About This Quiz
Irish football changed, just as Ireland changed. For the early days of organised play, Ireland had a single team, but pressures both political and within the sport divided and recombined the national team over the years, giving Ireland teams based on region and league. There were glimmers of hope throughout the decades, but it wasn't really until the 1980s and 1990s when the team began to see successes in the form of twice qualifying for the World Cup and once qualifying for the European Championship.
A small nation, Ireland is usually in the scrum of other nations with similar talent pools, reaching the nadir of their successes in the mid-2000s, culminating in a humiliating defeat to Cyprus. Things began to turn around in 2013, but by 2018, the team was again under new management and remain so today, a second chance for McCarthy to prove his worth to the nation.
Today feels like a clean slate for the team. Some players are there to build upon past successes, while others have only recently emerged onto the scene, still just in their teens. The team has nothing to lose and everything to play for, with the talent to ride out long campaigns and the experience to know when to push. Would you know Ireland's football stars on sight?
Cyrus Christie may be English, but with an Irish grandmother, he was eligible to play for Ireland, and indeed does. A journeyman, Christie played for Coventry City, Nuneaton Town, Hinckley United, Derby County, Middlesbrough, and most recently, Fulham.
Striker David McGoldrick has been on fans' radar since 2004 when he made his senior debut. Since then, he has moved around a bit, landing with Sheffield United and playing for Ireland's national team.
Maynooth native Mark Travers earned his first cap for Ireland in 2019. A representative of Ireland in the under 21s, Travers is signed with AFC Bournemouth but has made the most appearances, by far, for Weymouth, to whom he is on loan.
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Right-back Matt Doherty may have only made his debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2016, but his career has been worth a second look for some time. Signed by the Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club in 2010, he made his mark on Irish football teams until his call-up by the national team, following a spell in the under-21s.
Defender Shane Duffy came up through the Everton system, though he spent most of his time with them on loan. He left for the Rovers in 2014, and finally Brighton in 2016. It wasn't until his turn with Brighton that he was promoted to the Premier League.
Defender John Egan is a key player for the Republic of Ireland, as well as Sheffield United. In fact, it was Egan's joining of Sheffield United that enabled them to claw their way into the Premier League. With regard to his performances on behalf of Ireland, the Cork native represented Ireland in under-17s, under-19s, and under-21s before being tapped for the national team.
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Sheffield United's Enda Stevens started his professional career with the Shamrock Rovers, moving to Aston Villa, who loaned him to several teams. Following his turn with Aston Villa, Stevens played for Portsmouth before joining Sheffield United in 2017.
Dublin native Glenn Whelan, who currently plays for Fleetwood Town FC, began his professional career in the Manchester City organization, but soon moved to Sheffield Wednesday, followed by moves to Stoke City, with whom he spent most of his career, and then Heart of Midlothian FC with whom he had an acrimonious departure.
Bandon's own Conor Hourihane plays for Aston Villa at the moment. He started his career with Sunderland, Ispwich Town and Plymouth Argyle, but it was Barnsley FC with whom he spent the most time, signing in 2014 and playing for them until January of 2017 when he made the move to Aston Villa.
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Born in Cork in 1995, Alan Browne started his career with Cork City's under 19s. More recently, Browne moved to League One club Preston North End, with whom he won the league title, and later the player of the year award.
Indeed, Dublin native Jeff Hendrick got his professional start with St. Kevin's Boys FC, long before joining his current club, Burnley FC. Hendrick spent the bulk of his career with Derby County FC, for whom he appeared over 200 times.
Dubliner Alan Judge has played for six professional clubs, including Ipswich Town and Blackburn Rovers, as well as the Irish national team. Before playing on the Irish national team, he represented Ireland in the under 17, under 18, under 19, under 21, and under 23 groups.
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Derry native James McClean started his career with Institute FC, eventually moving to Derry City FC, and then the big move to Sunderland. McClean followed Sunderland with a tour at Wigan, and then a transfer to West Bromwich Albion until finally joining Stoke City in 2018.
Son of Bray, Darren Randolph is a double threat. A basketball standout, he represents Ireland in both basketball and football. Beginning his career with the Ardmore Rovers, Randolph played for Charlton Athletic, Hereford United, Motherwell, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough, and West Ham United for whom he has twice signed, but not consecutively.
Officially signed for Manchester United, goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara has never appeared for the team, spending his time with Man U on loan. O'Hara was loaned to Trafford, AFC Fylde, Morecambe, Stockport County, Macclesfield Town, and Burton Albion.
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Right-back and Killybegs native Séamus Coleman currently plays for Everton, but it was not always thus. From 2006 to 2009, he played for Sligo Rovers FC. In 2009, while dealing with serious health issues, Coleman was signed by Everton. He has played for Everton ever since, with a brief stint on loan to Blackpool.
Young defender Lee O'Connor is short on years, but long on talent. Born in Waterford, Lee O'Connor played the bulk of his youth within the Manchester United system, but since 2019 he has been under control of Celtic. He has played in the under 17, under 19, under 21, and adult teams on behalf of Ireland.
Capable of playing centre-back and right-back, Richard Keogh is a veteran player, both for Ireland and for his professional employers. While he made his professional debut in Iceland for the memorably named Knattspyrnufélagið VÃkingur, Keogh has appeared for Bristol City, Wycombe Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town, Carlisle United, Coventry City and Derby County.
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Few players are as versatile as Ciaran Clark. Capable of playing left-back and central midfielder, Ciaran Clark's main position is a central defender. Currently playing for Newcastle United, Clark played for England in the under 17, under 18, under 19, and under 20 groups. Still, when he became an adult, he was approached by Ireland and switched allegiances, now a member of their national team.
