10 Best Irish Prospects 21 & Under

[Crosby87]

I wanted to ask all of the fine football minds on here, especially you all who have a lot of knowledge of the current player depth, to rate the top 10 Irish prospects in your opinion.
Lets consider for the purpose of discussion any player who is currently in the system and is 21 years of age or younger.
I think it will be fun to see how people expect certain players to develop and how highly some players get rated or left off.
Remember, its about who you think will blossom, not necessarily the best player as of this moment.
I am not informed enough to take a crack at it personally but I hope people will want to.

[Razors left peg]

The one that excites me most at the moment is Connor Clifford.Havent seen him play more than 5 or 6 times but he looks like a fantastic prospect

[Colbert Report]

I'm with Razor on this one. Connor Clifford seems like a great prospect who might just get his debut with Chelsea during the upcoming African Cup of Nations. I'm cautious about getting too carried away when you look at over-hyped busts we've had in recent years such as Anthony Stokes and James McCarthy.

[Acornvilla]

I'm with Razor on this one. Connor Clifford seems like a great prospect who might just get his debut with Chelsea during the upcoming African Cup of Nations. I'm cautious about getting too carried away when you look at over-hyped busts we've had in recent years such as Anthony Stokes and James McCarthy.

their both too young to write off don't be stupid

[Fixer82]

bit harsh on McCarthy don't you think. what is he 18? hardly crashed and burned now has he? give him a chance...

Jury still out on Stokes

[Colbert Report]

I don't understand why ye all are so eager to have so much patience with these players. Arsene Wenger knew that Stokes was a bust at age 18, he sold him to Sunderland almost three years ago, in January 2007. Where is he now? Playing semi-professional football for a small team up in Scotland. The average age of the international debut for our starting eleven is 21 years and nine months.

Shay Given - age 19
Kevin Kilbane - age 20
Sean St. Ledger - age 24
Richard Dunne - age 20
John O'Shea - age 20

Damien Duff - 19
Keith Andrews - 28
Glen Whelan - 24
Liam Lawrence - 27

Kevin Doyle - age 22
Robbie Keane - age 17

[zackmorris]

Aaron Doran, Gavin Gunning, Conor Clifford, Robbie Brady, Conor Henderson, Sean McGinty, Eoin Wearen, Jeff Kendrick, Mark O'Brien, Conor Hourihane and Richie Towell.

[EastTerracer]

I'm still hopeful that Sean Scannell (aged 19) at Crystal Palace might prove useful in the not-too-distant future. He's not getting as many games this season though.

There is still a lot of expectation around Terry Dixon (also aged 19) but, given what he's been through in the last few years, I'd be delighted if he just gets into the West Ham team and works his way back into the reckoning for Ireland.

[Nagger]

Sean McGinty is a good prospect. Hope he doesnt change his mind about playing for Ireland.

Anybody know if Donal McDermot is any good? http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=123669&cc=5739

[peadar1987]

I don't understand why ye all are so eager to have so much patience with these players. Arsene Wenger knew that Stokes was a bust at age 18, he sold him to Sunderland almost three years ago, in January 2007. Where is he now? Playing semi-professional football for a small team up in Scotland. The average age of the international debut for our starting eleven is 21 years and nine months.


He's playing regularly for the team coming third in the SPL, on a full-time professional deal, in front of crowds of over 10000

[Stevo Da Gull]

I don't understand why ye all are so eager to have so much patience with these players. Arsene Wenger knew that Stokes was a bust at age 18, he sold him to Sunderland almost three years ago, in January 2007. Where is he now? Playing semi-professional football for a small team up in Scotland. The average age of the international debut for our starting eleven is 21 years and nine months.

Shay Given - age 19
Kevin Kilbane - age 20
Sean St. Ledger - age 24
Richard Dunne - age 20
John O'Shea - age 20

Damien Duff - 19
Keith Andrews - 28
Glen Whelan - 24
Liam Lawrence - 27

Kevin Doyle - age 22
Robbie Keane - age 17

A fully professional team who have an Ivory Coast international on their books, who will play at the world cup.

