The League of Ireland is back.
After a thrilling campaign last season, the new campaign kicks off this week.
The league appears stronger than ever.
Shelbourne dethroned four-in-a-row champions Shamrock Rovers under the guidance of Damien Duff.
Despite failing to win the League, Rovers have been impressive in Europe, qualifying out of the league phase of the Conference League.
The league has also seen some incredibly exciting additions in the off-season.
Derry City have brought in experienced international Liam Boyce and Gavin Whyte to their ranks.
Former Premier League forward Lys Mousset has joined Dublin side Bohemians.
The obvious quality of the league’s ability to export talent has also been seen over recent months.
The impressive Neil Farrugia has made the switch from Shamrock Rovers to Barnsley in League 1.
After impressing for St Patrick’s Athletic, teenage sensation Mason Melia has made a record-breaking move to Tottenham.
The league is rife with talent who will be hoping to impress scouts throughout Europe this season.
This scout report will highlight five players under 23 who will be worth monitoring this season.
Kian Best Scout Report At Bohemian FC
Kian Best is an incredible coup for Bohemian FC.
The 19-year-old joins on a six-month loan deal from parent club Preston North End.
English clubs have had great success sending promising players on loan to the League of Ireland.
The likes of Will Jarvis and Maleace Asamoah had successful periods last season in Ireland before cementing themselves at EFL clubs.
Best will hope to do the same.
The England u19 international made 12 appearances in the Championship last season.
Now struggling for game time under Paul Heckingbottom, Best has been given an opportunity to get valuable minutes under his belt.
A positive loan spell may help set up success back in England.
The best is a left-back.
However, he has the ability to play a host of positions on the left flank.
He filled in both at left wing-back and as a left-sided entre back last season.
One area in which he’s shown promise is his ability to win duels.
For PNE’s first team, he won a respectable 50% of his duels last season.
This statistic rises to 63% when you look at his data from youth internationals.
Here, we see an opponent controlling the ball on his chest.
Failing to control the ball fully, Best pounces at this pressing trigger.
He quickly steals the ball off his opponent and wins back possession.
Best also has the capability to create.
He averaged 1.08 shot assists per 90 last season.
In this situation, Best is in a deep position out wide.
He assesses his options and plays a cross from deep.
This pinpoint ball into the box finds the head of a teammate and causes carnage in the opposition’s box.
Stephen McMullan Scout Report At Waterford FC
Stephen McMullan is another loan signing hoping to prove himself to his parent club.
The 20-year-old has already accumulated vast experience at first team level.
He made his debut for his hometown club, Warrenpoint Town, in the NIFL Premiership at the age of just 17.
His form led to him being quickly snapped up by Fleetwood Town in 2022.
Having made six appearances for the Fishermen, he’s now looking to get sustained game time.
He spent the first half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Cymru Premier League side Caernarfon.
The Northern Ireland u21 international put in some impressive performances.
This form has allowed him to earn a loan move to a higher level.
He will now spend the 2025 season on loan at Waterford FC.
McMullan has proven he’s an excellent shot-stopper in his first loan spell.
During his time on loan, he made the fifth-most saves per 90 minutes and kept the fourth-most clean sheets in the Welsh topflight.
Here, we see an opponent unleashing a venomous half volley from distance.
It was heading directly into the top corner before McMullan’s acrobatics managed to push the ball past the post.
McMullan also shows bravery beyond his years.
He doesn’t hesitate when having to come and collect the ball in a crowded penalty area.
He ranked fourth in the Cymru Premier League for leaving his line.
In this situation, a deep cross is played into the penalty area.
McMullan rises above everyone and calmly catches the ball, relieving pressure.
Jad Hakiki Scout Report At Sligo Rovers
At 20, Jad Hakiki already has already played a significant number of games in the League of Ireland.
The Dublin-born attacking midfielder came through Shelbourne FC’s youth system.
He made his debut for Shels in 2022.
Over the past two seasons, he’s gone on to make a handful of appearances.
