Following his move to Cambridge United, Heffernan's current-season form is level with last season (Season 10→10), while his Rating held around 30. His peak season for form remains 2025/26 (Season 10).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Cambridge United · 4th	3	0	6.6	30	10
2025/26	Harrogate Town · 23rd	21	1	6.83	30	10
2021/22	Cork City	1	0	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 6 youth-team spells in the full career.

Republic of Ireland · international

Side	Apps	G
Republic of Ireland U17	6	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

Cathal Heffernan is a 21-year-old central defender at Harrogate Town, rated 30.3 overall by Field Insider's model. A young player, he has been a rotation option this season (45.4% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.3 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Heffernan.

On the season, Heffernan graded 10 for current form (age-blind), on 4 clean sheets and 2.3 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 10 → 10).

On long-term talent our Rating reads 30. At 21 Heffernan is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 2.9 reflects that trajectory.

30.3

Ratingi

below regular-starter level

10.1

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

45.4%

Minutes

rotation minutes

2.3

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Harrogate Town finished 23rd of 24 · a relegation-threatened side

Apps

2.3

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.3 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 21 appearances. Doing that for a relegation-threatened side (23rd of 24) is harder than the bare numbers suggest: a back line under more pressure has to defend more often and protects fewer leads, so the volume — and any clean sheets — carry real weight. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Watch points

Game time. Only 45.4% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 30.3 overall — below regular-starter level. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.3 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). At 21 the trajectory points up — potential sits near its ceiling (97/100) and market value should climb as minutes and output follow.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %45.4%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900.048

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.048

Defensive actions / 902.3

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.048

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~7), then tapers with age. At 21, Heffernan sits on 2.9, still climbing toward its peak. The blue line is Heffernan's projected Rating — 30.3 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles25

Interceptions9

Blocks14

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards1

Red cards0

Transfer history

Cambridge UnitedAug 2026 – now

Harrogate TownJan 2026 – Aug 2026

NewcastleAug 2023 – Jan 2026-

AC Milanuntil Aug 2023

About Cathal Heffernan

Cathal Heffernan is a 21-year-old centre-back who plays for Cambridge United, born on April 27, 2005 in , standing tall. He is from Republic of Ireland. Cambridge United currently sit 4th of 24 in the League One.

This season

In the current season, Cathal Heffernan has made 3 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 180 minutes.

Cathal Heffernan's next match is on September 19, 2026, when Cambridge United face Oxford United away in the League One.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Cathal Heffernan at 30.3 with a Season form score of 10.1. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the League Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 6 recorded seasons, Cathal Heffernan has totalled 57 club appearances with 5 goals and 0 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2025/26, with 21 appearances for Harrogate Town.

Cathal Heffernan's career has also included time at Harrogate Town, Newcastle and AC Milan.

On the international stage, Cathal Heffernan has represented Republic of Ireland U17 — 6 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Harrogate Town finished 23rd of 24 · a relegation-threatened side

Watch points