Johnny Kenny’s return to Celtic after a loan period at Shamrock Rovers, where he scored 20 goals across all competitions in 2024, has set off a chain reaction that should enhance the incoming League of Ireland season.
Every club in the Premier Division with title aspirations has attempted to recruit a centre forward that is capable of a similar goal haul.
Michael Noonan, the talented 16-year-old striker, is set to swap St Patrick’s Athletic for Rovers before Stephen Bradley’s squad face Molde of Norway in the Uefa Conference League playoffs on February 13th and 20th.
If Noonan’s first professional contract is with Rovers, St Pat’s would lose out on the profit that a sell-on clause would likely yield. For instance, Rovers banked €3m from their sell-on clause when Gavin Bazunu moved from Manchester City to Southampton in 2022. The Premier League champions are reportedly showing a similar interest in Noonan.
Another young Irish striker attracting attention is St Pat’s Mason Melia, with Tottenham Hotspur, Celtic and Serie A side Bologna all chasing the 17-year-old’s signature with reported bids of over €1 million.
As it stands, the League of Ireland will continue to develop Melia and Noonan throughout 2025.
The last generation of pre-Brexit Irish forwards, like Adam Idah, Troy Parrott and Aaron Connolly have shown just how difficult it is to carve out a career in the Premier League.
Idah left Norwich City for Celtic to find his level, scoring eight goals in 30 appearances this season, while Parrott is benefiting from his move to the Netherlands, after a few fruitless years at Tottenham, with 11 goals for AZ Alkmaar.
Connolly’s expected switch from Sunderland to Millwall this month would be his fourth Championship club since Brighton and Hove Albion began loaning out the 24-year-old in 2022.
Brighton’s Evan Ferguson is rated above Idah, Connolly and Parrott but it is two years since his breakthrough, with injury currently denying the 20-year-old the opportunity to join West Ham United on loan in the January transfer window.
“It’s very important that Evan gets back on the pitch,” said Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler. “At the moment he suffers because of the injury, but he has proved why he is here and playing with Brighton.
“He is a player who has come from the youth academy, we will negotiate with Evan; what is important for him, what is important for his development [is] where he can improve the most. We will make a decision together.”
Damien Duff, meanwhile, has strengthened his goalscoring options before Shelbourne launch their title defence at home to Derry City on February 14th by signing former Ireland under-21 Mipo Odubeko from Fleetwood Town.
“Every team in Ireland wanted Mipo but I am proud that he has chosen this special club,” said Duff last month. “He has amazing power, speed and finishing that maybe not enough people have seen. Myself and the staff plan on unleashing all of it. He is a fascinating signing.”
Fascinating, yet unpredictable. After coming through the youth ranks at Manchester United, Odubeko signed for West Ham, making two appearances in the FA Cup before a series of loan moves in the English second and third divisions brought him to Fleetwood via Portugal.
In 2024 veteran strikers Patrick Hoban (33) for Derry and Waterford’s Pádraig Amond (36) topped the League of Ireland charts with 14 goals each.
The Pilley family own Fleetwood and Waterford so Amond is getting a raft of help from the League Two strugglers, including the former St Pat’s attacker Tommy Lonergan on a season-long loan.
Bohemians struggled last year without Jonathan Afolabi’s 15 goals from 2023, so manager Alan Reynolds is hoping that Colm Whelan can revive his career after two injury-spoiled seasons at Derry City.
Whelan netted 25 times for UCD in 2021 before suffering two ACL tears in quick succession.
Cork City gained promotion thanks to Ruairí Keating and Ireland international Seáni Maguire combining for 12 goals in just 10 matches. Keating returned to the Rebels midseason after a stint at St Pat’s ended when Melia edged him out of the starting line-up.