However, Hakiki wasn’t satisfied with his playing time at his boyhood club last season.
This led to him moving to Dundalk during the summer window.
Hakiki was unable to help Dundalk avoid relegation.
Many in the League still appreciate his talent.
Sligo Rovers have signed the Republic of Ireland u19 international, hoping he will become a key member of their squad.
Hakiki has a high level of technical quality.
Playing anywhere across the front line, he thrives with the ball at his feet.
He averages 6.15 dribbles per 90 with a success rate of 59%.
Here, Hakiki receives the ball with his back to goal.
He has an opponent who’s tightly marking him.
Nonetheless, his change of pace is electric and leads to him leaving his opponent in the dust.
One area Hakiki will have to improve is his goalscoring exploits.
Sligo Rovers will be disappointed to have lost the service of Ellis Chapman and Fabrice Hartmann, who scored a significant number of goals last season.
They had over 20 goal contributions for Sligo last season between the two attackers.
Jad Hakiki Shot Map
Hakiki’s shot map shows he only managed 1 goal last season.
This figure is slightly below his xG of 1.86.
Adding goals to his already enormous talent will have a number of clubs desperate to sign him.
Cathal O’Sullivan Scout Report At Cork City FC
Cathal O’Sullivan is one of Ireland’s most talked about hot prospects.
He made his debut at the age of 16 at the start of last season’s campaign.
He went on to become an integral part of Cork City FC’s push for promotion from the first division.
In Ireland’s second tier last year, he made 28 appearances and contributed 10 goals.
Some of Europe’s top clubs are supposedly monitoring his progress.
O’Sullivan has seen fellow Cork City academy graduate Jaden Umeh make the move to Portugues giants Benfica.
Top clubs have also snapped up many of his teammates in the ROI u17 and u19 setups.
O’Sullivan will gain valuable experience playing first-team football in the League of Ireland before he leaves Cork City.
He will hope to continue his goalscoring exploits this campaign as he steps up to the top division.
Here, we see O’Sullivan cutting inside with the ball glued to his feet.
He gets into a great position to shoot.
He then curls the ball beautifully into the corner, past the flailing keeper.
O’Sullivan’s magic ability on the ball also extends to his dribbling.
He completes 2.1 dribbles per 90 with a success rate of 60%.
In this situation, O’Sullivan picks the ball up from deep, and he glides past an opponent with ease.
This allows him to eventually put a ball into the box for a teammate to attack.
Matthew Healy Scout Report At Shamrock Rovers
American-born Matthew Healy is an excellent addition to Shamrock Rovers’ squad.
As Stephen Bradley’s men seek to regain the League of Ireland title, Healy bring some real quality.
Growing up in Dublin, Healy made the move to Ipswich Town in 2018 but failed to break into their first team.
Healy is no stranger to the League of Ireland, having made over 40 appearances for Cork City across two loan spells.
When Healy eventually left Ipswich, he went on to sign for second-division Belgium side Franc Borains.
Healy has been tempted to come back home and be part of Rovers‘ title charge.
The Republic of Ireland u21 international will add some real quality in midfield.
He averages 1.9 key passes per 90, highlighting his creative abilities.
Here, Healy plays an excellent through ball that helps his side get in behind the opposition.
Healy also brings a real physical presence to the midfield.
He stands at 6ft with an athletic build.
This allows him to be effective during defensive duels.
This season in Belgium, Healy has won 54% of his duels.
In this situation, Healy presses the opposition’s midfielder, who is receiving the ball during the build-up phase.
Healy doesn’t allow him to turn and then wins the ball back, sending his team on the counter.
Conclusion
There’s an incredible pool of talent in the League of Ireland.
For the first time ever, all 10 sides are professional.
The professionalisation of the game is increasing the standard of the league every year.
This, paired with the number of exceptional homegrown talents, makes the league a real hotbed for scouts to monitor.
Another thrilling campaign is sure to take place this season.
