By Mark McCadden

Copyright irishmirror

Mason Melia celebrated his 18th birthday the only way he knows how – by hitting the back of the net.

The Ireland Under-21 striker scored in the 18th minute of St Patrick’s Athletic’s League of Ireland clash with Cork City on Monday night.

Melia powerfully headed home Simon Power’s cross at the back post for the Saints’ second goal of the game – and he followed that up in the 58th minute with another.

He has now scored 12 goals in the league so far this season and 14 overall, with strikes also coming in the FAI Cup and the Europa Conference League.

Now that Melia is 18, he is no longer restricted from moving to the UK, as is now the case because of Brexit.

He will complete his move from the Richmond Park side to Premier League outfit Tottenham next January, after seeing out the 2025 season with St Pat’s.

It’s his third season in senior football. He made his league debut in May 2023, four months before his 16th birthday, and became the third youngest player to debut in the League of Ireland, behind Sam Curtis and Evan Ferguson.

This is his most prolific campaign to date, with his 14 goals topping the seven he scored last year.

Spurs have agreed a League of Ireland record €1.9million fee for the striker, with that due to rise when performance-related clauses are met.

You can watch his goal against Cork City here…

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