Born in England but raised in Ireland, Ronan Curtis made his senior debut for Derry City in 2014 but has come a long way since then. In addition to representing Ireland, he played for Derry City's professional squad, as well as his current team, Portsmouth.
Blackburn Rover and member of the Irish national team Derrick Williams was born in Germany and made his professional debut for Aston Villa, whose youth system trained him. 2013 saw him move to Bristol City, whom he left in 2016 for Blackburn.
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Cork native Kevin Long spent his youth and the beginning of his senior career playing for Cork City. Signing with Burnley in 2010, he has since played on loan to Accrington Stanley, Rochdale, Portsmouth, Barnsley, and Milton Keynes Dons.
Left-winger Callum O'Dowda began his football career with the Oxford United Academy when he was just nine years old, eventually playing for the senior club from 2013 to 2016. In 2016, he signed with Bristol City and has played for them ever since.
In 2012, having spent most of his life playing for St Kevin's Boys youth teams, Byrne made the move to Man City, with whom he remained signed for the first years of his senior career. During that contract, he was loaned to Cambuur and Blackburn Rovers. Signing with Wigan Athletic, he was loaned to Oldham Athletic. Since then, he has played for Kilmarnock and the Shamrock Rovers.
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Midfielder Stephen Quinn may be small in stature, but the Dublin native has been playing professionally since 2004. Starting his career with St Patrick's Athletic, he has since played for Sheffield United, Milton Keynes Dons, Rotherham United, Hull City, Reading and Burton Albion.
Dublin's own Robbie Brady is as promising a football player as any. Quickly snapped up by Manchester United's youth system from St Kevin's Boys, he spent his time with the senior club on loan to Hull City for whom he appeared 51 times. Following the loan, he officially joined Hull City, playing in 63 games, and later signing with Norwich City and Burnley. He has represented Ireland at all levels.
English-born Josh Cullen came up through West Ham United's youth system and remains signed with the club to this day. While he has made three appearances for West Ham U, he has spent the bulk of his time with the team on loan to the likes of Bradford City, the Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic. He represented England in under 16, but since under 19, he has represented Ireland.
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Luton-born Sean Maguire has been playing for Ireland since he was approached for their youth squad. Currently playing for Preston North End, he was originally signed by Waterford United, later signed by West Ham United, who loaned him to Sligo Rovers and Accrington Stanley, before being signed by and playing for Dundalk, Cork City and finally, Preston North End.
Born in Dublin, Troy Parrott has made his way onto the national team with incredible speed. Born in 2002, he became a part of the senior squad in 2019, having played for the under 17s when he was only 15 years old, rising through the other junior rankings until now. Signed with Tottenham Hotspur's senior squad since 2019, expect to see a lot of him.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Aaron Connolly is a talented young man with a bright future. Currently on loan to Luton Town, Connolly played for Ireland in the under 17s, under 19s, and under 21s before joining the senior squad.
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James Collins of Ireland, as opposed to James Collins of Wales, began his career playing for Aston Villa's youth system and the Irish under 19s. Since reaching adulthood, he has been loaned to Darlington and Burton Albion, signed by Shrewsbury Town, Swindon Town, Hibernian, Shrewsbury Town, Northampton Town, Crawley Town and Luton Town.
English-born Scott Hogan has been a forward for 11 teams over his career, and he is not yet even 30 years old! A product of the Rochdale youth system, he has signed with or been loaned to Woodley Sports, FC Halifax Town, Mossley, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Ashton United, Hyde, Rochdale, Brentford, Aston Villa, Sheffield United and Stoke City.
Currently on loan to the Shamrock Rovers from Preston North End, Graham Burke began his senior playing career with Shrewsbury Town and Notts County on loan from Aston Villa. Since then, Burke signed with Notts County, Shamrock Rovers and Preston North End, who then loaned him to Gillingham, and most recently, the Shamrock Rovers.
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Waterford native Daryl Murphy began his youth career with Southend United and Luton Town, but played for or signed with 11 teams as an adult. Murphy spent the bulk of his career playing for Ipswich Town with 127 appearances and Sunderland with 110 appearances and is currently playing for Bolton.
Galway-born Daryl Horgan was associated with Salthill Devon from the time he signed as a youth in 2000 until making the switch to Sligo Rovers in 2011. He was then loaned to and eventually signed by Cork City, only to be signed by Dundalk, Preston North End, and most recently, Hibernian.
A product of Erith Town and Charlton Athletic, Greenwich-born Rob Elliot appeared for Charlton Athletic 94 times, while also being loaned to Bishop's Stortford, Notts County and Accrington Stanley. He has been signed with Newcastle United since 2011.
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Nicknamed "The Irish Messi" by Norwich supporters, Wes Hoolahan played for Norwich City for 10 years (2008-2018) before more recent signings with West Bromwich Albion and more recently, Newcastle Jets. He represented Ireland on the senior squad from 2008 to 2017.
Dundalk's Jimmy Dunne came up through the Manchester United youth system as well as Burnley's, and has been signed with the latter as an adult since 2017. He has been loaned to Barrow, Accrington Stanley, Heart of Midlothian, Sunderland and Fleetwood Town.
Noted for versatility in playing almost any position, John O'Shea made 256 appearances for Man U from 1999 to 2011, spending short times on loan to Bournemouth and Royal Antwerp. From 2011 to 2018 he made 226 appearances for Sunderland, and later, nine for Reading, for whom he is currently a coach.
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Navan native Gary Rogers, who currently plays for Dundalk, originally signed with Shelbourne, who loaned him to St Francis. It was his next signing, with Drogheda United, where he got the bulk of his playing time early in his career, eclipsed only by his recent stint with Dundalk.