Collie O’Neill named Head Coach for proposed Shamrock Rovers WNL team

Shamrock Rovers have confirmed their plan to enter a senior team in the Women’s National League next season with former UCD manager Collie O’Neill named as the side’s Head Coach.

Subject to a successful licence application with the FAI, O’Neill will bring considerable experience to the role. He led UCD to the 2018 League of Ireland First Division title and O’Neill, who is a pro licence holder, has previously had spells coaching in the men’s game with Shelbourne, Dundalk and Dublin City.

“It’s a great privilege to be at the biggest club in Ireland,” said O’Neill. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of delivering on the expectation that comes with managing at such a big club. It’s an exciting challenge to put a new team together, but it’s made easier by some of the work that has gone into Rovers’ women’s section over the last few years, these players are our future. I’ll be looking to bring an attractive style of play along with an intensity to help us dominate games with and without the ball.” 

O’Neill will work with Rovers’ Head of Women’s football Jason Carey to put together a squad for the 2023 season. The Hoops currently have teams playing in the women’s national leagues at under-17 and under-19 level.

Carey said: “My job is to put the best structures and people in place so that the Shamrock Rovers Women’s teams can be successful. We want to make a big impact on the game in Ireland and having somebody of Collie’s calibre certainly gives us a great chance to do so. 

“Collie is someone who commands a great respect within the game. He has everything we want our first team manager to be. He has a fantastic pedigree in terms of winning trophies developing young players and playing a very attractive style of football. We feel that this appointment sets out where the club wants to be in relation to the development of the women’s game in Ireland. 

“We are very ambitious about what we want to do here. The facilities and support structures at the club are amongst the best in the country. We have seen what the club has accomplished on the boys/men’s side, and we want to replicate that success in women’s football.” 

Carey took up the role at Rovers last May having previously been the Director of Football at Peamount United. The Hoops had a team in the WNL previously beginning in the inaugural season of the WNL in 2011/12. They played for three seasons before withdrawing at the end of the 2013/14 season.

Shamrock Rovers have called the appointment of O’Neill a ‘a major statement by the club and is indicative of our ambitious plans in the progressive development of girls and women’s football at Shamrock Rovers F.C.’

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 5, 2022