Neil Farrugia heads from the Hoops to Barnsley while Darragh Burns looks set to remain at Rovers

Neil Farrugia will play his football with League One side Barnsley in 2025. Having allowed his contract to run out at Rovers, the 25-year-old has chosen to depart for the UK after five trophy-laden seasons with the Hoops during which time he also played twice in the group stage / league stage of the Conference League.

Having begun his career at UCD, he signed for Shamrock Rovers during the 2019 season and winning the FAI Cup in his first season. He also was a central player in the Hoops winning a record equaling four in a row under Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley.

He also battled back to full fitness after lengthy spells out with injury in 2021 and also in 2024 when he dislocated his collarbone in the first half of the first league game of the season. He underwent surgery and returned to make his first start in May.

He made 100 league appearances for the Hoops scoring ten goals. He found the back of the net in Rovers’ last home game – the 3-0 win over Borac in the league phase of the Conference League, with his final appearance in a Hoops jersey coming in their heavy defeat to Chelsea the week before Christmas.

The 25-year-old won’t be available for Barnsley’s game against Crawley Town this weekend but should be available once international clearance comes through for their match away to Northampton Town.

When Rovers are playing their Conference League knockout phase playoff in mid-February, Farrugia will be looking to line out in League One in Barnsley’s home game against Huddersfield Town.

The Colliers currently sit in sixth in the table and in the playoff position but they are 11 points behind Wycombe Wanderers and Birmingham City who top the League One table.

Brilliant

"It feels brilliant," said Farrugia speaking to barnsleyfc.co.uk. "This is a big club full of ambitions and I'm really looking forward to it. I've come over to England for that new challenge, to take that next step and I'm going to embrace it."

Barnsley FC Sporting Director Mladen Sormaz said, “Neil had a good number of options in both the last transfer window and this one but he sees an opportunity to progress here at Oakwell and we are really pleased to secure his services.

"This signing means we have great competition for the left-back position and Neil also has the ability to play further up the pitch and this versatility can only benefit Darrell’s squad.

"He has also played in some big games this season which is also really important, Shamrock have been impressive in their European campaign this season and hopefully, Neil can bring that experience to Oakwell as we head into the business end of the campaign.”

Farrugia played previously at Rovers with Barry Cotter who is amongst the Irish in a Barnsley squad that includes Luca Connell and Conor McCarthy.

Thanks

Shamrock Rovers posted a message on their social media from Farrugia:

The past five seasons at Shamrock Rovers have been nothing short of unbelievable. From winning the FAl Cup in the Aviva in 2019 to playing Chelsea in Stamford Bridge in 2024, all are memories that I will cherish forever. Thank you to the Club who have supported me from the day I signed for Rovers.

Thank you to the manager who has believed in me always. Thank you to all of the staff at Rovers who have looked after me over the years. Thank you to my teammates - a group of friends who have achieved so much together.

And finally, thank you to the Shamrock Rovers fans. You supported us in Tallaght in the rain, hail or snow and travelled from Stamford Bridge to Budapest and everywhere in between. It always made the difference. I look forward to seeing what this exceptional group can achieve this year.

Burns

Meanwhile Darragh Burns, who is currently on loan from MK Dons with the Hoops, looks set to remain at Rovers.

Speaking to miltonkeynes.co.uk about Burns’ future Dons boss Scott Lindsay said  “It will be suck-it-and-see with Darragh. I think we're happy for him to be out there, he's done well in Ireland, so we're happy for that to continue.

"Things could happen quickly but there's always a chance he could come back.”

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— extratime.com (@extratime.com) 2 January 2025 at 19:58