2025 in review: Joy for Caoimhín Kelleher and co as Irish teams deliver

Last week, we had a look back at all the events in local soccer over the last 12 months, from Cork City's relegation to College Corinthians winning the FAI Intermediate Cup for the first time.

There was also a flirt with automatic promotion for Cobh Ramblers, a second Munster Senior League Premier Division title for Midleton, and local faces doing the double with Shamrock Rovers.

The storylines were bigger across the continent, and in international football, with 2025 concluding with that game against Hungary in Budapest.

Caoímhín Kelleher helped set up Troy Parrot's winner. That capped off a year that began with a run to the EFL Cup final, once again, with Liverpool. There was no joy at the end of the journey for the goalkeeper as Arne Slott's side were beaten in the decider by Newcastle United.

The Ringmahon Rangers academy graduate went again, this time in the Premier League. He made 10 appearances in total, something helped by an injury to Alison Becker in November 2024, and that was enough to earn a winners medal as Liverpool clinched number 20 with a victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.

Kelleher sought pastures new in the summer, and he chose to move to Brentford, where he currently plays under Keith Andrews.

Chiedozie Ogbene spent the first six months of the year recovering from an ACL injury, and he came back for Ipswich Town this summer. The winger was then loaned out to Sheffield United, to play in the EFL Championship.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Jake O’Brien finally made Everton his home following his move to Goodison Park from Lyon. The defender, who came through the Cork City academy and had spells at Crystal Palace and RWD Molenbeek thrived in the second half of the season after Sean Dyche was replaced by David Moyes.

The Youghal native was even converted into a right back, under the guidance of former England international Leighton Baines, and he is now an important component in an Everton side challenging for a European spot at the turn of 2025 into 2026.

Eoghan O’Connell grabbed headlines in the lower leagues by helping Wrexham gain promotion to the EFL Championship, their third season on the bounce where they went up. The defender left Wales in the summer and is now a free agent, and is looking for a new club going into the January transfer window.

HIGH DRAMA

At international level, the Republic of Ireland reached the playoff round for the FIFA World Cup following a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hungary and Budapest in November. Ogbene won a penalty on the day, and Kelleher made a string of saves that kept the Boys in Green in the tie until Parrott stabbed home the winner.

Another story from a local point of view was the women's national team gaining promotion to the UEFA Women's Nations League A and a playoff spot for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

One the most important results recorded by the Girls in Green was a 1-0 victory over Slovenia at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, with Saoirse Noonan marking the homecoming by getting the winner into the City End.

The Republic of Ireland kept form by defeating Belgium over two legs in the promotion play-offs, with Denise O’Sullivan instrumental in both legs. Kyra Carusa, who had relations in West Cork, was also involved alongside Noonan. 

The tie was decided in the second leg after the Red Devils made it 4-4 on aggregate, as Abbie Larkin was able to score at the death, and that gave the Girls in Green the victory.

The year closed off with Colin O'Brien and his U17s, with former Cork City coach, John Cotter on the management ticket, reaching round to 16 at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

O’Brien is best known locally for his time with Glasheen and the Rebel Army, in addition to a stint with Cobh Ramblers, and he has consistently delivered with the underage teams since his appointment in 2016.

The Rebel County was represented by Jaden Umeh at the World Cup. 

The striker went from Ringmahon Rangers to Benfica via Cork City and got the Boys in Green’s first goal in the tournament, during a 4-1 victory over Panama.

The Republic of Ireland managed to top their group, defeat Canada in the next round through a tense penalty shoot-out, and go out to Switzerland at the next stage of the competition.