Picture: Louth and Ardee St Mary’s goalkeeper Tiernan Markey pictured during Ireland’s Kicking King at Aviva Stadium.
Louth footballer Tiernan Markey is one step closer to a potential opportunity in American college football after progressing to the next stage of Ireland’s Kicking King.
The 20-year-old Ardee St Mary’s goalkeeper is among 20 young athletes who have progressed through Leader Kicking’s nationwide search for kicking talent capable of making the transition to American football.
Tiernan will now receive specialist coaching from Tadhg Leader and the Leader Kicking team as the competition moves towards its next stage in the United States.
His progress comes after he earned the chance to kick at the Aviva Stadium during the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic, successfully converting a field goal at half-time in front of thousands of spectators.
Busy year for Louth goalkeeper
Tiernan has already enjoyed a significant year in Gaelic football.
He made his senior debut for Louth, helped the county’s U20 team reach the Leinster final and was also part of the Ardee St Mary’s side that won the Division 1 League title.
He said the American football opportunity had developed into something he was keen to explore further.
“I didn’t really know what to expect when I first got involved, but it’s been a brilliant experience so far,” Tiernan said.
“To have made it through to this stage is very exciting and I’m looking forward to learning more, working on the finer parts of my kicking and seeing where it leads.”
Nationwide search for kicking talent
Ireland’s Kicking King was created by Leader Kicking to identify athletes whose kicking ability could potentially transfer from sports such as Gaelic football, rugby and soccer into American football.
Around 800 to 1,000 male and female athletes aged between 16 and 24 took part in open trials around Ireland during August, according to organisers.
Having progressed through those trials and experienced kicking under pressure at the Aviva Stadium, Tiernan and the remaining athletes will now move into a more intensive coaching phase.
Leader Kicking specialises in helping athletes develop kicking and punting skills while also supporting them through the academic and recruitment process for US colleges.
Chicago opportunity next
The next major target is a trip to Northwestern University’s new Ryan Field in Chicago.
Ten finalists are set to earn the opportunity to travel to the United States, with the top four then competing in a longest-kick competition at Ryan Field on 7th November.
All ten finalists will also receive six months of coaching, academic preparation and college recruitment support from Leader Kicking.
Founder Tadhg Leader said the next stage would allow athletes such as Tiernan to see how far their ability could take them.
“Tiernan and the other athletes who have reached this stage now have an opportunity to work directly with us, develop their technique and see just how far their ability can take them,” he said.
“For some of these young players, that could ultimately mean an education and a football career in the United States.”
Leader said education remains central to the programme.
“These athletes aren’t simply leaving Ireland to pursue professional sport, they’re going to university, earning a degree and competing at an elite level at the same time.”
Pathway from Ireland to the US
Leader Kicking was founded by former professional rugby player Tadhg Leader in 2022 and has since helped a growing number of Irish athletes secure places in American college football programmes.
The organisation says its work has helped generate around $3 million in scholarship value for families.
Its best-known success story is former Down Gaelic footballer Charlie Smyth, who went on to sign with the New Orleans Saints after progressing through the NFL’s International Player Pathway.
For Tiernan, however, the immediate focus is on the next round of coaching and earning his place among the ten athletes who will travel to Chicago.
