Cathal McCarthy (footballer)

Last updated

Cathal McCarthy
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-08-31) 31 August 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth Caragh, County Kildare, Ireland
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Team information
Current team
Hull City
Number 58
Youth career
–2025 UCD
2025– Hull City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2024–2025 UCD 4 (0)
2025– Hull City 2 (0)
2025UCD (loan) 15 (0)
International career
2024–2025 Republic of Ireland U19 5 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:54, 3 September 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:47, 16 July 2025 (UTC)

Cathal McCarthy (born 31 August 2006) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder and centre-back for EFL Championship club Hull City. He also represents the Republic of Ireland at youth level. [1]

Contents

Club career

McCarthy is from Caragh, County Kildare. [2] He came through the academy ranks at UCD, and broke into the first team in the 2024 season. On 24 May 2024, he made his senior debut away at Athlone Town, appearing as a second-half substitute in a 2–2 draw. [1] [3]

Ahead of the 2025 winter transfer window, Derby County, Everton, Fulham, Millwall, and Norwich City had all expressed interest in recruiting McCarthy. [4] [5] However, he ultimately signed for EFL Championship club Hull City on 1 February 2025, arriving on a two-and-a-half year deal. [1] As part of his contract, McCarthy was loaned straight back to UCD until 30 June to finish his leaving certificate. On 1 July, he returned to Hull and began playing for their U21s. [6]

McCarthy made his senior debut for Hull on 23 August 2025. Amidst a minor injury crisis, he was promoted to start at centre-back alongside fellow-Irishman John Egan against Blackburn Rovers. [7] However, the match was one to forget for McCarthy, as Blackburn ran out 3–0 winners at the MKM Stadium. [8]

International career

McCarthy made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U19s in a 3–1 win over Kazakhstan on 7 September 2024. [1] [9] He scored his first goal in his second cap against Greece on 9 October 2024. [1] [10] On 28 August 2025, he received his first call up to the U21s. [11]

Career statistics

As of 3 September 2025 [12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [a] League Cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
UCD 2024 LOI First Division 40001 [c] 050
Hull City 2024–25 Championship 00000000
2025–26 Championship20000020
Total20000020
UCD (loan) 2025 LOI First Division150000 [c] 0150
Career total210000010220
  1. Includes FAI Cup & FA Cup
  2. Includes EFL Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "McCarthy signs for Hull City Academy". Hull City A.F.C. 1 February 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  2. "McCarthy delighted at securing exciting move to Hull City this summer". Kildare Nationalist. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  3. "Athlone Town vs. UCD 2 - 2". soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  4. McCadden, Mark (28 February 2025). "Brilliant Reason Why UCD Youngster Insisted on Loan Back to League of Ireland After Joining Hull". Irish Mirror . Retrieved 25 May 2025.
  5. "Hull City are set to beat Everton in race to sign Irish gem". Everton News. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  6. Leonard, Stephen (12 February 2025). "McCarthy Delighted at Securing Exciting Move to Hull City This Summer". Kildare Nationalist . Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  7. "Team News: Blackburn Rovers (H)". Hull City A.F.C. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  8. "Hull City 0-3 Blackburn Rovers". BBC Sport. 23 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
  9. "Ireland 3-1 Kazakhstan". FAI. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  10. "Ireland 2-2 Greece". FAI. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  11. "Under-21 squad named for Moldova & Andorra qualifiers". FAI. 28 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  12. Cathal McCarthy at Soccerway