TY year in professional soccer
The Anglo-Celt Community & Sports Awards, in partnership with Mannok and Kingspan, will take place this evening in the Cavan Crystal Hotel. Finn Sherlock is a finalist for Young Sports Star of the Year...
Finn Sherlock was 13 years old when he tried out for Shelbourne FC in January 2022. From his first kicks for the Cootehill Harps over to Dublin, the left-back has since progressed to an international level with the Republic of Ireland U15s and U17s.
In July 2024, he moved from Shelbourne to the German soccer academy of TSG Hoffenheim. Luke Byrne, Shelbourne FC Technical Director said at the time: “His attitude, application and determination mark him out as a special young player.”
Finn is one of the youngest to hit the net for a senior Reds side, having featured in several of Damien Duff’s first team squads and scoring in pre-season against Bray at the age of 15. Finn was the U17 National League team captain and will play the World Cup in Qatar this November.
All of these eye-catching displays put him on the radar of numerous European clubs. For now, he is in Hoffenheim, where he feels comfortable.
Where the road of a hopefully professional soccer career will take him, he doesn’t know: “As long as it's a good fit for me, it doesn’t matter what country,”he said.
He says this with the ease of someone who has settled in well in a foreign country. A pre-Brexit set-up would’ve guided him to an English academy with similar customs. Now young talents are going to the continent. Being in a predominantly German-speaking environment with teammates from all over Europe has surely helped him mature into a confident player and person.
He shares a room with Matthew Moore from Cork and his parents visit the academy in the southern part of Germany as often as they can. On his weekends at home, Finn enjoys playing a round of golf with his mates or watching his family members play football, like his sister who “is mad at the Gaelic”.
The nomination came as a surprise to him as he is focused on his path, not realising other people were taking notice. “It’s a nice recognition,” he said.
With special thanks to our partners and sponsors in these awards - Mannok, Kingspan, Sherry FitzGerald Declan Woods, Cavan Crystal Hotel, Dovida, Kyte Powertech, CICS Silo Clean and Joe Rowley Windows