Last year we picked out a rising talent from each of the League of Ireland clubs that we felt would really kick on in 2021.
Evan Ferguson, Kevin Zefi, Johnny Kenny, Dawson Devoy and Colm Whelan have all fared particularly well over the last 12 months and look equipped to continue their excellent progress.
This year we've taken another look at the exciting batch of talent developing in the domestic game.
Once again we've selected a player from each of the 19 LOI clubs* we feel is worth keeping a close eye on.
* Bray Wanderers have two players on the list in consideration of their amalgamation with Cabinteely.
PREMIER DIVISION
1 Jamie Mullins (Bohemians)
Age: 17
Position: Midfield
Back in July, Mullins wrote himself into the Bohs history books when he became the club's youngest ever League of Ireland goalscorer, steering home a lovely effort against Longford Town. That piece of magic showcased the huge potential Mullins possesses and, having been re-signed for 2022 in early December, there'll be plenty watching with interest to see how this technically excellent teenager develops.
Bohs are facing into yet another winter of change; they'll be hoping Mullins can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Dawson Devoy and Ross Tierney by making a consistent impact with the first team.
2 Evan McLaughlin (Derry City)
Age: 19
Position: Midfield
The Candystripes have invested a lot of time and money in their academy structures, with Paddy McCourt honing a very promising crop of talent.
They've enjoyed tangible rewards for their graft, with the Jim McGuinness-coached Under-19s winning the EA SPORTS National League of Ireland Enda McGuill Cup in October, when they beat Bohs on penalties.
One of the stars of that decider was Evan McLaughlin, who came off the bench to help swing the contest his side's way. He's already broken into Ruaidhri Higgins' first team, displaying composure and a lovely left foot. More will be expected in the new year.
3 Mohamed Boudiaf (Drogheda United)
Age: 18
Position: Defender
After a difficult spell at Home Farm, Boudiaf almost fell out of the game when he was 15. But Adam Foley - formerly of Finn Harps, now with the Drogs - took him to Balbriggan Leinster Senor League club Glebe North, where he was coaching, and helped to reinvigorate the full-back. A subsequent move to Drogheda has been a success.
A key part of the club's Under-19s National Shield win this year, Boudiaf made his first-team debut against Shamrock Rovers in the last game of the campaign. Nineteen-year-old Evan Weir, signed from UCD in the off-season, is another quality young defender that will aim to fill the void left by James Brown, who looks certain to depart.
4 Mayowa Animasahun (Dundalk)
Age: 17
Position: Defender
Dundalk relaunched their academy at the start of the year under the watchful eye of Stephen McDonnell, with then manager Filippo Giovagnoli and sporting director Jim Magilton talking up the importance of nurturing young talent. All three have since departed the club - but a couple of good prospects emerged in a wild 2021 at Oriel Park.
Local teen Mayowa Animasahun was one of just three players who were contracted for 2022 when Stephen O'Donnell arrived - fellow academy graduate Ryan O'Kane and Andy Boyle are the others. Animasahun made his first senior start in September's FAI Cup quarter-final win against Finn Harps, after which Vinny Perth said: "I think there's a real star in the making there but not yet. His time will come over the next year to 18 months."
He's got a big season coming up.
5 Luke Rudden (Finn Harps)
Age: 19
Position: Striker
Just 19 but part of Harps' academy for five years, Rudden bagged his first senior goal in the last game of the season when the Donegal side hammered Longford Town 5-0.
He was tied down for 2022 back in September so Ollie Horgan must see a first-team future for the clever attacker who has a good goalscoring instinct. He's also very capable off dead balls.
6 Jad Hakiki (Shelbourne)
Age: 17
Position: Midfield
He signed his first pro contract just before Christmas, with Damien Duff describing the creative midfielder as "without doubt the best player in the U17 LOI last year". He scored one and made two more in the Republic of Ireland's recent 7-1 hammering of Malta and has featured for the Reds' Under-19s too.
Duff knows him well from his time with the Shels Under-17s and won't be afraid to give him a taste of senior action if Hakiki continues to build on his obvious promise.
7 James Abankwah (St Patrick's Athletic)
Age: 17
Position: Defender
Picked up from Cherry Orchard two years ago, Abankwah made a swift impact with the Saints, helping their Under-15s to a league and cup double in his first season. Last year he was part of the side that won the Under-19 league title, playing three years above his age group. His progress is not slowing down.
A remarkably assured performance in the FAI Cup final, as a replacement for the concussed Paddy Barrett, was the most emphatic evidence yet that Abankwah is a player of serious pedigree. He is a huge talent.
8 Aidomo Emakhu (Shamrock Rovers)
Age: 18
Position: Midfield/Striker
It was breakthrough campaign for Emakhu that culminated in a first appearance for the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in October. He scored a terrific goal in a 1-1 draw against Sweden, which was another boost to the rapidly improving attacker.
In August he turned heads everywhere when he came off the bench to score the winner against Teuta Durres in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The path to first-team football hasn't been particularly smooth for Emakhu, who - by his own admission - saw his development stall in his mid-teens. However, he looks physically stronger having been nurtured in the Rovers academy and Stephen Bradley has openly talked up his ability.
9 Conor Walsh (Sligo Rovers)
Age: 16
Position: Goalkeeper
Walsh signed a three-year pro deal with the Bit O'Red last August and is extremely well thought of. The Republic of Ireland Under-17 international arrived from Westport United, making swift progress. He was on the first-team bench last season and has trained regularly with Liam Buckley's seniors.
