Future is bright on the pitch for Irish Brighton teenagers – Andrew Moran: ‘I was buzzing after I got the shout to come on’

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Evan Ferguson has quite rightly been earning the headlines for his goalscoring performances for Brighton & Hove Albion over the turn of the year. However, as the 18-year-old striker was scoring against Everton on Tuesday evening, having grabbed his first Premier league goal against Arsenal a few days previously on New Year’s Eve, another Irish teenager Andrew Moran was making his first steps in his Premier League career.

In the 79th minute at Goodison Park, Moran came on to make his league debut for Albion. And this was all happening on the day that 18-year-old Jamie Mullins made the switch from Bohemians to Brighton to add another Irish teenager at the ranks of the Premier League club (with 20-year-old former Shamrock Rovers player James Furlong also on the books).

Speaking to his club website after Brighton’s 4-1 win over Everton, Moran admitted that he was surprised that his manager Roberto De Zerbi made the call to bring the him on for his Premier League debut.

“You look at some of the players on our bench so when he called me and Adam Lallana up it was unreal, an unbelievable feeling,” said 19-year-old Moran. “The head coach called me over and my first thought was, 'Are you sure you want me?’

“I don't think it's really sunk in, I was buzzing after I got the shout to come on. Usually you find out the day before if you are going to play and I have been in a few [Premier League matchday] squads now but I didn't really expect it. It's what I've been dreaming of since I was a kid.

“As soon as the final whistle went I thought I want more - to have more touches and to get on the ball,  but I am delighted.”

Moran became Bray's youngest ever player at 15 years and 307 days when he made his debut in August 2019. In February 2020, he became the club's youngest ever goalscorer at 16 years 135 days old when he scored in a 2–0 home victory over Wexford.

Brighton signed the player later that year for the club’s academy and he put pen to paper a pro-contract with the club in September last year.



The player is enjoying working under De Zerbi, who took over the reigns at the Amex Stadium after Graham Potter left for Chelsea.

“You learn so much every day. He is so passionate about football, he has his way of playing and we know if we follow his approach it will bring us success.

“He sees the little details as well, such as when you're in or out of possession, where you should be and why you should always give someone an angle to the person on the ball. You say to yourself, 'why didn't I think of that before?'

“Learning from him and then trying to bring his advice into your game every day in training is so helpful.”

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile