A 16 -year -old footballer was forced to retire due to a rare medical condition.
Cork City defender Ben Dumigan had undergone medical tests in January before a move to Hoffenheim when he received a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
The HCM causes an abnormal thickening of part of the heart muscle.
The club said that Dumigan could live a long and healthy life and will be able to enjoy many types of moderate exercises safely.
However, the stress that competitive football places on the heart puts Dumigan at a higher risk of developing a potentially fatal irregular heart rate or a arrhythmia.
A Cork City statement read: “It is with a heavy heart that we confirm today the retirement of the young defender of 16, Ben Dumigan.
Cork City defender Ben Dumigan was forced to retire due to a rare medical condition
At the end of January, during his medical tests before the signature of the Bundesliga Club Hoffenheim, Ben received a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Dumigan joined Cork as a player under 14 from his school club Midleton and received a first team team number before the 2025 season.
He had also represented the Republic of Ireland at the under 17s.
Dumigan admitted his shock to the diagnosis and expressed his gratitude for the support he received.
Dumigan said: “The announcement of my competitive football retirement at such a young age is something that I would never have imagined that I should never do.
“The diagnosis was a shock and the past number was very difficult. Even if I can never play football again, the diagnosis may have saved my life, and I am very grateful.
“I feel overwhelmed by the quantity of support I have received and I would like to thank everyone at Hoffenheim, at the base of the CAA, everyone in my schoolgirl Midleton FC and my Midleton CBS school for their support. I also want to thank my friends and family for their love and support. In particular, I would like to thank everyone to Cork City, in particular Liam Kearney who was incredibly favorable during what was a very difficult period ”
The chief of the City Academy, Liam Kearney, said: “ The talent of Ben as a footballer was clear for everyone to see in his time with us, and that was reflected in international calls and the fact that he was about to move to a Hoffenheim stature club.
“Well has our absolute support when he leaves his player career behind him, and we will continue to do our best to help him adapt to this very important change in his life.
“Our thoughts are with him that was a very difficult period, but I was so impressed by the positivity and the resilience that Ben showed in the treatment of this news; The qualities that I have no doubt will be held in the future.