Strong Cavan links to high-flying U17 World Cup squad
Soccer
Kevin Óg Carney
Soccer aficionados in Cavan will be watching Ireland’s progress in the U17 World Cup with an eagle eye in the hope and expectation that two of the country’s top players in particular will feature in the play-off stages of the competition in Qatar.
Hoffenheim (Germany) starlet Finn Sherlock and Finn Harps ‘keeper Corey Cummins-Sheridan both boast strong Cavan roots and are key members of the Ireland squad that has just qualified for the last 32 of the World Cup in Doha.
Sherlock is a native of Cootehill while Cummins-Sheridan’s dad Paul is a native of Mullahoran.Both are prodigious young talents and are destined to get many opportunities to showcase their talents on the international stage as their careers continue to go in an upward trajectory.
Young Sherlock cut his teeth with Cootehill Harps and at just 14 years of age was called up to the Ireland U15 squad in 2023 and since then he has gone onto represent his country at U15, U16, U17 and U18 levels.
The 17-year old left-back has unfortunately been badly affected by injury this year which has greatly limited his involvement with Hoffenheim U19s in the Bundesliga this season and has also, crucially, greatly curtailed his game time with Colin O’Brien’s squad in Doha.
However, with qualification for the playoffs having been assured by dint of Ireland’s 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan last week, reports from Qatar suggest that Sherlock – who joined Hoffenheim from the Shelbourne Academy in May 2024 - is destined to play at least some part in the Boys in Green’s bid for a place in the last 16 of the competition as his rehab continues in Doha.
Meanwhile, Finn Harps’ netminder Cummins-Sheridan is also tipped for some game time in Doha on the back of his impressive club displays for the Ballybofey-based First Division side and also given the fact that Ireland is safely into the play-off stages.
The 17-year-old netminder is the son of Paul Sheridan, a former Mullahoran and county hurling star and long-time Donegal resident. Sheridan won the Cavan Hurler of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
Corey’s dad also won an All Star award for his contribution with Cavan in the Nicky Rickard Cup in 2007 and also togged out the footballers of Bundoran for a period. With his brother Darren in goals and younger brother Anthony in the backs he had ample support on the field of play in the Royal Blue in years gone by. His father Thomas has held the position of Cavan County Board Hurling Chairman.
Corey sports dual nationality - with Northern Ireland – and was called up to the Ireland team last March.
Born and raised in Ballyshannon, he is all of 1.83 metres tall and has shone in his eight appearances to date this year for the Harps in the League of Ireland First Division and in his club’s FAI campaign this year.
Following their convincing table-topping success – by dint of seeing off the challenges of Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay – Sherlock, Cummins-Sheridan and co. have been tipped as dark horses to go much further in the competition.