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Ronan Hale says he is prepared for any criticism after switching his international allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland.
The 26-year-old forward was named in Michael O’Neill’s squad for the upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden after receiving FIFA clearance in January. Born in Belfast, Hale previously represented the Republic at the under-19 and under-21 levels.
“I know some people won’t be happy, but it was a big decision and one I’m comfortable with,” Hale told BBC Sport NI. “I’m a big lad, I can handle it. Once you make a decision, you just move on. Hopefully, I can win people over with my performances on the pitch.”
Hale, who previously played for Birmingham City, has been in strong form this season, scoring 12 goals in all competitions for Ross County since joining from Irish Premiership club Cliftonville. He left Cliftonville on a high note, scoring twice in their 3-1 victory over Linfield in the Irish Cup final last May.
“It was a great few months for me, and I wanted to give myself another shot at full-time professional football,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger, and I was ready to take the leap. Now, I’m playing full-time across the water and on the verge of my international debut—it’s the perfect way to top off a great year.”
‘I’ve Been Itching to Get In There’
Hale’s international switch took time, forcing him to miss the Nations League matches last autumn. Now that his clearance is finalized, he is eager to contribute in the friendlies, which serve as preparation for Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign starting in September.
“It’s been tough waiting to be selected,” he admitted. “I watched the games wanting to be there. The process took a while, but thankfully, it’s sorted now, and I can’t wait to get started. It’s a young squad that’s on the rise, and I’m excited to be part of it.”
Hale credited conversations with Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill for helping him make the decision.
“Jim Magilton [Cliftonville manager and former Northern Ireland international] told me Michael liked me and wanted to have a chat. I was open to it, and once I made my move to Ross County, everything fell into place. I spoke with my family, and they fully supported it.”
With both club and international goals in mind, Hale is determined to finish the season strongly.
“I’m not usually one for setting targets, but I aimed for 10 goals by Christmas, and I hit that in January. Now, I just want to score as many as possible and add some international goals too. We have a big game against Hearts this weekend, and a win would set me up nicely for the international break.”
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