Shamrock Rovers re-sign skipper Áine O’Gorman and striker Joy Ralph for upcoming season

When Shamrock Rovers returned to the top level of senior women’s club football in Ireland last season, Áine O’Gorman was the first player announced for their new squad and she was handed the Hoops captain’s armband.

Similarly the skipper was announced today as Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill’s first re-signing for the 2024 season, with the talented teenager Joy Ralph confirmed soon after. The Hoops finished the season in third place – losing just the one league game – and were eliminated from the FAI Cup at the semi-final stage.

The Hoops captain had a remarkable season where O’Gorman played in the World Cup with Ireland and moved her domestic goal tally in the league to 199.

No player had more goal involvements in the Women’s Premier Division – she provided ten assists (the second most in the league) to go with her dozen goals as she finished second top scorer in the league (only missing on topping that chart for the fourth season in a row by Rovers conceding a goal in the 94^th minute of their final game).

”I’m really enjoying my football at Shamrock Rovers and delighted to be signing back for the 2024 season,” said O’Gorman speaking to shamrockrovers.ie. “We will continue to strive for improvement and build on the standards we set ourselves last season.”

Head Coach Collie O’Neill said: ”I’m delighted to have Áine back for next season. She is pivotal to the direction we are looking to take the Club as she sets the standards both on and off the park. She is technically astute, has great positional awareness and is key to our attacking style of play.”

Joy

The Hoops signed 17-year-old Joy Ralph from DLR Waves in mid-season and her two goals and five assists from six league appearances (along with two FAI Cup goals and two assists from three cup starts) showed her great potential and O’Neill has secured her services now for the upcoming season.

Speaking to her club’s website, Ralph said: “Since joining Rovers during the transfer window last July, I have been made feel very welcome by everyone at the club. I have no doubt the team will have a successful season this year. With our unfortunate luck last year, it is our top priority to bring home some silverware this year.”

Head Coach Collie O’Neill said: ”Joy has been a breath of fresh air since she arrived midway through last season. It has been enjoyable seeing her growth over that second half of the season and I look forward to seeing her terrorise defences again in the new season.”

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) January 3, 2024