During the grim post mortem of the Republic of Ireland's loss in Armenia, many wondered aloud: 'Where are we going?'.
Now, still buzzing off Troy Parrott's Budapest heroics, there's been a giddy scramble to ask: 'Where did that come from?'.
Mammies, grannies, teachers and old coaches have offered insights into the formative years of some newly crowned heroes. Indeed the Portugal-Hungary double whammy came just as our Under-17s were shining at the World Cup in Qatar, enhancing a sense of optimism that was eventually diluted by the Under-21s' heavy loss against Andorra.
Reflective of the post-Brexit impact on our prospects' career paths, 16 of the Under-17s squad came through the LOI underage structure, with 12 currently playing for clubs here.
We took the opportunity to offer a reminder of how our seniors got to this point in their careers, profiling the players named in Heimir Hallgrimsson's most recent squad.
GOALKEEPERS
Caoimhín Kelleher (26)
Current club: Brentford
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Ringmahon Rangers
In a parallel universe, Caoimhín Kelleher would have been on the end of a long goalkeeper punt to prod the ball into the Hungary net last Sunday evening. Kelleher started off as a prolific striker for Ringmahon Rangers. When the Cork club's usual keeper quit, Caoimhín volunteered to go in goal. The rest is history. Liverpool snapped him up at 16, and he would go on to enjoy tremendous success on Merseyside as a top-class back-up to Alisson Becker. Now the No. 1 at Brentford and Ireland, his stock is arguably higher than ever.
Gavin Bazunu (23)
Current club: Southampton
LOI club: Shamrock Rovers
Schoolboy club: Knocklyon United
Bazunu served notice of his ability when, aged 16, he pulled off a brilliant penalty save to deny Cork City's Kieran Sadlier and earn Shamrock Rovers a point at Turner's Cross. He went to Manchester City in a €400,000 deal in the summer of 2019 (after he'd done his Leaving Cert). Loan spells at Rochdale and Portsmouth aided his development, before a big move to Southampton in 2022. Bazunu is still there, though he was sent on loan to Standard Liege in Belgium during the second half of last season.
Mark Travers (26)
Current club: Everton
LOI club: Shamrock Rovers
Schoolboy club: Confey/Lucan United/Cherry Orchard
Travers had plenty of offers from England after he turned heads with Lucan United and Cherry Orchard. But he stayed here, spending a season with Shamrock Rovers Under-17s before going across the water to Bournemouth. The Kildare man has described his time at the Hoops as "a great step forward in my career". He made a fine first-team debut with Bournemouth in May 2019, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 victory. However, Travers found himself shipped out on loan to Swindon Town, Stoke City and Middlesbrough, arriving at Everton last summer to deputise for Jordan Pickford.
Travers, Kelleher and Bazunu all received crucual guidance from ex-Bohs and Derry City keeper Dermot O'Neill, who retired from coaching last August after almost 20 years of working with Ireland underage teams.
DEFENDERS
Seamus Coleman (37)
Current club: Everton
LOI club: Sligo Rovers
Schoolboy club: St Catherine's
Toffees fans still chant '60 grand, 60 grand Seamus Coleman' to celebrate the ridiculous bargain they got when bringing the Donegal man to Liverpool from Sligo Rovers back in 2009. Everton knew they were getting a good player; they probably didn't realise what a leader they were bringing into the dressing room for 16 years and counting. He was brilliant for the Bit O'Red, brilliant for Blackpool in a loan spell early on in his Everton career, and has been consistently brilliant for his country, playing with the same ferocious commitment he first showed with St Catherine's and Gaelic football team Na Cealla Beaga.
Nathan Collins (24)
Current club: Brentford
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Cherry Orchard
Born in Leixlip, made in Cherry Orchard. Collins continued a strong family tradition by lining out for the Ballyfermot club that has a proud and rich history of nurturing top players (current Ireland women's international Jessie Stapleton is another graduate). His legacy there is clear: moves to Burnley, Wolves and Brentford financially benefited Cherry Orchard thanks to FIFA's solidarity framework that rewards alll clubs that developed players between the ages of 12 and 21. Visit Cherry Orchard now and you'll find the 'Nathan Collins Room', kitted out pool and foosball tables, and equipped for coaches to do video analysis.
Dara O'Shea (26)
Current club: Ipswich Town
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Bushy Park Rangers/St Kevin's Boys
A quiet kid with a fierce competitive streak, O'Shea was an excellent Gaelic footballer and hurler with St Judes, once playing in a county final despite being on the books at West Brom. He needed to show plenty of steel after going to the Baggies, heading out to Hereford and Exeter City on loan to prove his worth in the rough and tumble of the English lower leagues. After a stint at Burnley, O'Shea is now in the Championship with Ipswich Town.
Jake O'Brien (24)
Current club: Everton
LOI club: Cork City
Schoolboy club: Youghal United/Lakewood Athletic
Ireland's 6'6" defender was once a promising fighter. In 2014, competing out of East Cork's St Coleman's Boxing Club, O'Brien won a national title in the 42kg category. He was a good hurler too, but football was O'Brien's true passion and after he got picked up by Cork City, his progress was swift. A 2019 move to Crystal Palace didn't go as he'd have liked, however a switch to Lyon four years later proved an inspired decision. O'Brien was adored in France, with Everton bringing him back to England in 2024 and benefiting from his versatility ever since.
Jimmy Dunne (28)
Current club: Queens Park Rangers
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Rock Celtic
In 2015, Jimmy Dunne got the call most kids dream of: Manchester United wanted him. It had been on the cards. Dunne was playing with Dundalk club Rock Celtic and later St Kevin's in Dublin but had been first called into United's Belfast-based academy when he was 10. Homesickness and injuries made things tough at Carrington. He moved on to Burnley in 2016, and had a string of loan moves before joining QPR in 2021, really finding a home there. Last July he was named the club captain.
Liam Scales (27)
Current club: Celtic
LOI club: UCD/Shamrock Rovers
Schoolboy club: Arklow Town
There's an old FAI Schools profile online for Liams Scales that was published not long after he'd left Arklow Town for UCD Under-19s. "The ambition is to play in the League (of Ireland) and continue to represent Ireland at other levels," it reads. Ambition achieved. Scales stood out at UCD, heading to Shamrock Rovers where he won two leagues in 2020 and 2021. Celtic came calling, but it hasn't been plain sailing. He's had to show real character to make it in Glasgow, spending a year on loan at Aberdeen before eventually earning the trust of Brendan Rodgers, and the fans. His assist for Parrott last weekend means he'll forever be a part of an iconic Irish sporting moment.
John Egan (33)
Current club: Hull City
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Greenwood FC
When you're the son of a great Kerry Gaelic footballer, many might assume you'll try to follow the same path. But the late John Snr actually encouraged his boy to move to Sunderland in 2011 from Cork club Greenwood FC. John Jnr was in school with Rebels hurler and footballer Damien Cahalane, and has never lost touch with those GAA roots. Egan's resilience has been a constant. It never clicked for him at the Black Cats; instead a move to Gillingham gave him the chance to show his worth, leading to transfers to Brentford, Sheffield United, Burnley and Hull City, where he currently plies his trade.
Ryan Manning (29)
Current club: Southampton
LOI club: Mervue United/Galway United
Schoolboy club: Cregmore-Claregalway FC/Mervue United
A neighbour of Greg Cunningham, who'd also go on to represent the Republic of Ireland, Manning had healthy competition growing up. His brother Ronan has forged an LOI career with Athlone Town, Galway United and Sligo Rovers, with Cunningham an obvious inspiration for both. He left Mervue aged 17 to join Galway United; within a year he was off to England, QPR signing him for an undisclosed fee. Manning would later have an enjoyable time at Swansea City before heading to Southampton. He's always been versatile, able to play on the left, as a sitting midfielder or as a No 10. Those childhood kickabouts served him well.
Kevin O'Toole (26)
Current club: New York City
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: New York Red Bulls/Princeton Tigers
A graduate of the polished American college system, O'Toole's strongest LOI connection comes through his sister Jillian, who plays at Treaty United. The New Jersey native's grandfather Eric hailed from Dun Laoghaire. O'Toole first impressed at the New York Red Bull's academy; he then represented Princeton Tigers, the university's soccer team. In 2022, he was drafted in the first round of the MLS SuperDraft. At New York City, O'Toole's evolution into an attacking full-back/wing-back ultimately led to Heimir Hallgrimsson believing he might do a job for Ireland.