It's certainly done Walsh no harm to train alongside the likes of Ed McGinty and Richard Brush but, longer term, he could be following in the footsteps of old Sligo favourite Seamus Coleman. He's spent time training with Everton, who are keeping a very close eye on the teenager and could bring him across the water once he turns 18.
10 Evan Caffrey (UCD)
Age: 18
Position: Midfield
Ireland Under-21s Colm Whelan and Liam Kerrigan often hogged the headlines in the Students' promotion-winning campaign this year but, as always, there's plenty more young talent on the UCD conveyor belt.
Caffrey scored a dramatic last-gasp winner on his debut against Wexford last July and has been part of Tom Mohan's Ireland Under-19s squad. Grandson of Theo Dunne, and a nephew of Thomas Caffrey - who once served as Paul Doolin's No 2 when he managed UCD - Caffrey comes from good stock.
FIRST DIVISION
11 Eoin Sheeran (Athlone Town)
Age: 16
Position: Defender
Sheeran was part of the Ireland Under-16s squad for October's Victory Shield against Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A product of the Athlone District Schoolboys/Girls League's Emerging Talent Programme League Centre, Athlone may look to youngsters like Sheeran as another period of change looms.
At the end of last season, 15 of their 2021 squad informed the PFAI that they wanted to be added to their transfer list.
12 Ben Feeney (Bray Wanderers)
Age: 18
Position: Striker
Feeney came through Cabinteely's academy and enjoyed a positive 2021, breaking into the first team and scoring three goals in 13 games. He was also Cabo Under-19s player of the year.
A product of Cabinteely's 'Green Line' development, Feeney will be part of the Bray set-up in the coming season. He was actually part of the Cabinteely side that enjoyed a first-ever league win over the Seagulls at the Carlisle Grounds last November. Those derbies are a thing of the past now they have amalgamated but Feeney will hope for more good days in Bray.
13 Conor Knight (Bray Wanderers)
Age: 18
Position: Midfield
Another product of Cabinteely's underage system, Conor Knight - brother of Derby County and Ireland start Jason - made 12 appearances for Cabo's first team this year.
He's extremely versatile, capable of playing pretty much all over the park. His other brother Kevin will be with him at Bray this season too.
14. Nathan O'Connell (Cobh Ramblers)
Age: 20
Position: Midfield
A slight bending of the rules here as O'Connell is not under the age of 20 - he turns 21 this March - but he is arguably Cobh's most promising young talent having arrived from UCC last summer.
He scored a brilliant debut goal against Liffey Wanderers in extra-time of their FAI Cup clash and is expected to kick on in the new campaign once he has a full pre-season under his belt.
15 Cathal Heffernan (Cork City)
Age: 16
Position: Defender
The son of Olympians Rob and Marian, Cathal Heffernan is blessed with elite sporting genes. The Ireland Under-17s captain was promoted to the Under-18s national side in November, a couple of weeks after making his senior debut in a 3-0 win over Galway United.
Last March he went to Italy for trials with Juventus, Atalanta, AC Milan, and Roma. His potential is enormous - more regular first-team football with the Leesiders looks likely in 2022 but if Heffernan continues to progress as he has been doing, the big guns will make their move.
16 Alex Murphy (Galway United)
Age: 17
Position: Defender
Murphy broke into John Caulfield's first team this year, making an impressive league debut at left wing-back against Athlone Town in June. He signed his first pro contract two months later. Caulfield has huge time for him; a classy ball-playing centre-back, who is very comfortable bringing possession out of from the back.
In early December he was named in Colin O'Brien's Republic of Ireland Under-18s squad for two friendlies against Malta, scoring a header in the second match, which Ireland won 7-1.
Shamrock Rovers have been casting admiring glances Murphy's way - but he looks certain to continue his development in the First Division with his hometown club.
17 Matthew O'Brien (Longford Town)
Age: 18
Position: Midfield
In what was a tough campaign in the Premier Division for Longford, O'Brien still managed to quietly impress as he forced his way into Daire Doyle's midfield. He arrived at the midlands club two years ago from Dublin schoolboy outfit Phoenix FC, where Doyle had been coaching, and has made steady progress since.
"I've been with Daire for five or six years now from underage and he's been great," O'Brien said in September. "It's all about getting games and experience into me."
He's been involved with Tom Mohan's Ireland Under-19s and should be a big part of Longford's First Division campaign in 2022 as they look to bounce back from their relegation.
18 Josh Quinlivan (Treaty United)
Age: 19
Position: Midfield/Striker
The club's Under-19s captain forced his way into the first team towards the end of the campaign, scoring his first senior goal in Treaty's 2-0 win at Cabinteely - a composed finish from distance after the opposing keeper had come up for a corner and Treaty countered.
That was a big moment for Quinlivan, and for Treaty too, who will hope to see more young guns coming through the ranks.
19 Liam Kervick (Waterford FC)
Age: 18
Position: Midfield
The quick and skillful wide man has been one of the Blues' Under-19s standout players and he got a taste of first-team action in 2021 too, although there wasn't much value in being part of a very young side that was hammered 7-0 by Drogheda after Waterford had been hit by several Covid-19 close contact cases.
Ian Morris's arrival offers yet another clean slate for the Waterford players - Kervick will be keen to catch the eye.
20 Thomas Considine (Wexford FC)
Age: 19
Position: Defender
Considine signed for Wexford from Bohs midway through the 2021 season. He made a real impression, scoring twice in 12 appearances from full-back. The Kildare native started playing football with Sallins Celtic and then Peamount United before making the move to Bohs, starting with their Under-15s.
He's also been capped seven times for Ireland at Under-16 and Under-17 level. Quick, tenacious and capable going forward, he's highly rated at Wexford.
