28 June 2026; Sadhbh Menihane of Carrigaline United has a shot on goal during the FAI Women’s U17 Cup final match between Carrigaline United AFC and Tramore FC at Munster FA Turner’s Cross Stadium in Cork. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Progression Elsewhere - Jack Moylan is a model of success for LOI Academy players
Keith Long, Guest Columnist
Jack Moylan’s rise through the ranks serves as a shining example for League of Ireland Academy players hoping to carve out their own professional careers. From his early days in youth football to making his mark at senior level, his determination and adaptability have set him apart as a true model of progression.
The Jack Moylan story reflects the importance of hard work, resilience and belief in your abilities. His success demonstrates that talent nurtured within the LOI Academy system can flourish, opening doors both domestically and abroad.
As academies across Ireland aim to develop the next generations, his journey is a testament to what’s possible for those willing to seize their opportunities.
When Jack signed for the Bohemians Academy in March 2017, he was a very technical youth player with Malahide United but also very small in stature which was more than made up for with his tenacity and determination to be the very best at everything he did.
Jack signed for us in Dalymount Park with dad Senan and Dave Henderson, the Bohemians Head of Recruitment at that time, at his side. Jack was no stranger to underage international teams and it was with great delight that we signed Jack against competition from other Dublin clubs.
It is an unknown fact that Jack was my very first signing for the Bohemians Academy and, along with Senan, you got a sense of Jack’s determination to become a professional footballer at a time of change in youth development in Ireland with LOI clubs now being tasked with developing young players, as opposed to the traditional schoolboy club route.
Jack’s route through the Bohs academy saw him win back-to-back U19 National League titles in 2018 & 2019 in addition to winning the Enda McGuill Cup in 2018. He was also exposed to underage European football in the 2018/19 season against Midtjylland of Denmark and then the next season against PAOK of Greece, when he scored in front of a packed Dalymount Park in a 1-1 draw.
2 October 2019; Jack Moylan of Bohemians celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal during the UEFA Youth League First Round First Leg between Bohemians and PAOK at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
In those games, he was in with future Bohemians regulars Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney, Andrew Lyons and Ryan Graydon while a very young Evan Ferguson made an appearance off the bench.
Jack was also exposed to first team training throughout his time at the club, became a squad member and then made his senior debut at 19. Six first team appearances followed before we sent him out on loan to Wexford, a really brave decision by Jack as he could have stayed and experienced European football in the Conference League but as a squad player.
True to Jack’s personality, he was having none of it. He did not want to be a bit-part player on the fringes of the squad. He wanted and needed first team experience. After speaking to Ian Ryan about his plans for Jack, it was agreed to allow him go out on loan to gain that valuable game time.
His loan spell under Ian at Wexford proved to be very successful, scoring seven goals in 14 appearances which for such a young player in a very attritional league was no mean feat.
So fast forward to the end of his loan at Wexford and one of the toughest decisions that I have had to make in football, allowing Jack to leave Bohs in order to continue to progress his career.
It was a very difficult conversation. Jack was unhappy with my thoughts and told me in no uncertain terms that I was making a mistake. I did believe Jack had all the attributes and mentality to play in our team but felt he would continue to become frustrated being behind, in my view, players like Liam Burt, Ali Coote, Dawson Devoy, Ross Tierney, Promise Omochere - all players who could play in the same position as Jack.
The decision to release Jack without the club seeking compensation, which I believe was key in assisting Jack’s move to Shelbourne, was made with Jack’s best interests at heart.
What he went on to achieve with Shelbourne and the progression he made under Damien Duff and subsequently Lincoln City, leading to his first Irish senior cap, gives me great joy and I am sure that all the coaches from his early days at Malahide, then Bohemians and Shels will also take great pride in that.
Have no doubt though, all the hard work was done by Jack with his absolute winning mentality and desire to prove he is good enough to play at a really good level.
We all await with interest how he copes with the rigours of the Championship and hopefully he will be rewarded with more international caps in the years to come. His story will be so relevant to the future of our youth development system in Ireland.
Success in academies is often judged by player sales or player transition to first team. Jack’s route proves that once you have the right attitude, the desire and hunger to be a player, the ability to listen and are willing to be coached, rejection can lead you to redirection.
I firmly believe in him and can talk at length about Jack’s story. Contrary to some views, Jack was not rejected at Bohemians. It was just not his time and when he got the opportunity to work with Damien Duff at Shelbourne, his game transcended to another level.
Remember players develop at different rates and manager’s jobs are always at stake.
I always believed that I am fair and open minded as a coach and I think my record with young players stands with the best in Irish football. But sometimes you can get things wrong and, if so in this case, then I am really happy that Jack has been proven correct.
Success in football takes various routes. Youth development is not linear and one person’s opinion does not define you as a player. I always believed in Jack, going back to the day he signed for the club as a youngster. Lastly, I think it’s worth mentioning Jack’s parents, good honest people with strong beliefs. Jack is a product of his environment and I know they will be so proud of him as a person as much as a player. As they should be.
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Bradley told Paul Buttner of the Irish Sun how teenager Brennan’s form was scintillating on the night as the Hoops won 3-1 and maintained their grip on the top of the table spot.