MIDFIELDERS
Josh Cullen (29)
Current club: Burnley
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Rayleigh Boys
Cullen's first taste of organised football came with Rayleigh Boys in Essex. He was nine when a West Ham scout invited him to train with the academy. There, Cullen impressed everyone with his dilligence and commitment. In 2018, during an FA Cup game at Shrewsbury, Cullen's front tooth flew from his mouth after he was accidentally booted in the face. He played on, then went to A&E afterwards. The diminutive midfielder moved to Anderlecht (Vincent Kompany was a huge admirer) and then Burnley, where he's now a key figure in their fight to stay in the Premier League.
Jayson Molumby (26)
Current club: West Bromwich Albion
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Railway Athletic/Villa FC
Born in the picturesque Waterford town of Cappoquin, Molumby was a wanted man from early on. He started off at Railway Athletic, switched to Villa FC, then returned to Railway before Brighton and Hove Albion made a move in 2015. He's not the only Irishman to have failed to make a full breakthrough at the Seagulls, but Molumby has found a home at West Brom, where's he's been a popular presence since 2021.
Finn Azaz (25)
Current club: Southampton
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: West Bromwich Albion
Azaz is of Irish and Israeli descent. A great nephew of former Cork GAA dual player Brian Murphy, Azaz's family moved to Birmingham when he was a baby. It didn't take long for Azaz to be spotted locally - in 2009, West Brom brought him into their academy and he'd stay there for 12 years. Aston Villa lured him out of the Black Country but sent him on loan to Newport County and Plymouth Argyle. It was at Middlesbrough where he really shone. A fine 2024/25 campaign led to Southampton shelling out an initial £12m for Azaz last summer.
Conor Coventry (25)
Current club: Charlton Athletic
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: West Ham
Another player who was taken in by West Ham at a very young age only to depart 13 years later, broken by the realisation he wasn't going to make it at the club he loved. Coventry dusted himself down and headed for Charlton Athletic - a smart move that's paid off. Ireland's most capped player at Under-21 level has been part of Hallgrimsson's last two squads; he came off the bench to help close out a famous 2-0 win against Portugal.
Jack Taylor (26)
Current club: Ipswich Town
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Chelsea
Jack Taylor comtemplated packing football in when he was 14. He'd gone to Chelsea aged seven, but the dream soured. He left the club and lost his appetitie for the game until an old coach reached out to him and convinced him to come to Barnet in the National League. Taylor made his senior debut as a 15-year-old. Peterborough United came calling in 2020 and he would head to Ipswich three years later, getting a taste of the Premier League under Kieran McKenna.
Mark Sykes (28)
Current club: Bristol City
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Rosario YFC
In November 2022 Mark Sykes, who represented the North up to Under-21 level, came off the bench in a 1-0 friendly victory over Malta. In doing so he became the first Belfast man in 76 years to win a cap for the Republic of Ireland, following in the footsteps of dual internationals Jackie Vernon and Jimmy McAlinden. The man from the Ormeau Road cut his teeth playing with Rosario YFC in the South Belfast Boys League. Glenavon took a punt on him, and his excellence there led to Oxford United, and later Bristol City, making advances. Sykes now has seven Ireland caps to his name.
Andrew Moran (22)
Current club: LAFC
LOI club: Bray Wanderers
Schoolboy club: Knocklyon United/St Joseph's Boys
Moran became Bray's youngest ever first-team player when he featured against Drogheda United in 2019. He was 15 years and 307 days old. Brighton soon came calling. He went there in July 2020, with former academy coach Mark Beard later describing him as "the Irish Phil Foden". Moran is held in high regard at the Seagulls but he's had to head on loan for minutes. A summer switch to LAFC in the MLS looks smart - he can count Son Heung-min among his team-mates there and is currently preparing for a Western Conference semi-final against Vancouver Whitecaps.
ATTACKERS
Evan Ferguson (21)
Current club: AS Roma
LOI club: Bohemians
Schoolboy club: St Kevin's Boys
It's easy to forget Ferguson is still only 21; it feels like he's been around an age. Back in 2019, he was the talk of the country after coming off the bench for Bohemians against Chelsea aged 14, mixing it up with the likes of Kurt Zouma. Dad Barry was a good centre-back with Longford Town, Bohs, Sporting Fingal and Shamrock Rovers so this prodigiously talented teen was known in football circles well before that first outing. The big clubs queued up, Liverpool among them. But Ferguson went to Brighton, scoring against Arsenal shortly after his 18th birthday. Injuries and the incessant demands of the Premier League have derailed his momentum there but there's ample time for Ferguson to remind people why he he caused such a stir.
