Shamrock Rovers’ Michael Noonan becomes youngest goalscorer in European club tournaments history at 16

Key Takeaways:

• Michael Noonan became the youngest goalscorer in European club competition history at 16 years and 197 days
• Shamrock Rovers defeated Molde 1-0 in the Europa Conference League playoffs
• Noonan was directly involved in drawing a red card for Molde’s Valdemar Lund in the 42nd minute

The UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs did not feature major match-ups on paper, but they unexpectedly made history in European football.

Shamrock Rovers claimed a 1-0 victory over Molde, with Michael Noonan scoring the only goal in the 57th minute. The 16-year-old debutant became the youngest goalscorer in the history of European club competitions, setting a new record at 16 years and 197 days. His goal broke Romelu Lukaku’s record by 21 days.

What a night for 16-year-old Michael Noonan 🇮🇪

He becomes the youngest goalscorer in European club competition history after scoring for Shamrock Rovers against Molde in the Conference League ⚽ pic.twitter.com/odbwkKgrrr

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) February 13, 2025

Noonan was also directly involved in a key moment earlier in the match. In the 42nd minute, he forced Molde’s Valdemar Lund into a challenge that resulted in a red card, leaving the Norwegian side with ten men for the remainder of the game.

The result gives Shamrock Rovers an advantage heading into the second leg, while Noonan’s record-breaking goal adds to the history of European competition.