FAI hopeful Fleetwood hero Conor Haughey will switch allegiance

Lines of communication have been open this year between the FAI and the 19-year-old from the Carrick Hill area of Belfast who has represented Northern Ireland at underage level

Conor Haughey scored in winning penalty for Fleetwood Town in their League Cup shootout victory over Arsenal. Pic: Nick Potts/Press Association.

The FAI are hopeful of Fleetwood Town’s League Cup hero Conor Haughey joining the Republic ranks in the coming months.

The 19-year-old defender, from the Carrick Hill area of Belfast, converted the decisive penalty for the fourth division outfit that knocked Premier League champions Arsenal out on Tuesday night.

In the Gunners' ranks was Ceadach O’Neill, the Derry-born winger who recently opted to stick with Northern Ireland despite deliberating over a move to the Republic.

Haughey has represented Northern Ireland at underage level, including twice at U21 level in recent months, but is eligible again at that level for the next campaign.

It’s understood lines of communication from the FAI have been open this year about switching allegiance, with the expectation being it will be formalised in time for the next U21 qualifiers.

The current Republic U21s face Finland in next month’s playoff for a spot at the 2027 Euros, a competition Northern Ireland were eliminated from last month by finishing third in their group.

Michael O’Neill could decide to replicate the approach he adopted with O’Neill by fast-tracking Haughey into the senior fold for the Nations League qualifiers against Ukraine and Hungary on November 14 and 17.

He became Glentoran’s youngest-ever player in September 2022 by appearing as a substitute in the Co Antrim Shield win over Lisburn Distillery at just 15 years, three months and eight days old.

After initially moving to Fleetwood – the mothership of League of Ireland outfit Waterford – on a two-year deal in 2023, his contract was bolstered with an extension earlier this year that brings him up to 2029.

He made 19 appearances last season and Tuesday’s outing against the Gunners was the ninth of this season so far for the 6’1” defender.

After Bruno Guimaraes was denied by goalkeeper Jay Lynch in the shootout, the teen rifled his shot into the top left corner, securing a 5-3 shootout win after a 1-1 draw and sparking a pitch invasion at Highbury.

"It's the way I've been brought up," said Haughey afterwards. "Obviously I'm a Belfast boy. Where I grew up, if you're not confident you get eaten up, so you just take it in your stride whatever you do."

Other Irish participants in the giant-killing feat were Limerick native Ronan Coughlan, who also scored in the shootout and fellow substitute, midfielder Adam Murphy. Matt Lawlor, who twice took caretaker charge of Waterford, was assisted by former Spurs winger, Dubliner Mark Yeates.