Players mature differently - rise, peak and fall at different ages in every sport. That's why we 'are so eager to have patience'.

[Crosby87]

Aaron Doran, Gavin Gunning, Conor Clifford, Robbie Brady, Conor Henderson, Sean McGinty, Eoin Wearen, Jeff Kendrick, Mark O'Brien, Conor Hourihane and Richie Towell.

Now we are talking....can this not be the debate?

[SkStu]

Aaron Doran, Gavin Gunning, Conor Clifford, Robbie Brady, Conor Henderson, Sean McGinty, Eoin Wearen, Jeff Kendrick, Mark O'Brien, Conor Hourihane and Richie Towell.

anybody care to indulge a lazy b@stard like me and give a quick profile on the ones ive highlighted as i have heard little to nothing about any of them...

[Crosby87]

Stu, you of all people dont know Jeff Kendrick? This is going to harder than I thought.

Also I noticed ANOTHER Stu in the other section making me think Pineapple and yourself have another brother. Yikes.

[SkStu]

a brother from another mother, man.

Jeff Kendrick? A quick google reveals a lead guitarist for heavy metal band DevilDriver (sound great!).

The only other Kendrick i can think of is Joe... Sligo Rovers player.

[sligoman]

The only other Kendrick i can think of is Joe... Sligo Rovers player.Former Sligo Rovers player, thank feck:)

[SkStu]

fair enough - stupid wikipedia making stupid me look stupid.

[The Bunk]

anybody care to indulge a lazy b@stard like me and give a quick profile on the ones ive highlighted as i have heard little to nothing about any of them...

Sean McGinty is a young centre back at Manchester United.
I don't know about the rest.

I know he's not one of 'ours' yet, but, if he does decide to switch then Shane Duffy would definately be in that list.

[Crosby87]

fair enough - stupid wikipedia making stupid me look stupid.

He He. Stupid is as stupid does Stu.
yours,
Forest

[zackmorris]

Sorry, that should have been Hendrick, didn't read what I typed! A guy at work coached Brady, Wearen and Hendrick at St. Kevins and also coached a Dublin representative team and said that Kendrick was the most likely to succeed out of the 11 players he coached who went to England. He has being playing very well for the Derby County reserves this season and is only 17. Wearen is also impressing for West Ham Reserves and scored for the first team in pre-season. Both are midfielders. Mark O' Brien appeared for Derbys first team last season and was on the bench this season but unfortunetly be has been diagnosed with a heart problem and had to have an operation. McGinty was recently signed by Man Utd from Charlton and is a very impressive centre back. He is from London and the English FA have been after him for a while but he appears to be staying with Ireland for the moment. This is the Derby youth team, seven of them are Irish or have represented Ireland at underage level:

http://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/YouthTeam/0,,10270~1074350,00.html

[Troubadour]

anybody care to indulge a lazy b@stard like me and give a quick profile on the ones ive highlighted as i have heard little to nothing about any of them...
Mark O'Brien plays for Derby and had a health scare recently. Back playing in January as far as I know. Richie Towell plays right full/centre mid for Celtic reserves. Played against him when he was playing over here. Quality player.

[ifk101]

I'm with Razor on this one. Connor Clifford seems like a great prospect who might just get his debut with Chelsea during the upcoming African Cup of Nations. I'm cautious about getting too carried away when you look at over-hyped busts we've had in recent years such as Anthony Stokes and James McCarthy.

I wouldn't rule out Stokes or McCarthy. In fact I would rate Stokes as a better prospect than Clifford at this moment in time. Stokes will never be a top international player for a number of reasons but he knows how to score goals and that's a quality that will keep him in the professional game and the senior international frame for some time to come.

[paul_oshea]

Is kendrick from claremorris? Signed by yer man who used to manage wigan, scouser i think, name completely gone as all i can think of is billy davies. Dunphy was saying he would be a great manager for ireland when we were searching.

