Season Preview 2024: Shamrock Rovers

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Head Coach: Collie O’Neill

Stadium: Tallaght Stadium

In: Fiona Owens (Athlone Town)

Out: Jess Gargan (Shelbourne), Jayne Merren (Wexford), Abby Tuthill (Wexford), Orlaith O’Mahony (Cork City), Tiegan Ruddy (Bohemians), Alannah McEvoy (Bohemians) , Aoibhe Fleming (Bohemians)

Re-signed: Shauna Fox, Aoife Kelly, Lia’O Leary, Amanda Budden, Scarlett Herron, Savannah McCarthy, Jessica Hennessy, Maria Reynolds, Melissa O’ Kane, Lauren Kelly, Stephanie Zambra, Jaime Thompson, Joy Ralph, Aine O’Gorman, Shannon Coady, Alannah Prizeman, Summer Lawless

Key Player: Stephanie Zambra

Stephanie Zambra has done it all.

The 58-time capped international striker from Shankill fired women’s football into the stratosphere in Ireland when she placed as runner up in the 2014 FIFA Puskas Goal of the Year award.

Yet almost nine years later, following an impressive career spanning Ireland, Italy, America to name but a few, the sight of her name on a match team-sheet has the potential to strike fear into the heart of any backline across the country.

The Shankill born native missed much of last season due to injury and will be no doubt hungry to hit the turf once again.



On the football acumen and life wisdom that veterans Zambra and skipper Aine O’Gorman bring to the squad, Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill reflected: “They have been really good at setting what the standard is, what our principles should be.

"They are very good at putting their arm around their shoulders and giving them good guidance.”

On O’Gorman’s re-signing, 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.”

extratime.com One to watch: Lia O’Leary

O’Leary shot like a meteorite into the spotlight in 2023 when she blazed past defences in the Women’s National League.



The roving winger who possesses the flair of a modern day Ryan Giggs along with the pace of Man City’s Lauren Hemp, impressed both fans and players alike in her debut season with Rovers, clinching the Players’ Young Player of the Year, Supporters’ Young Player of the Year at the club and was awarded the SSE Airtricity Young Player of the Year.

In addition, O'Leary won Goal of the Season at the club for a sensational strike against Athlone Town on the final day of the season.

A talented athlete and gymnast in her childhood who can convert with both her left and right boot, the former Shelbourne and DLR Waves midfielder is an unrelenting threat to every backline in the league for 90 plus minutes.

The 17-year-olds progress to date has been frightening, her impact over the course of 25 appearances for The Hoops indisputable.

The teenage sensation will undoubtedly continue to shine this season. Don’t blink or you’ll miss her.

She is a likely target for overseas clubs having spent some time in the offseason with Serie A side Sassuolo and WSL team Crystal Palace.

How they did last season:

League: Third

There were plenty of eyes on Shamrock Rovers last season with a fair bit of criticism from outside of how Rovers ‘raided’ other clubs.

With professional and semi-professional contacts available to be offered from this season, the opportunity to play in the best stadium in the country and to train out of Rovers’ Roadstone base, the Hoops had lots to offer players from other clubs to make the move to Tallaght.

The expectation was that Rovers would compete at the top of the league – even if they were gelling a brand new squad - and they did for most of the season.

They did go top of the table briefly in early June but their one league loss – against Peamount United in June - just before an effective three month World Cup league break for the Hoops, proved very costly as the Peas never relinquished the lead they built up after that match.

On their return to league action, the Hoops won five and drew two of their remaining league games. The draw in their final game cost them runners up spot.

In that match the Hoops were 4-1 up in Tallaght with 20 minutes remaining and they seemed certain to finish second in the league.

However, the Athlone Town spirited comeback for a draw cost Rovers who finished seven points behind champions Peamount United and a point behind Shelbourne.

FAI Cup

Having hammered non-league Killester Donnycarney 8-0 in Tallaght in the first round (with Abbie Larkin scoring four) and crushing Cork City 5-0 in Bishopstown, it set up a mouth watering semi-final between Rovers and the previous years double winners Shelbourne.

The Hoops warmed up a week before the cup tie by beating Shels in the league 3-1 but failed to deliver the following week suffering a painful 2-0 defeat on a day when both the cup and league ambitions went up in smoke.

As Rovers were losing in Tallaght, Peamount United’s win in Wexford secured the Peas the league title.

Avenir Sports Women's All-Island Cup

Rovers used the cup competition during the very long league break for the World Cup to mix up their team. The Hoops were the only club to lose players to the Ireland World Cup squad – Áine O’Gorman and Abbie Larkin (who moved to Glasgow City soon after her return from Australia).

Rovers did beat Peamount United 2-1 in Tallaght in their first group game but their 5-3 loss to Wexford Youths in Ferrycarrig Park meant prior to kick off in Belfast against Glentoran (a match they won 3-2) they knew they couldn’t progress to the knock out stages.

What to expect in 2024:

A cohesive, strong, disciplined and sharp squad, professional not only in contract but in the day to day standards employed and expected from each individual at the club.

Rovers, despite being a brand new outfit, topped the WNL last season in early June following an impressive home record of eight wins, one draw and one defeat and were well within touching distance of lifting silverware.

Away from Tallaght Stadium they were clinical in front of goal, yet drew five of their ten league matches away, often in games where the scoreline seemingly had the opposition dead and buried

This Saturday the Hoops will look to beat DLR Waves for the third time in the League within twelve months.

And something tells us there is a knockout blow waiting to land on the rivals of the D24 women.

2023 season review by Macdara Ferris

About Christine Allen

Christine works full-time as a Business Analyst for a Government department. In her free time she likes to read (books, sports pieces, autobiographies etc), write, cycle and play snooker. Christine follows and supports Arsenal Women … View Full Profile