Michael O'Neill impressed by Liverpool-bound Irish League teenager after latest goal exploits
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has been impressed by the progress of Crusaders teenager Michael Mulholland with the Liverpool-bound ace lighting up the inaugural U15 World Cup & Festival – and praised the continued work of the JD Academy in producing top talent.
Mulholland scored seven goals in four games, including hat-tricks against Antigua & Barbuda and Lebanon, as Northern Ireland won their group before finishing 27th of 189 nations participating at the first eight-a-side tournament in Azerbaijan.
The 15-year-old is one of the most highly-rated young players in the Irish League and has already made a senior impact, netting his first Premiership goal just five minutes into his debut against leaders Coleraine in September.
Mulholland has also struck three times in as many U20 Premiership Development League matches this term and been a prolific goalscorer for the Crues across various age groups.
During the last international break, Mulholland was invited to train with Northern Ireland’s senior squad alongside fellow teen Phoenix Blayney – the Larne goalkeeper has already agreed a move to reigning Premier League champions Arsenal for next summer.
A member of the Irish FA’s JD Academy, Belfast teenager Mulholland has represented his country up to U17 level – he scored in September’s 2-1 victory over Switzerland.
O’Neill is well aware of Mulholland’s potential and insists Andy Waterworth – the Irish FA’s Head of Elite Player Development – deserves credit for his role in developing an exciting next generation of stars.
"The great thing about the academy is that we know these players from basically 13, 14 years of age,” said O’Neill. “We've known about Michael for quite some time through Andy Waterworth and him being in our U15s, U16s and U17s, he's a lad that plays above his own age group.
"He scored his first goal for Crusaders as well against Coleraine in one of the opening games of the season.
"Look, these are young boys who have got hopefully a lifetime of football ahead of them, but we just have to monitor them, support them as well as we do.
"The JD Academy, and Andy Waterworth and his staff in particular, do a brilliant job with these young lads.”
Mulholland has made two Premiership appearances for the Crues, who travel to Bangor on Saturday afternoon hoping to build on last weekend’s emphatic 4-1 victory at Limavady United.
He became the youngest player to score in Northern Ireland’s top-flight since 2010 with his strike against the Bannsiders coming at the age of 15 years and 231 days.
"Michael's been at the club since he was six or seven years old...he is destined for big things and he'll be gone next summer,” said boss Declan Caddell at the time. "It was nice to give him his debut and to score at 15.
"I'm delighted for him and his family because of the loyalty they've shown to the club throughout those 10 years as an academy player.
"He has that in the locker, the quality the kid has...it was a great finish and I'm delighted for him and the family.
"It's up to him (how far he can go). He has the right mentality.
"He's driven, every day he comes in, he wants to be a footballer. If he keeps that attitude, he has all the attributes to go where he wants.”