ANyway if it is im pretty sure that lad is only 16.

Is that kallum keane a plastic?

[paul_oshea]

Lots of irish players in that derby team, im assuming there must be someone quite high up in their youth development/scouting system thats Irish or has irish connections. There seems to be a couple of other lads born in london that could be irish too.

[Fixer82]

Is kendrick from claremorris? Signed by yer man who used to manage wigan, scouser i think, name completely gone as all i can think of is billy davies. Dunphy was saying he would be a great manager for ireland when we were searching.

ANyway if it is im pretty sure that lad is only 16.

Is that kallum keane a plastic?


Paul Jewell

[Top Drawer]

Others to keep an eye on
Gearoid Morrissey - Midfielder with Blackburn -from Cork
Callum Morris Cente Half - very highly thought of in Newcastle
Stephen Mc Donnell - midfielder with Celtic - from Dundalk
Robert Kiernan Centre Half with Watford - already played for first team
Stephen Folan with Newcastle - from Galway - midfielder
Graham Carey- Celtic left sided midfielder - on loan with Bohs last year
Cilian Sheridan - on loan with Plymouth
Alan Judge on loan with Plymouth
David Meyler - with Sunderland
Conor Hourihane- with Sunderland
Michael Spillane - Defender/midfielder with Norwich
Keith Treacy - forwrad with Blackburn

[peadar1987]

McGinty was recently signed by Man Utd from Charlton and is a very impressive centre back. He is from London and the English FA have been after him for a while but he appears to be staying with Ireland for the moment.

Oh God, how long until Don Givens man manages his allegiences a few hundred miles east?!

[irishultra]

not really much wheareas in my other country belgium we have so many talented prospects. and these are not nobodies playing for derby county and teams like that we're talking about players that the big teams want desperately. now we just have to hope they don't opt for their parents country :) all our best players are immigrants in some form.

[Nagger]

not really much wheareas in my other country belgium we have so many talented prospects. and these are not nobodies playing for derby county and teams like that we're talking about players that the big teams want desperately. now we just have to hope they don't opt for their parents country :) all our best players are immigrants in some form.

I've seen one of them play Ajax last week. Romelu Lukaku ...what a talent.

[irishultra]

oh yeah that kid is class. i support anderlecht too. the prospect is good for the belgians, however we said that last time:rolleyes:

[Bungle]

oh yeah that kid is class. i support anderlecht too. the prospect is good for the belgians, however we said that last time:rolleyes:

It's funny how the stock of Belgium has fallen!I was talking to two young lads at work (20 year olds) about the Euro 2012 qualifiers and they were saying that they wouldn't mind Belgium as 4th seeds....they couldn't get over when I told them that Belgium used to be consistently one of the top 6-10 teams in the world. Anyhow I know you have great young players coming through so good luck with that. My only argument with your above comments would be that alot of our young lads are playing at top English clubs or at premiership clubs (arguably the best league in the world) and it's much harder to break through than big Belgian clubs, who are admittedly very decent. I think it's very conceivable that Conor Clifford, Robbie Brady, Sean Scannell, Aaron Doran and David Meyler would've played first team for big Belgian clubs by now.

