Best Irish Football Prospects 2024
Amid a lot of negativity surrounding the Irish senior team, it would be easy to forget about the number of exciting prospects we have coming through the various underage ranks.
Today I’ve compiled a starting eleven containing what I believe to be our best prospect in every position (under the age of twenty-two and not already an Irish international).
Judging and comparing players potential is almost impossible, so I have mainly focused on players who have (or are currently) played men’s football from a very young age. This is how it went…
Prospects XI
Goalkeeper: Josh Keeley
Age: 21
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
The Ireland U21 number one enjoyed a brilliant 2023/2024 season, starting 19 games as his Spurs U21s side won the PL2.
Ireland’s goalkeeping options are strong at the moment, with Gavin Bazunu and Caoimhin Kelleher providing healthy competition for each other, but Keeley will be worth tracking this year.
Notable mention: Andrew Wogan (Stockport)
Right back: Sam Curtis
Age: 18
Club: Sheffield United
The easiest player to pick in this team and the youngest player ever to play in the League of Ireland, Sam Curtis has been a revelation at right back in Irish football since making his debut at just 14.
Curtis was a regular for St Patrick’s Athletic for two seasons before moving to Sheffield United where he has since made his Premier League debut The 18-year-old is the current first choice right back in the Irish 21s and has a huge future in the game.
Notable Mention: Kaylem Harnett (Wexford FC)
Right centre back- Cathal Heffernan
Age: 19
Club: Newcastle United
Hailing from Cork, Cathal Heffernan has been much talked about in Irish football since his move to AC Milan in 2022. Now at Newcastle United after joining at the start of last season, Heffernan has built on his experience by captaining the Magpies under-21s in the PL2 and UEFA Youth League.
The 19-year-old will be seeking a loan move in due course, and will have no doubt benefited from playing at elite clubs and making use of their excellent facilities, something that wouldn’t have been possible had he stayed at home.
Notable Mention: Connor O’Riordan(Blackburn)
Left centre back- Anselmo Garcia MacNulty
Age: 21
Club: PEC Zwolle
Born in Spain, Anselmo Garcia MacNulty qualifies to play for Ireland through his Clare born mother. Now an Irish under-21 international, he is playing his football with PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie after a successful loan spell at NAC Breda in the Dutch second division the previous campaign.
A ball playing centre half, the 21-year-old left footer has impressed for the Irish under-21s this year and will look to continue his upward career trajectory by breaking into the Ireland senior set up in the coming seasons.
Notable Mention: Alex Murphy (Newcastle)
Left back: Sean Roughan
Age: 20
Club: Lincoln City
Another current Irish under-21 international, Sean Roughan is a player who has been tipped to become a Premier League player by many. Since joining Lincoln in 2020, the former Drogheda loanee has played consistent men’s football for the past three seasons and will feel it’s now time to kick on to a higher level.
It was a toss up between him, Tayo Adaramola and Alex Murphy, but Roughan’s wealth of experience playing men’s football edges it in his favour.
Notable Mention: Tayo Adaramola (Crystal Palace)
Defensive midfield: James McManus
Age: 19
Club: Bohemians FC
At defensive midfield, when compared to other positions on this list, there is a lack of strength in depth. However, James McManus is a very highly rated prospect in Irish football at the moment, making 24 appearances last season in the league, scoring two goals and providing two assists.
The 19-year-old is unlikely to be in Ireland much longer, with Bohs knocking back a reported fee of €250,000 from an unnamed Championship club shortly after he completed his Leaving Cert.
Notable Mention: Danny McGrath (Lommel SK)
Centre-midfield: Romeo Akachukwu
Age: 17
Club: Southampton
The first member from the Irish Under-17 team who reached the quarter finals of the Euros last summer to appear on this list, Romeo Akachukwu is the type of all-round midfielder that the Irish senior team is crying out for. Relatively tall, physical and technically sound, Akachukwu made seven Premier Division this season before packing his bags for Southampton’s under-21 side.
The 17-year-old scored a hat-trick in the First Division promotion semi-final last season as Waterford made their way to the final and is expected to make a similar impact in the English underage system.
Notable Mention: Bosun Lawal (Celtic)
Attacking Midfield: Naj Razi
Age: 17
Club: Como
Naj Razi is settling in at Serie A side Como after an exciting breakthrough at Shamrock Rovers linked him with giants no smaller than Real Madrid. After an extremely impressive performance for the Ireland u17s at the Euros last summer, Razi built on it by making his European debut away to Ferancavoros, and his league debut away to UCD last September.
A tricky, technically gifted attacking midfielder who uses his low centre of gravity to turn quickly, Razi represents the exact type of player lacking in the Irish senior team since the days of Wes Hoolahan.
Notable Mention: Harry Vaughan (Hull City)
Left winger: Ike Orazi
Age: 17
Club: Stade de Reims
Another star of that Irish Under-17 Euros team, Ike Orazi is a highly rated prospect on the left wing for Ireland. Aged fifteen during last summer’s tournament, Orazi scored two goals and provided two assists to get fans on their feet and scouts scribbling notes.
The teenager opted to move to France to join Stade de Reims, who hold an excellent reputation in developing young talent and giving opportunities to academy graduates. Orazi is a name that you will continue to hear in the coming years. Honourable mention to Kevin Zefi who could have very easily been picked in Ike’s place.
Notable Mention: Kevin Zefi (Roma)
Right winger: Trent Kone-Doherty
Age: 18
Club: Liverpool
Born in Derry, Trent Kone-Doherty came through the Derry City academy before joining Liverpool in July 2022. Kone-Doherty missed the U17 European Championships last summer due to injury but put that behind him by starting and scoring for Liverpool’s under-21 team in the 2023/2024 campaign.
The 17-year-old is highly rated at Liverpool and was even included in first team training ahead of their game against Everton last October.
Notable Mention: Cathal O’Sullivan (Cork City)
Striker: Mason Melia
Age: 16
Club: St Patricks Athletic
The youngest player in this team and the youngest ever League of Ireland goal scorer, Mason Melia is another huge League of Ireland prospect. Like Ike Orazi, The Wicklow teenager starred for the Ireland U17s in 2023 whilst just fifteen years of age.
Unlike Orazi, Melia signed a new deal to stay in the League of Ireland – where is getting plenty of starts for Pat’s under Stephen Kenny – instead of making a move to the continent. Melia was on trial with Manchester City last year after scoring two goals in his first ten league appearances for St Pat’s, but won’t be able to make a move to England until he turns eighteen due to Brexit transfer regulations.
Melia rounds off the eleven as the third current League of Ireland player in the team. Special mention to Brighton’s Mark O’Mahony who was Melia’s main competitor for the striker berth.
Notable Mention: Mark O’Mahony
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