Thomas Lonergan

Tommy Lonergan came through the youth ranks at St Patrick's Athletic, winning an U15 league and cup double before making his senior debut in 2021. A loan spell at UCD in 2022 produced one of the defining moments of his early career: the winning goal in the promotion/relegation play-off final against Waterford, a result that kept UCD in the top flight. He returned to St Patrick's Athletic that November and went on to win the FAI Cup twice, scoring in the 2023 final.

In January 2024, Lonergan moved to Fleetwood Town for a fee reported at €60,000, understood to have matched a release clause in his contract. He barely featured for the English club before returning to Ireland on loan at Waterford, the very side he had denied promotion two years earlier. The loan began in January 2025 and was made permanent that July, when he signed a multi-year contract at the club.

The move has paid off on the pitch. In the 2026 season, Lonergan finished as top scorer in the League of Ireland Premier Division with 14 goals in 25 games and was named Player of the Month in July. His form has not gone unnoticed elsewhere: that same month, Waterford turned down a bid of €180,000 from Derry City, a record offer for the forward.