we decided to run with the best Premier Division XI of players 21 years old or less (Week 1-7).

Trying something different here at PlayerStat Data, we decided to run with the best Premier Division XI of players 21 years old or less (Week 1-7). The League of Ireland is producing young, technical players who are appearing more & more on the radars of clubs outside of the LOI. What better way to showcase the potential with a blog on the ‘best’ players statistically so far.

** Players have had to have played a minimum of 270 mins

Goalkeepers

GK – Vitezslav Jaros (St. Patrick’s Athletic).

A tight call here between Jaros and Sligo Rovers’ Ed McGinty but we have gone with the early impact of Jaros. Bounced back strongly from his mistake against Drogheda United and with just three goals conceded across the 7 games, he comes in goal for the XI here.

Defenders

CB – Kyle Ferguson & Cameron Evans (Waterford FC) and John Mahon (Sligo Rovers).

We decided to run with a 3-5-1-1 formation here to fit in these three fine centre half performances over the first 7 games of the season. While Waterford FC may attract headlines for a lot of reasons outside of the XI on the pitch. Their two young centre halves have stood out for their defensive output.

Both Ferguson & Evans rank very highly in success rates across standing challenges, ground tackles and aerial duels. A feature of the pressure that they have been under at the back for Waterford. Both players also face down the highest number of shots on their goal, blocking 7 and 5 shots respectively.

John Mahon’s defensive output isn’t as outstanding as his fellow centre halves, stands out across standing challenges & progressive regain events but in possession, he is peerless. 90.23% pass completion and 81.61% progressive pass completion success (i.e. passes in a forward direction towards the opp. goal).

RWB & LWB – Darragh Power (Waterford FC) and Karl O’Sullivan (Finn Harps).

A slight bit of rejigging here to slot in with a back three but Karl O’Sullivan has played in this role for Finn Harps last season and has ended games at RWB this season too.

Darragh Power is probably Waterford’s most solid performer this season so far, consistently featuring in the top 5 best performers across defensive metrics (65.79% stand. challenge success, 84.62% tackle success, 53.33% aerial duel success).

Karl O’Sullivan is more of an attacking element in this XI, used as a forward weapon to counteract Power’s solidity in winning the ball back. Going forward, O’Sullivan rates quite highly in many attacking metrics (75% attacking 1v1 success, a cracking goal to his name, one assist & 9 efforts on goal). He is also creative in the final third, creating the second highest tally of chances in this team (3 chances), establishing possession in the opp. box on 12 occasions and progressively finding a teammate in the opp. box on 4 occasions.

Midfielders

CM – Niall Morahan (Sligo Rovers), Adam O’Reilly (Waterford FC), Jack Malone (Derry City)

A very energetic and busy midfield three in the team here – Niall Morahan has been a consistent performer in the Sligo midfield for what seems an age now. His role has changed slightly with the introduction of Greg Bolger this season, finding himself a little more advanced and leaving more of the ball-winning to Bolger. Morahan has the highest number of successful passes in this cohort of players (199 in total) and a 93.43% success rate. Very impressively, of all the passes played towards the opposition box, he rates very highly with his progressive pass success rate (89.02%).

Adam O’Reilly came to Waterford with a reputation for serious work-rate and this reputation has been strengthened across the 7 games so far this season. Very solid possession figures (78.71% pass completion and 62.67% progressive pass completion) but he has stood out across the line in winning back possession. A 76.92% tackle success rate and a 50% aerial duel success rate (impressive considering this wouldn’t be a big facet of his game). He has also been involved in the highest number of progressive regain events (recoveries and interceptions) so a player that has been extremely busy across the season so far.

Jack Malone has settled well in the middle of the field at Derry City (with an eye to covering in at RWB if required). He rates highly in defensive output (45 standing challenge events and a 66.67% tackle success rate) but has had an impact at the other end of the field as well – creating 4 chances & establishing possession in the opp. box on 9 occasions. In possession however, Jack stands out from most of the U21s. with 150 successful passes and an 85.23% pass completion rate. Interestingly again, he has a solid progressive pass completion rate, coming in at 69.82%.

Attackers

AM – Ross Tierney (Bohemians). Arguably one of the standout performers across the League so far, not just in this age cohort. 2 goals scored and arguably Bohs’ main attacking threat since moving into a #10 role. The player has a very rounded stats output across defensive and attacking metrics. The highest progressive regain % of this team (93.18%), regaining loose balls and intercepting passes. In an attacking sense, he has a solid 55.56% shot efficiency rate, created 3 chances and established possession on 20 occasions.

ATT – Johnny Kenny (Sligo Rovers). The final piece in the puzzle, a player who is very highly rated at Sligo and is also attracting a lot of attention at this early stage of his senior career. On the field, he has certainly impressed – put it up to experienced defenders and not shying away. Probably the benefit of his age, just going out and playing each game as it comes.

He has the highest # of efforts on goal in the team (14 efforts) with a 50% shot efficiency rate (with his 1 goal scored so far also). 2 chances created and solid in possession (78.57% pass completion). There is a lot to come from the player and with the creativity behind him in this particular XI, I’d be certain his goal scoring numbers would rocket!