Teenage goalkeeper Noonan in line to make league debut for Shamrock Rovers
Alex Noonan is in line to make his league debut for Shamrock Rovers in the Dublin derby against Bohemians on Monday Photo: ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon
17-year-old goalkeeper Alex Noonan, from Maynooth, is in line to make his league debut for Shamrock Rovers when they take on Bohemians in Dalymount Park on Monday.
Regular number one Ed McGinty has been called up to Irish senior squad and he will be away on international duty. That opens the door for Noonan, who was first choice 'keeper for the Ireland at the Under 17 World Cup in Qatar last year.
Noonan, who has been capped up to Under 19 level for his country, has featured before Rovers in the Leinster Senior Cup and started in this season’s curtain raising President’s Cup against Derry City before being replaced by McGinty at half-time.
It would be a huge test for the young goalkeeper to be pitched in for the biggest game in Irish football but manager Stephen Bradley has never been shy about placing his faith in young players in the past. He handed future Irish international goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu his debut at just 16 years of age, while more recently both Michael Noonan and Victor Ozhianvuna have both regularly featured in the first team at that age.
Speaking to the Irish football media, Bradley emphasised the trust he has in his young goalkeeper.
“I’ve said it from day one, there are no worries. Like I said about Victor last year, it’s very similar to Alex in terms of what we see. You are talking about a top keeper.
“If we were in a different place in terms of Ed not being firmly our number one, Alex would no doubt have a lot more games by now. He’s very good.
“If Alex had had to play the first 15 or 16 games or whatever it is, we’d have no issues. He’s good, he’s very good,” Bradley is quoted as saying.
