Michael Noonan (footballer)

Michael Noonan

Personal information
Full name	Michael Noonan
Date of birth	(2008-07-31) 31 July 2008 (age 16)
Place of birth	Rathangan, County Kildare, Republic of Ireland
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Shamrock Rovers
Number	31
Youth career
	Monasterevin
–2022	Ballyoulster United
2022–2024	St Patrick's Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2024	St Patrick's Athletic	1	(0)
2025–	Shamrock Rovers	1	(0)
International career‡
2022–2023	Republic of Ireland U15	12	(8)
2023–2024	Republic of Ireland U16	14	(12)
2024–	Republic of Ireland U17	10	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:35, 17 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:35, 17 February 2025 (UTC)

Michael Noonan (born 31 July 2008) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers. He started his senior career at his previous club St Patrick's Athletic.

Club career

Youth career

Raised in Rathangan, County Kildare, Noonan attended Ardscoil Rath Íongahain ^{[1] [2]} and began playing his schoolboy football with Monasterevin, ^[3] then Celbridge based club Ballyoulster United, before signing for the Academy of League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic in 2022, initially playing for the club's under-15 side, before progressing through the under-17, under-19 and under-20 sides over the following 3 seasons. ^[4]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 3 February 2024, Noonan made his senior debut for St Patrick's Athletic, replacing Ruairí Keating from the bench in the 76th minute of a 3–1 win away to UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup. ^[5] On 17 September 2024, he scored his first goals in senior football, scoring twice in a 3–1 win over Maynooth University Town in the Semi Final of the same competition. ^[6] On 8 October 2024, he opened the scoring in the Final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup in an eventual 2–1 win over St Mochta's at Richmond Park. ^[7] His performances in the Leinster Senior Cup led to manager Stephen Kenny giving him his league debut on 14 October 2024, replacing Aidan Keena in the 89th minute of a 3–1 win over Bohemians at Dalymount Park. ^[8] Later that month he was linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City. ^{[9] [10]}

Shamrock Rovers

On 15 January 2025, he signed for fellow League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers, turning down St Patrick's Athletic's matching contract offer as they had Mason Melia and Aidan Keena ahead of him in the pecking order, as well as Noonan being raised as a Shamrock Rovers fan by his family. ^{[11] [12] [13]} Noonan became the youngest ever scorer in UEFA Conference League history when he scored for Shamrock Rovers away at Norwegian side Molde in his debut for the club on 13 February 2025. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

International career

Noonan has previously represented the Republic of Ireland at various age levels. He scored 2 goals in 5 appearances for the Republic of Ireland U15 in 2022. ^[17] He continued his form into 2023 for the side, helping them to win the Torneo della Nazioni in Italy, scoring throughout the tournament including the winning goal against the hosts in the final on 1 May 2023. ^[18] On 15 May 2023, he scored on his second appearance for the Republic of Ireland U16 side, scoring the winner in the final of the UEFA Development Tournament in a 2–1 victory over hosts Slovakia U16. ^[19] On 11 November 2023, he scored in the final of the Victory Shield for the U16s as they retained their title with a 3–0 victory over Northern Ireland. ^[20] On 26 January 2024, he scored his first international hat-trick, in a 6–0 win over Greece U16 in İzmir, Turkey. ^[21] On 5 September 2024, he made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U17 team in a 2–1 loss to Denmark U17 in Marbella, Spain. ^[22]

Career statistics

As of match played on 16 February 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Division	Season	League		National Cup		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
St Patrick's Athletic	2024	LOI Premier Division	1	0	0	0	0 [a]	0	4 [b]	3	5	3
Shamrock Rovers	2025	LOI Premier Division	1	0	0	0	1 [a]	1	0 [b]	0	2	1
Career total			2	0	0	0	1	1	4	3	7	4

1. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
2. Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

References

1. "Noonan back in school in Rathangan the morning after breaking European record - Homepage - Kildare Nationalist". kildare-nationalist.ie. 16 February 2025.
2. "Meet Michael Noonan: The transition year student and gifted GAA player who made European history with Shamrock Rovers". www.independent.ie. 14 February 2025.
3. "Congratulations to local lad and... - Monasterevin A.F.C".
4. "Michael Noonan | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
5. Merriman, Rory. "Leinster Senior Cup Report: UCD 1 -3 St Patrick's Athletic". extratime.com.
6. "Result: Saints 3 - Maynooth 1". www.stpatsfc.com.
7. Team, Extratime. "St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners". extratime.com.
8. Ward, Johnny (14 October 2024). "Tierney red proves a turning point as Pat's beat Bohs" – via www.rte.ie.
9. "St Pat's teenage striker Michael Noonan to finalise Manchester City deal this weekend". Irish Independent. 25 October 2024.
10. Harrington, Eoin (19 October 2024). "Report: Manchester City Pushing To Sign St Pats Ireland U17 Star". Balls.ie.
11. Rovers, Shamrock (15 January 2025). "Michael Noonan is a Hoop! 15 January 2025".
12. Early, Ronan (15 January 2025). "Michael Noonan makes switch to Shamrock Rovers from St Patrick's Athletic". The 42.
13. "Highly-rated St Pat's youngster Michael Noonan set for move to Shamrock Rovers". Irish Independent. 11 January 2025.
14. "Teenager Michael Noonan makes history on debut as Shamrock Rovers win away in Molde". The Irish Times. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
15. "Noonan, 16, makes history with Shamrock Rovers winner". BBC Sport. 13 February 2025. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
16. "Michael Noonan's heroics show why League of Ireland is the place for young stars". 16 February 2025.
17. "MU15: Review of 2022". fai.ie.
18. "REPORT | MU15 | Ireland beat Italy to win tournament". fai.ie.
19. "REPORT | MU16 | Ireland win tournament and end season unbeaten". fai.ie.
20. "MU16 | Ireland lift the Victory Shield with win over Northern Ireland". fai.ie.
21. "REPORT | MU16 | Ireland 6-0 Greece". fai.ie.
22. "REPORT | MU17 | Denmark 2-1 Ireland". fai.ie.