Alannah McEvoy among series of player departures from Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers confirmed over the weekend the departure of six players from their Women’s Premier Division squad with Alannah McEvoy, Tiegan Ruddy, Orlaith O’Mahony, Summer Lawless, Jayne Merren and Abby Tuthill set to play their football elsewhere next season.

That announcement brought the current number of outgoings from Collie O’Neill’s squad to seven with Aoibhe Fleming’s departure confirmed earlier this month. Fleming spent the second half of the season on loan with Treaty United

Alannah McEvoy was one of Rovers’ eye catching signings from Peamount United at the start of their first campaign back playing top flight women’s football in Ireland for nine seasons.

She will surely be on the radar of Rovers’ rivals as the striker had an excellent season with the Hoops. She played in 18 of Rovers’ 20 league games, scoring four goals.

Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill made three mid-season signings and, while Joy Ralph and Scareltt Herron regularly made the first team, the third player Tiegan Ruddy got limited game time.

The 23-year-old player, signed from Swiss side FC Sion during the summer, will depart the Hoops having made only one start, scoring in Rovers’ 3-1 away win over DLR Waves,  along with two appearances off the bench.

The Hoops signed goalkeeper Summer Lawless as back-up to Amanda Budden and the ex-Peamount goalkeeper made three appearances in both the league and the All-Island Cup ,along with one FAI Cup start.

Orlaith O’Mahony, came through the ranks of Rovers’ underage teams at u-17 and u-19 level, to play senior football with the Hoops.

She made a dozen league appearances for the Hoops including seven starts, and played in all three of Rovers’ All-Island cup matches.

All the players’ contracts had expired at the end of Rovers’ campaign where they finished third in the league seven points behind champions Peamount United (who were the only side to beat the Hoops in league action in 2023).

Jayne Merren and Abby Tuthill, who joined Rovers in 2020 as part of their underage setup, have also left the club who confirmed their departure on Sunday.

The club noted: ‘We would like to place on record our thanks to the girls for their commitment and professionalism during their time at the Club and wish them all the very best in their future careers.’

Updated 12:30 17/12/23

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