellsville.

Oisin Lalor, Kilcavan, a former underage soccer teammate of young Holton, is also in his first year at the same university and plays alongside the Tullamore teenager.

Campbellsville won the match 4-2 and Mark Holton sent them on their way with goals in the fourth and 10th minutes.

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His multi-national side went 4-0 up with second half goals from South African second year, Mihlali Blesi, and Izan Garcia Gancedo, a first year student from Spain, before the opponents scored twice.

Mark Holton first played soccer with Mucklagh and was coached by Kane Lynch, Michael Burns and David Power.

He then made his mark with an excellent Tullamore Town team which dominated underage divisions in the Midlands Schoolboys League under the guidance of Mick Conroy and Brendan Bracken.

Later, coaches John O'Connor, Martin Cunningham, Noel Courtney and Gary Seery all played a role in the striker's development and he went on to sign for Longford Town, Bohemians, St Kevin's and Shelbourne.

Mark, a son of local businessman Liam Holton, chief executive of Future Ticketing, and his wife Olivia, also played football with Tullamore GAA where he was noted for his free-taking ability.