Troy Parrott (23)
Current club: AZ Alkmaar
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Belvedere
Before Evan Fegruson, Troy Parrott was the Boy Wonder everyone was raving about. The Belvedere phenomenon illuminated the Dublin schoolboy scene to earn a move to Tottenham in 2019. Jose Mourinho gave Parrott his Pemier League debut against Burnley, but opportunities dried up. Loans to Ipswich, Millwall, MK Dons and Preston were hit and miss - it took a leap of faith to spark Parrott's career. He did well enough at Excelsior Rotterdam in the Netherlands to coax a bid from AZ Alkmaar in 2024. Spurs let him go, and they may be regretting that now. Parrott is in the form of his life.
Adam Idah (24)
Current club: Swansea City
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: College Corinthians
Like many others on this list, Idah had a rounded sports upbringing. He was a good hurler and Gaelic footballer for Douglas, but it was clear he was most at home banging in goals for College Corinthians. Norwich City clocked him at the Under-17 European Championships in Croatia, signing him as an academy scholar in 2017. He had some good times at Carrow Road but by 2024 it was clear Idah needed a change. He went to Celtic, initially on loan, moving on from Glasgow last September to join Swansea City who have just appointed former Republic of Ireland defender Darren O'Dea as interim boss after sacking Athlone man Alan Sheehan.
Mikey Johnston (26)
Current club: West Bromwich Albion
LOI club: None
Schoolboy club: Celtic
The snake-hipped winger represented Scotland at all levels from Under-15s through to Under-21s. In March, 2023, he got the green light to switch allegiances and play for the Republic of Ireland. By then he was on loan from Celtic at Portuguese Primeira Liga side Vitoria Guimaraes. A couple of years ago Brendan Rodgers said Johnston was "arguably the most talented player that's ever come out of this system" at Celtic but it never happened there for the winger. A bag of tricks, he's been at West Brom since February 2024.
Chiedozie Ogbene (28)
Current club: Sheffield United
LOI club: Cork City/Limerick FC
Schoolboy club: Tramore Athletic/College Corinthians/Kilreen Celtic/Everton AFC
LOI fans were well accustomed to seeing Ogbene gallop up and down the flanks during his time at Cork City and Limerick long before he established himself on the international stage. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, his family came to Cork in 2005. Young Chiedozie quickly exhibited his sporting prowess, particularly at Nemo Rangers, where he was an exciting Gaelic footballer. Their loss was Cork City's and Limerick's gain. Ogbene went all in on soccer, his pace and appetite for hard work taking him to Brentford, Rotherham United, Luton Town (with whom he played in the Premier League) and Ipswich.
Festy Ebosele (23)
Current club: Istanbul Basaksehir
LOI club: Bray Wanderers
Schoolboy club: Moyne Rangers/St oseph's Boys
'Festy's show! Ace Moyne attacker shines' - So reads the headline of a Wexford People match report from the Wexford and District Schoolboys Under-13 Cup final in May 2015. Ebosele scored a hat-trick to sink Gorey, and from there he kept on climbing. He joined Joey's, Bray, and then - aged 16 - Derby County. Ebosele has had an interesting career trajectory ever since. In 2022 he went to Serie A side Udinese; then, following a loan spell at Watford, he was off to Istanbul Basaksehir in Turkey.
Johnny Kenny (22)
Current club: Celtic
LOI club: Sligo Rovers/Shamrock Rovers
Schoolboy club: Arrow Harps
There was great pride in Sligo when Johnny Kenny followed in his father's footsteps by togging out with the first team. Johnny Snr is a legend in those parts. He helped the club to a famous FAI Cup triumph in 1994, lighting up the Showgrounds with his skill and pace. Johnny Jnr bagged his first goal aged 17 in a 1-0 defeat of Finn Harps. That was in April 2021. In January 2022, he agreed a deal to join Celtic. Kenny has had to be patient in Scotland. Two loan moves to Shamrock Rovers helped him; his exploits in the League of Ireland and Conference League raising his profile and confidence levels. Now he's finally getting a decent crack of the whip at Celtic - and indeed with Ireland. Only a quality Denes Dibusz save denied Kenny what would have been a sensational debut goal in Hungary.
