Cork players made their mark around the world – from Serbia to Scotland 

The 2024-25 season is over and immediately eyes are turning towards the football new year, with an eye on what has been and what is to come.

This doesn't just mean England, but the Cork born players that are based across the planet and working in different leagues across Europe and North America.

Celtic is the one that grabbed attention the most as the Scottish giants had Adam Idah and Saoirse Noonan on their books this season.

The pair experienced it all, from the highs of the UEFA Champions League to the disappointment that only football can bring.

Idah went through exactly that as his year began with a memorable run in Europe that included a goal that helped Celtic qualify for the knockout-rounds of the competition for the first time since 2012. 

The striker also netted a brace against Aston Villa during that period, and that helped set up a meeting with Bayern Munich on what is known as the 'knock out round play-offs' under the new system.

In between all of this, Idah picked up the Scottish League Cup after featuring for the club in a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Rangers at Hampden Park.

The College Corinthians academy graduate was the first one up and he hit the back of the net with a cool strike, and this was followed by a perfect run from Brendan Rodgers side while Rıdvan Yılmaz missed for Rangers.

Idah went on to finish the season with 20 goals and an assist, as Celtic won their fourth consecutive league title, their 55th overall. 

There was no treble to finish the year out as Idah experienced defeat in the Scottish Cup final, with Aberdeen getting the better of their Glasgow rivals on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Hampden Park.

Noonan had a frustrating year in green and white after transferring to the club from Durham. 

The forward tallied 25 goals in 24 starts but failed to win a trophy, but there was solace in Europe as Celtic qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stages for the first time.

The Douglas native’s biggest contribution was a hat-trick in a first round qualifier with Finnish side KuPS, as that gave the club a 3-1 victory. 

The Hoops went on to play Chelsea, Real Madrid, and FC Twente in the competition proper with Noonan in their ranks and finished bottom of the group.

One member of the Cork diaspora that will be playing European football next season is Midleton’s Shane O’Neill, son of All-Ireland winner Colm O’Neill who featured in the victory over Meath in 1990. 

The defender is currently with FK Radnički 1923 in Serbia after moving to the SuperLiga club from Toronto FC last February.

The USA underage international finished his first year with the team by helping them qualify for Europe for just the second time ever, and they will start their adventure in the second round of the Conference League qualifiers this summer.

O’Neill left the MLS where Kevin Long now plays for Toronto FC. 

The defender is into his second season in North America, and he started the traditional 2024-25 season by his club reach the final of the Canadian Championship. 

There was no joy in the confined knock-out competition which runs alongside Major League Soccer, as Toronto were beaten by Vancouver Whitecaps on penalties.

Denise O’Sullivan, like Long, is at the start of her retrospective campaign with North Carolina Courage in the NWSL. 

Her international team-mate Megan Connolly is in a different position, as she just finished her first year in Italy with Lazio. 

The midfielder is already a ‘known name’ after helping The Eagles comfortably stay up in the relegation round, with 41 points collected overall, in addition to reaching the quarter finals of the Italian Women’s Cup.

Two youth players on the continent are Hoffenheim’s Matthew Moore and Benfica’s Jaden Umeh.

The pair are currently with underage squads and have yet to make a first team appearance at their retrospective clubs.

Moore’s issue has been a knee injury, which the midfielder overcame last February after missing the majority of Hoffenheim’s UEFA Youth League campaign, Umeh is with Benfica, and his getting ready to play at the U17 World Cup later this year after Colin O’Brien’s side secured qualification last March.

The Ringmahon Rangers academy star was ever present on their journey to Qatar, with the forward scoring four goals on the way to the Middle East. 

Umeh is already warming up, after scoring in a 3-0 victory over Croatia’s U18s earlier this month.