16-year-old Michael Noonan was in the Shamrock Rovers first team, thrust into a European knockout tie against Molde. Few knew his name outside Ireland’s youth circles, but that changed when he sprinted onto a through ball and took down the Norwegian club’s defense on a cold February night.
He allegedly had been close to joining Manchester City last season, but St Patrick’s Athletic, his old team, never agreed on the fee. Shamrock Rovers seized the moment and secured his signature. That gamble paid off in breathtaking style against Molde.
In the first half, defender Valdemar Lund mistimed a tackle and saw red. Noonan had forced it. Then, not long after, he pounced on a loose ball, calmly finishing past the goalkeeper. Suddenly, he was the youngest goalscorer in the history of European competition, surpassing beating Lukaku’s record.’s old mark by 21 days.
A night in Molde
Teammates mobbed him by the corner flag. The away supporters broke into song. Some had traveled at great expense—tickets, flights, and a few nights in Norway can total around $700—but the moment made it worth every cent. Aaron McEneff, who has known Noonan from underage level, said later, “He’s only 16, but he doesn’t play football like a 16-year-old.”
Head coach Stephen Bradley was quick to praise his starlet. “He played above his years,” Bradley said. “We saw in training he was ready.” The hope is that Noonan’s composure in front of goal will hold steady for next week’s second leg in Tallaght. Fans are buzzing about the sellout crowd of 10,000 expected for that match, and they’re already snapping up tickets for Sunday’s league opener at the Aviva Stadium, where around 30,000 are projected.
Noonan’s rapid rise is a welcome boost for Irish football, which has long craved a young forward to emerge at the top level. He’s said to be shy off the pitch, but when the whistle blows, he’s all sharp runs and fearless challenges.
Rovers ultimately rode his strike to a hard-fought 1-0 victory, a strong position to secure a spot in the last 16 of the Conference League. For many, seeing such a young player thriving in Europe spoke to the possibilities for the domestic game in Ireland. After the final whistle, supporters chanted, “He’s one of our own,” over and over.
