Ed McGinty signs for the Hoops: 'Shamrock Rovers is the biggest club in Ireland, what they’ve done in Europe is incredible, so I want to come and help them'
Ed McGinty Credit: Paul Dolan (ETPhotos)
Shamrock Rovers have announced the signing of goalkeeper Ed McGinty on a multi-year contract.
McGinty joins from EFL Championship outfit Oxford United having spent the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division campaign on loan at Sligo Rovers.
It had been confirmed earlier today that the goalkeeper, who made 133 league appearances across two spells with Sligo, would not be rejoining the Bit O’Red and he has since become Stephen Bradley’s second signing of the winter.
McGinty will provide competition for current Hoops number one Leon Pohls with Lee Steacy and Alex Noonan also at the club.
The former Ireland U21 international expressed his delight at joining the Hoops for the 2025 Premier Division campaign as well as their UEFA Conference League Playoff tie with Molde in February.
“I’m very happy to sign for the club, with the size of the club and where it’s going. I’m just really happy to be on board,” the 25-year-old told shamrockrovers.ie.
“It wasn’t too difficult leaving Oxford, but it was always difficult leaving Sligo Rovers. It’s been a big part of my life so that was a tough part. At the same time, Shamrock Rovers is the biggest club in Ireland, what they’ve done in Europe is incredible, so I want to come and help them and improve them.
"When Stephen rang me, I could sense his level of drive and ambition, and that matches mine. So, in a sense, it was an easy decision.”
The Motherwell native made just three league appearances in as many years for Oxford United having left Sligo in 2022.
Also speaking to shamrockrovers.ie head coach, Stephen Bradley, said:
“We’ve been talking to Ed for some time, also talking to Oxford, and these things take time when he’s signed somewhere else. But we are delighted to get Ed in, he was the standout keeper in the league last season and he’s grown and matured over the years, so he’s a player we think will really help us grow.”
Shamrock Rovers are keen to replenish the squad ahead of a blockbuster start to the 2025 season which will include an opening weekend Dublin Derby against Bohemians at the Aviva Stadium, sandwiched between the two Molde games.
Rovers have already lost Neil Farrugia, Sean Hoare and Johnny Kenny this month and while Bradley has recruited Danny Grant and McGinty he is eager for more additions.
“We’ve brought Danny Grant in before the end of last season and now Ed McGinty but we’re obviously talking to a couple more. These things take time but hopefully we’re not too far away with them. But they take as long as they take but you can be assured, we’re working in the background to try and get some signings in.
"But it’s only ones we target and that’s the way we always operate, we won’t sign players just to sign players, we sign the people and the players we think will improve us. That work is ongoing and we hope to make progress on them in the next week or two.”
— extratime.com (@extratime.com) 9 January 2025 at 01:14