Here's my top 10:
Conor Clifford (saw him at the recent 4 team tournament with Portugal, Holland and Turkey in Tallaght and he got best player - whether he makes it at Chelsea is hard to say, but surely going to eventually become a top player).
Robbie Brady - considered a brilliant talent at Man U - like Clifford might have to go to a West Ham type club before being given the chance to fully realise his potential.
Conor Hourihane - at the Euro under 17 tournament when Ireland did poorly, Conor was very impressive and got in the uefa 11. A good prospect. http://www.eleven-a-side.com/printer/printer.asp?p=32334
David Meyler - consistently on the bench at Sunderland. Steve Bruce thinks highly of him.
Sean Scannell - very talented player who could go all the way. Still very raw though. The next year will tell alot.
Mark O'Brien - only for health problems, he'd be in the first team at Derby. Made his debut at 16 for them. Very talented player.
Aaron Doran - played premiership first team football at Blackburn at 17. Very talented and should benefit from being toughened up at lowel league level.
Mark Connolly - Megon thinks highly of him and poached him from the Wolves academy.
Mark Wilson - playing well for Pompey. Still raw but has the talent to become a very good premiership player.
James McCarthy - a very promising player. People should remember his age before saying that he hasn't reached his potential like an Anthony Stokes. It's gonna take him time to settle in at Wigan, but he's mature enough to go all the way.

Throw in Seamus Coleman and Darron Gibson and it's looking hopeful for the future. I haven't seen Sean McGinty but I understand that he's an exceptional prospect. Conor Henderson of Arsenal is meant to be very special too. I'm sure there's plenty of others that deserve a mention.

[Bungle]

Meant to say that Owen Garvan has great potential too but I'm not sure about his attitude.

[bwagner]

What about that Selcuk guy ??

[Riddickcule]

Owen Garvan's been compared to Gerrard, i think he could be a brill player.Only 21 aswell.

Others (imo) Coleman, Scannell, Gibson, Eddie Nolan, Cillian Sheridan..

[johnboyle37]

Excellent information guys. I am worried with our current age profile - particularly that of our Senior and most important players i.e. Dunne, Keane, Duff that we need to seem some young talent come through sooner rather than later.

Robbie Keane is probably the last wonderkid we have had - someone who burst onto the scene and made it as a a top top player (though not world class perhaps as was predicted).

Clifford at Chelsea sounds like a great prospect from what I read on the net and from some online footage of him playing for CFC reservses including a superb volleyed goal. Anyone know if he is likely to see some first team action this season?

James McCarthy was so hyped and I see hes made the bench once or twice at Wigan. I understood he chose Wigan over other clubs on the basis of more promise of first team action. Lets hope he gets a shot to impress.

Noticeably in the posts to date there is not a lot of strikers on the list thus far. I see Stokes is flying in Scotland again. Would be nice to see him knuckle down and fulfill his undoubted potential.

Owen Garvan has massive potential and has played a lot of games already in his career. Would love to see him get a move to the premiership.

Glad I have found a site can keep me informed on all things Ireland.

[Carrigaline]

My main worry about the future is that we don't seem to be producing a whole heap of strikers, do we?

Shane Long has seemed to have went backwards and doesn't even get his game for Reading anymore.

Cillian Sheridan is useful, holds the ball up well and can play a bit, but he doesn't seem to have a real strikers instinct.

Anthony Stokes has had his chances in the Premier League and struggled. I know he's still young, but this doesn't exactly bode well.

Thoughts?

[Nagger]

My main worry about the future is that we don't seem to be producing a whole heap of strikers, do we?

Shane Long has seemed to have went backwards and doesn't even get his game for Reading anymore.

Cillian Sheridan is useful, holds the ball up well and can play a bit, but he doesn't seem to have a real strikers instinct.

Anthony Stokes has had his chances in the Premier League and struggled. I know he's still young, but this doesn't exactly bode well.

Thoughts?

I'm hoping Leon Best or Stokes will step up.

Cilian Sheridan is to slow, and couldnt score in a brothel

[irishultra]

Owen Garvan's been compared to Gerrard, i think he could be a brill player.Only 21 aswell.

Others (imo) Coleman, Scannell, Gibson, Eddie Nolan, Cillian Sheridan..

That whole Garvan Gerrard thing is never going to happen. I mean the guy should be a standout performer in the english division1 if he has such potential not just some random player

[Stuttgart88]

Cilian Sheridan is to slow, and couldnt score in a brothelThe last part may be true but the guy is quicker than many think. Check out the quotes from his coaches in the Cillian Sheridan thread.

