{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 2009)}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Ben Dumigan | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2009|1|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Cork, Ireland | height = 1.88 m | position = Centre-back | youthyears1 = 2015–2022 | youthclubs1 = Midleton | youthyears2 = 2023–2025 | youthclubs2 = Cork City | nationalyears1 = 2024 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U15 | nationalcaps1 = 9 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2024 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U16 | nationalcaps2 = 4 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2024 | nationalteam3 = Republic of Ireland U17 | nationalcaps3 = 2 | nationalgoals3 = 0 }} '''Ben Dumigan''' (born 12 January 2009) is an Irish former footballer who played as a centre-back
Dumigan played youth football with Midleton and Cork City. In 2025, Dumigan was scheduled to sign for Hoffenheim, however his medical revealed he had a heart condition which forced him to retire from football at the age of only 16.
Dumigan is a former Republic of Ireland youth international.
==Youth career== ===Midleton=== Dumigan joined Munster Senior League side Midleton at the age of just six years old. Dumigan would go on to captain the side from U12 level, which included winning an All-Ireland championship at U13 level.<ref name="MID">{{cite web|title=Midleton FC Club Statement: Ben Dumigan|url=https://www.midletonfc.com/club-news|website=midletonfc.com|language=en|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
===Cork City=== Dumigan joined Cork City at U14 level ahead of the 2023 season.<ref name="CCFC"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Cork City Academy are delighted announce our Under 14 squad for 2023|url=https://x.com/CorkCityFCAcad/status/1606280191558443008|website=x.com|language=en|date=23 December 2022|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Cork City=== Dumigan was allocated a senior squad number by League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City ahead of the 2025 season.<ref name="CCFC">{{cite web|title=Club Statement: Ben Dumigan|url=https://www.corkcityfc.ie/blogs/news/club-statement-ben-dumigan?srsltid=AfmBOorZ8lQZybEpve1K8CD_5Rv5wfidlmJHtfhqjJxfDSxFRQQE242D|website=corkcityfc.ie|language=en|date=8 March 2025|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
===Hoffenheim=== In January 2025, Dumigan was set to sign for Bundesliga club Hoffenheim on a multi-year deal.<ref name="MID"/><ref>{{cite web|title= Underage soccer star Ben Dumigan forced to retire at 16|url= https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41589706.html|website=echolive.ie|language=en|date=9 March 2025|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
===Retirement=== During medical tests that were done as a part of his move to Hoffenheim, Dumigan was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, a condition which causes a thickening in the heart muscle. The diagnosis was confirmed by consultant cardiologists in Cork.<ref name="IE">{{cite web|title=Cork City youngster Ben Dumigan announces retirement from football|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41589565.html|website=irishexaminer.com|language=en|date=8 March 2025|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
As a result of this diagnosis, Dumigan was forced to retire from football at the age of just 16, as playing competitive football with his condition would put him at higher risk of developing a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm, or arrhythmia.<ref name="CCFC"/><ref name="IE"/>
Dumigan expressed gratitude about the diagnosis as he said ''“the diagnosis may have saved my life, and I am very grateful for that”''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Footballer, 16, retires after rare health condition spotted during medical for dream move|url= https://metro.co.uk/2025/03/09/footballer-16-forced-retire-due-rare-medical-condition-22695238/|website=metro.co.uk|language=en|date=9 March 2025|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
==International career== On 22 April 2024, Dumigan was called up to the Republic of Ireland U15s for a tournament in Udine, Italy.<ref>{{cite web|title= MU15 Squad announced for Italy tournament |url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/mu15-squad-announced-italy-tournament/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=22 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref> Dumigan played in all three of Ireland's games during the tournament, as they defeated the UAE<ref>{{cite web|title= REPORT MU15 Ireland 4-0 UAE|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-mu15-ireland-4-0-uae/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=26 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref> and North Macedonia,<ref>{{cite web|title= REPORT MU15 Ireland 4-1 North Macedonia|url= https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-mu15-ireland-4-1-north-macedonia/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=27 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref> before losing to Austria in the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite web|title= REPORT MU15 Ireland 0-1 Austria|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-mu15-ireland-0-1-austria/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=29 April 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
On 2 September 2024, Dumigan was named in the Republic of Ireland U17 squad for two friendlies against Denmark in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain.<ref>{{cite web|title=MU19s & MU17s squad for September friendlies|url=https://www.fai.ie/latest/mu19s-and-mu17s-squad-september-friendlies/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=2 September 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref> On 8 September, Dumigan made his debut for the U17s in a 0–2 defeat to Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|title= REPORT MU17 Ireland 0-2 Denmark|url= https://www.fai.ie/latest/report-mu17-ireland-0-2-denmark/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=8 September 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
On 4 October 2024, Dumigan was called up to the Republic of Ireland U16 squad for the 2024 Victory Shield, which Ireland would go on to win with a 1–0 win over Northern Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|title=Match Report BU16 Ireland claim 2024 Victory Shield |url= https://www.fai.ie/latest/match-report-bu16-ireland-claim-2024-victory-shield/|website=fai.ie|language=en|date=13 October 2024|access-date=21 April 2026}}</ref>
==Honours== '''Republic of Ireland U16''' *Victory Shield: 2024
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dumigan, Ben}} Category:2009 births Category:Living people Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers Category:Cork City F.C. players Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Association footballers from Cork (city) Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen