Jesse Dempsey

Jesse Dempsey moved through Wexford Albion and Wexford FC before joining Waterford's academy in 2021, where he progressed through the Under-17 and Under-19 sides. In 2023 he switched to University College Dublin's youth setup and made his senior bow that February, going on to feature in 21 league matches that season.

That form earned him a free transfer to Italian side US Lecce in January 2024, though the move did not bring first-team football and he returned to Waterford on a free the following July. His path back to Waterford's senior side took time: he did not make his debut for the club until January 2025, more than three years after first joining its academy.

Dempsey signed his first professional contract with Waterford in July 2025. On 5 October 2025, he scored his first senior goal, helping Waterford to a 2-0 win over Drogheda United.

He was capped three times by the Republic of Ireland Under-19s in 2023, making his debut for that side on 9 September that year. He was also part of the Waterford squad that won the Munster Senior Cup in 2024, though at that stage his involvement was mainly with the academy and Under-20 group rather than the first team.