[Stuttgart88]

That whole Garvan Gerrard thing is never going to happen. I mean the guy should be a standout performer in the english division1 if he has such potential not just some random playerMaybe he'll get the chance next season :)

In fairness, he has been a stand out in the Championship in previous seasons - in the eyes of non-Irish journalists - but he has had a poor season (if you'd even call it that) so far. I think the guy has the talent, the footballing brain and the athleticism to be a top player, I just think he may not have the attitude or work ethic. Something's up anyway.

[Wexford Delboy]

The last part may be true but the guy is quicker than many think. Check out the quotes from his coaches in the Cillian Sheridan thread.
yeah if memory tells me right he had a great burst of pace for judges goal against spain for the 21s?

[Junior]

5 starts and 8 sub appearances for Plymouth on his loan spell - no goals so far.

[Acornvilla]

5 starts and 8 sub appearances for Plymouth on his loan spell - no goals so far.
he was sent back to celtic last week i taught

[Nagger]

Lukas Jutkiewicz. Irish mother, and doing okay for Motherwell at the moment.

[Acornvilla]

Lukas Jutkiewicz. Irish mother, and doing okay for Motherwell at the moment.
on loan from everton, gotten a few goals this season, scored against celtic a week or two ago AFAIK

[Louth4sam]

Stephen Mc Donnell - midfielder with Celtic - from Dundalk


I think it was in one of the local papers that we were looking to sign him. Not sure if it's a loan or permanent contract.

[Junior]

he was sent back to celtic last week i taught

Sheridan - You might be right. His Loan move was for 6 months, due to expire in Janaury I think, but he could have been sent back early - I havent seen anything reported though. He didnt feature at all in yesterdays squad.


EDIT: Just found this. He hasnt started since September, not been a great loan spell for him at all. Could well be loaned out again in January - http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/sheridan-plots-parkhead-push-after-fruitless-loan-1980990.html


Alan Judge, also on loan at Plymouth, scored 2 (one from the spot and one with his head) and also got an assist in their 4-1 defeat of Reading yesterday.

I havent seen that much of him other than a few U21 games where he has looked a very good player.

O'Dea - On Loan at Reading also hasnt featured much of late for them and I presume will be on his way back to Celtic (remember he signed a 3 yr deal in the summer). Will be interesting to see if Mowbray keeps him and gives him a try in the first 11, with Loovens, Caldwell and McManus all being varying degrees of $hite so far this season he surely has a chance to feature for Celtic.

[Stuttgart88]

Celtic are buying a Belarus 23 year old CB. This doesn't sound like good news for O'Dea.

[Junior]

Celtic are buying a Belarus 23 year old CB. This doesn't sound like good news for O'Dea.

True, he is over training at the moment and the fact that he is priced at around the £0.5m mark seems to suggest he is in our price range:) There is also talk of Kilgallon of Sheff Utd, whom I know nothing about but has been linked with us since the summer.

Remember though, Caldwells contract discussions stalled some time ago (he's looking for an uplift to circa £17k-£20k per week - which he's not going to get if you look at the money in the Scottish game at the moment) and he can talk to other clubs in January. McManus is clearly out of favour and plays when required by Mowbray out of necessity. It really wouldnt surprise me if either or both of these were out the door in January.

Having said all that, it is unlikely that Mowbray would play a relatively unknown 23 yr old Belarussian and a 21 yr old O'Dea who hasnt featured much for Reading during his loan spell in the same team from the off. Loovens has been very inconsistent but would seem to be favoured as one of the starting CB's.

It could possibly be another loan deal for O'Dea on the horizon, however the introduction of another CB will probably only happen with the exit of one of the existing ones, so hopefully he still has a chance to get in a make a starting berth his own.

[**FrOsTy**]

Neil Yodalahi - Burnley youngster. Played for St Kevins Boys

Conor Morrisey - Waterford lad playing with Man City Academy

Derrick Williams - 16 year old from Waterford playing with Villa Academy