Who we are

MPA is founded and led by Cormac Buckley, a football coach and performance practitioner from Cork with experience across player development, athletic performance, and return-to-play rehabilitation.

Cormac has spent the past six years building and delivering coaching programmes across academies, clinics, camps, and high-performance environments, including work within League of Ireland football.

His background combines:

  • Football coaching

  • Strength & Conditioning

  • Injury rehabilitation & movement re-education

  • Nervous system regulation & recovery work

This integrated approach allows players to be developed as complete athletes — physically, technically, and mentally.

A soccer player with curly hair and a beard, wearing a navy blue and white sports jacket with a logo, on a soccer field during a game or practice. In the background, there are other players and spectators.
Logo for Master Performance Academy featuring a red silhouette of a running person with motion lines, bold white letters 'MPA', and the slogan 'Developed, Not Discovered' with 'Not Discovered' in red.

Our Story

Master Performance Academy (MPA) was created to provide a high-standard, long-term player development environment for footballers of all ages and levels.

Our philosophy is simple:

Developed, Not Discovered.

We don’t believe talent is something you wait for someone else to find.

We believe it is built — through good coaching, intelligent training, repetition, discipline, and consistency.

MPA focuses on developing:

  • Technically sound footballers

  • Strong, fast, and resilient athletes

  • Confident, self-aware people

Everything we do is built around long-term development rather than short-term results.

Meet Your Coaches

Garry Buckley holding a maroon and blue Cobh Ramblers sports jersey on a soccer field at night.

Gary buckley

Bringing over a decade of experience at the highest level of Irish football with clubs including Cork City FC, Sligo Rovers, Galway United & currently Cobh Ramblers. His understanding of the game, professionalism, and winning mentality is invaluable to the next generation of players.

A young man called Micky Buckley in a green and white Cork City sports uniform holding a trophy and a plaque.

Micky Buckley

Micky also has a strong coaching background and shares the same passion for developing players the right way! Having also played for Cork City and a successful managerial career in the MSL, Micky understands the fundamentals, work ethic and growth needed to excel.

A young male soccer player standing inside an indoor soccer facility, wearing a red uniform with the number 1, the team logo on his chest, and the Master Performance Academy logo in the background.

KEVIN FITZPATRICK

Kevin is keen to give players who may have been overlooked their opportunity to improve as a goalkeeper! Currently playing with Treaty United he brings another layer of Excellence to the coaching team!

Girls Academy Coach

A woman in a blue jacket holding an award plaque, standing in front of a green backdrop with the logos of FAI and UEFA, and the words 'Coach Development'.

Sarah Scanlon

Bringing another angle of experience through the women’s game Sarah has worked from grassroots right up to LOI level. Currently a coach with College Corinthians, CWSSL, Cobh Ramblers. She is a favourite in our girls academy with her unique approach to learning the game!

Get Started

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