Cathal O'Sullivan
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Cathal O'Sullivan
| full_name = Cathal O'Sullivan
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2007|3|5}}
| birth_place = Cork, Ireland
| position = Winger
Attacking midfielder
| currentclub = Cork City
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 = –2020
| youthclubs1 = Leeside United
| youthyears2 = 2020–2024
| youthclubs2 = Cork City
| years1 = 2023– | clubs1 = Cork City | caps1 = 40 | goals1 = 7
| nationalyears1 = 2021 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U15
| nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 1
| nationalyears2 = 2023–2024 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U17
| nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2024– | nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps3 = 8 | nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2025– | nationalteam4 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps4 = 2 | nationalgoals4 = 0
| club-update = 10:22, 17 May 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 10:29, 12 June 2025 (UTC)
}}
Cathal O'Sullivan (born 5 March 2007) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City.
Career
=Youth career=
Cork man O'Sullivan attended Glanmire Community College{{Cite web|url=https://www.glanmirecc.ie/gcc-student-captains-ireland-u15-to-win-against-montenegro/|title=GCC Student Captains Ireland to victory over Montenegro|first=Tom|last=Pittam|date=September 24, 2021|website=Glanmire Community College}} and began playing his schoolboy football with local club Leeside United, before joining the academy of Cork City in 2020, progressing up through their under-14, under-15, under-17 and under-19 teams over the following years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41571181.html|title=Luke Downey hopes to become next Cork City young gun to push on|date=February 12, 2025|website=echo live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11140019/cathal_osullivan/|title=Cathal O'Sullivan | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}}
=Cork City=
On 25 July 2023, he signed his first professional contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.corkcityfc.ie/blogs/news/cathal-osullivan-signs-professional-contract|title=Cathal O'Sullivan Signs Professional Contract|website=Cork City FC Shop}} O'Sullivan made his senior debut for Cork City on 14 August 2023, in a 3–1 loss to Cobh Ramblers in the Munster Senior Cup Final at Turners Cross.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41205175.html|title=Ramblers amble on to MSC final victory over struggling neighbours Cork City|date=August 14, 2023|website=echo live}} On 15 March 2024, he scored his first senior goal in a 2–0 win at home to Bray Wanderers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41354458.html|title=Cathal O'Sullivan and Sean Murray fire Cork City to win over Bray Wanderers at Turner's Cross|date=March 15, 2024|website=echo live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41355064.html|title=Cork City boss Tim Clancy on why Cathal O'Sullivan is a special talent|date=March 18, 2024|website=echo live}} He scored twice in a 4–1 in away to Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41430163.html|title=Cathal O'Sullivan brace help Cork City to comfortable win over Wexford|first=Brendan|last=Furlong|date=July 4, 2024|website=Irish Examiner}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wexford/sport/soccer/super-osullivan-shines-as-cork-city-fight-back-to-overcome-wexford-fc/a1092732646.html|title=Super O'Sullivan shines as Cork City fight back to overcome Wexford FC|date=July 5, 2024|website=www.independent.ie}} On 12 July 2024, he scored the only goal of the game in a narrow victory over Finn Harps.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41435602.html|title=More magic from Cathal sees Cork City beat Finn Harps|date=July 13, 2024|website=echo live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41435680.html|title=Cathal O'Sullivan needs more protection from League of Ireland officials|date=July 15, 2024|website=echo live}} In September 2024, he drew praise from manager Tim Clancy for being "technically streets ahead of any other young lad in the country. It will be very difficult to keep hold of Cathal O'Sullivan. I do believe that he is the standout kid in the country.".{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41483776.html|title=Cork City manager Tim Clancy on recruitment and keeping rising star Cathal O'Sullivan|date=September 30, 2024|website=echo live}} On 18 October 2024, O'Sullivan scored twice in a 6–0 win at home to Wexford before his side lifted the 2024 League of Ireland First Division title, earning promotion back to the Premier Division.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1018/1476143-cork-city-turn-on-the-style-to-celebrate-league-title/|title=Cork City turn on the style to celebrate league title|first=John|last=O'Shea|date=October 18, 2024|via=www.rte.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41354467.html|title=17-year-old has starring role as Cork City beat Bray Wanderers|first=Andrew|last=Horgan|date=March 15, 2024|website=Irish Examiner}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41498984.html|title=Cork City hit Wexford for six as fans celebrate trophy presentation at Turner's Cross|date=October 18, 2024|website=echo live}} In November 2024, O'Sullivan was named in the 2024 PFAI First Division Team of the Year by his fellow professionals in the league after scoring 7 goals in 28 league appearances in his first full season in senior football.{{Cite web|url=https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41515109.html|title=Five Cork City players included in First Division Team of the Year|date=November 12, 2024|website=echo live}}
International career
O'Sullivan made his first appearance in international football on 21 September 2021, captaining the Republic of Ireland U15 side in a 2–0 win over Montenegro U15, in which he scored the first goal and assisted the second.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-montenegro-mu15-0-2-ireland-mu15/|title=REPORT | Montenegro MU15 0-2 Ireland MU15|website=www.fai.ie}} He made his Republic of Ireland U17 debut on 9 September 2023, replacing Aarón Ochoa Moloney from the bench in the 71st minute of a 0–0 draw with Belgium U17.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-mu17-belgium-0-0-ireland/|title=REPORT | MU17 | Belgium 0-0 Ireland|website=www.fai.ie}} On 5 September 2024, he made his debut for the Republic of Ireland U19 squad in a 2–1 defeat to France U19.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-mu19-ireland-1-2-france/|title=REPORT | MU19 | Ireland 1-2 France|website=www.fai.ie}} On 21 May 2025, he received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 side for their June friendly fixtures against Croatia U21 and Qatar U23 in Croatia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/jim-crawford-names-under-21-squad-friendlies-croatia/|title=Jim Crawford names Under-21 squad for friendlies in Croatia|website=www.fai.ie}} He made his debut for the U21s in a 1–0 loss to Croatia U21 on 6 June 2025.https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/defeat-for-ireland-u-21s-in-croatia-as-jim-crawford-hands-out-four-new-caps/a1180005172.html
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 16 May 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/cathal-osullivan/927434/|title=Republic of Ireland - C. O'Sullivan - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FAI Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Cork City
|2023 |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024
|28 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 31 | 7 | |
| 2025
|12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=statsMSC}} | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!40 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 7 | |
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!40 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 7 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
;Cork City
=Individual=
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.extratime.com/player/11140019/cathal_osullivan/ Cathal O'Sullivan Extratime.com Profile]
{{Cork City F.C. squad}}
{{2024 PFAI League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:OSullivan, Cathal}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Cork City F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Association footballers from County Cork
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers