2013 Squad Details
Squad number 1
Barry first played for Shamrock Rovers at Under 16 level after he joined the club in 2002. He quickly progressed up to the reserves and became first choice ‘keeper in the first team under Roddy Collins following the examinership process which the Hoops went through in 2005 and after which major adjustments were made to the squad. In 2010 Barry moved across the city to Rovers’ arch-rivals Bohemians and after two years joined St. Patrick’s Athletic. In November 2012, new Hoops’ manager Trevor Croly made the move to bring Barry back to the club as part of his squad building process.
Squad number 25
English-born Conor played most of his youth football with Salthill Devon but it was at Galway rivals Mervue that he made his League of Ireland debut in 2009. He later moved on to Galway United. Conor joined Shamrock Rovers for the 2012 season but he saw no action as a back injury kept him out of action for the entire season.
Squad number 30
‘Brushie’ is now in his second spell at Shamrock Rovers having played with the team that won the Premier Division in 2011. He manned the posts for the Europa League Group A game against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on what was a memorable occasion for the Hoops. Birmingham-born Brush first appeared on the League of Ireland scene in 2006 after he signed for Sligo Rovers for whom he was to play for up to the time he left to join the Hoops. After one season back at Sligo Richard made the switch once again back to the Dublin Rovers in December, 2012.
Date of birth: 26.11.84 Height: 185cms Weight: 86kg.
Squad number 2
Pat played for Shamrock Rovers Schoolboys at youth level before he joined UCD where he was to make his League of Ireland debut. He returned to Rovers in July 2009 under the stewardship of Michael O’Neill following spells with Drogheda United and Cork City. A bad injury picked up in a league game at Terryland Park saw him miss out on most of the 2010 season but he proved in 2011 that he hadn’t lost any of his form. Pat’s spectacular goal in the away leg of the play off for the Europa League against Partizan Belgrade undoubtedly will rank amongst his finest moments. Pat had a break away from football in 2012 but changed his plans and returned to Rovers in June.
Squad number 3
Stylish and classy left full who came to prominence with Rovers’ arch rivals Bohemians. Former Belvedere FC schoolboy who made his debut for the Dalymount Park club in 2005. Conor had a brief spell with Colchester United before being signed up for Sligo Rovers in 2013 by Paul Cooke. He has the honour of having won both league and FAI Cup honours in the same season (2008) at Bohs. He was selected as the PFAI Young Player of the Year for 2009. Conor was one of new Hoops’ manager Stephen Kenny’s first signings for the club.
Squad number 26
David signed for Shamrock Rovers at the end of February as Trevor Croly added the final touches to his formidable squad. His most recent club before Rovers was Fylkir in Iceland. He began his senior football career in 2002 at Preston North End and remained on the books there for four years during which time he had a loan spell at Scarborough. In 2006 David moved north to Hamilton in the Scottish League where he stayed for five years. He was capped three times by the Republic of Ireland.
Squad number 4
The Shamrock Rovers that Jason McGuinness has made a return to is a very different one to the one from which he departed in 2005. Jason began his League of Ireland career alongside Ken Oman in the centre of defence for Bohemians. He quickly established himself in the Bohs team but it was his second spell at Dalymount with the Gypsies after he left Rovers that saw him capture a Premier Division winners medal not once but twice. The big lad added another league medal to his haul last season at Sligo Rovers for whom he played a fantastic role as part of the team that brought league honours to the Showgrounds last season. Signed by Trevor Croly for the Hoops in November, 2012.
Squad number 5
A strong and reliable centre half, Ken joined Shamrock Rovers two years ago from arch rivals Bohemians. He played his schoolboy football for his local club Rivermount FC on Dublin’s north side and joined Bohs in 2001. Following a five year spell at Dalymount Ken quit Bohs to link up with former Gypsies boss Stephen Kenny at Derry City. He then returned to Bohs for a further two years but committed his services to the Hoops for the 2011 season.
Squad number 19
Signed for the Hoops by Trevor Croly having previously lined out for Dundalk. Derek is a straightforward replacement for Craig Sives who himself was a mainstay at the heart of the Hoops’ defence for three and a half seasons. Dublin-born Derek began his League of Ireland career at St. Patrick’s Athletic moving on later to Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers before joining Dundalk.
Squad number 14
Another of the new signings made by Trevor Croly. Danny hails from Arklow, Co. Wicklow and played all of his Schoolboy football with local side Arklow Town AFC with the exception of one season at Under 14 when he played for Shelbourne. A left full mainly, he spent two full seasons at UCD before joining the Hoops.
Squad number 18
Shane is currently in his third spell with Shamrock Rovers having first joined the club in 1999 at the age of 18 during Damien Richardson’s reign as manager. The Waterford lad went into the first team straight away and made an immediate impact. His pace on the wing thrilled the Hoops fans although the narrow confines of Morton Stadium hardly suited his style. After five years with Rovers, Shane joined Drogheda United where he was to win both league and FAI Cup honours but was signed again for Rovers in 2009 by Michael O’Neill. After a sojourn abroad where he played in Australia and Finland, the experienced midfielder came home to Ireland in late 2012 and put pen to paper for the Hoops for the third time.
Squad number 22
Conor joined Manchester United when he turned 16 years of age and after a two-year apprenticeship at Old Trafford he moved to Italy and joined Serie B side Triestina Calcio where he remained for two and a half years. He captained the Republic of Ireland Youths team and has caps from Under 15, Under 16 and Under 17 levels. He joined Shamrock Rovers at the start of 2010 and made his league debut on April 1st when he came on as a sub in the 4-0 win away to Drogheda.
Squad number 6
What can be said about Stephen Rice that hasn’t been said before? ‘Ricer’ has to be one of the most consistent performers in the League of Ireland in recent years. He has a never-say-die attitude and would run all day without any let up. The longest serving player currently at Shamrock Rovers, Stephen joined the club at the very end of the 2007 season from Bohemians and is currently playing under the third different manager at the club. With 158 competitive appearances to his credit up to the end of 2013, and the proud holder of two league winners medals, ‘Ricer’ will always be remembered for the goal he scored against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the Europa League last September.
Squad number 7
Gary joined the Hoops last season from Sligo Rovers and was on the Westerners’ team that beat Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup Final of 2010. From Kilnamanagh in Tallaght, can play comfortably on either the right or left wing and has an eye for goal. He scored on his competitive debut for the Hoops in the 3-1 win against Dundalk in the opening game of the 2013 league campaign. Ironically, he scored the winning goal when the Hoops travelled to the Showgrounds for their first away league game of 2013!
Squad number 8
James began his League of Ireland career in 2004 with Shelbourne when he was just seventeen years of age. After two years he went out on loan to Monaghan United and in 2009 joined Drogheda United where he was an almost ever-present. A strong and influential central midfield player, he is undoubtedly a prized asset for the Hoops. James is in his second spell at Shamrock Rovers having first joined in 2010 but he spent just one season at the club moving on to Scotland to line out for Hamilton for one season also before returning home to join St. Patrick’s Athletic.
Squad number 20
The only one remaining of three ex-Cork City players who joined Shamrock Rovers in 2010. Billy has been a favourite at the club since joining and his popularity is spread across all age groups from the very young to the oldest supporters. Tralee-born Billy played for local sides Tralee Boys and Kingdom Boys during his younger days and had spells in senior football at Sunderland, Accrington Stanley and Derry City. He has a keen eye for goal and some of his efforts have been truly fantastic; up to the end of the 2013 season he had scored twenty-three goals in all competitions. SRFC Young Player of the Year for 2010.
Squad number 21
A very stylish and clever central midfield player whose arrival at Tallaght in February 2011 came as an unexpected boost to Michael O’Neill’s squad. The shock and sudden demise of Sporting Fingal FC meant that Ronan was left without a club just as the 2011 season was about to begin but he was offered terms by the Hoops without delay and didn’t hesitate in signing up. From Artane, he began his Schoolboy football with local side Artane Beaumont at 7 years of age. He joined UCD on a scholarship and graduated with a degree in Sports Management. He made his Hoops’ debut in a friendly against Waterford one week before the season began. Ronan was Shamrock Rovers’ Player of the Year for the 2012 season.
Squad number 15
Young player who was signed by Declan Hevey for the new Under 19 League but went into the A team a few months beforehand and immediately impressed. Lorcan’s forays up the wing, right or left, reminded many people of the good old fashioned wingers. His deadly accuracy in delivering the perfect ball into the box is just one of the many strengths of this very dedicated young performer. Lorcan had a loan spell at Dundalk last year and no doubt the experience from that has helped to develop even further.
Squad number 10
Sean is yet another player who re-joined Shamrock Rovers having previously played for the club. His first spell began in 2008 after he was signed by Pat Scully from St. Patrick’s Athletic. He had three full seasons at the club before moving on to Limerick where Scully had since become manager but was soon on his way back to Richmond Park to begin a second spell with St. Pat’s. Sean is a tricky midfielder who can play anywhere across the middle of the park.
Squad number 11
A rather tall striker who is equally deft in the air and on the ground. Ciarán is in his second spell at Shamrock Rovers having originally played for the Hoops’ Schoolboys. He made the breakthrough to the first team at Rovers but left the club in 2009 to join UCD on a schloarship for two years. As a Schoolboy player Ciarán had a reputation for being a prolific goalscorer and was always destined to go on to bigger and better things. Played in nine of Rovers’ twelve European games last year.
Squad number 9
Mark made his League of Ireland debut back in 2005 when he was brought to Shamrock Rovers by Roddy Collins on loan from Millwall FC. It was to be a short spell at the club then as circumstances led to a huge shake up in the squad and Mark moved on to St. Patrick’s Athletic. He joined Bohemians in 2010 and then Dundalk in 2011 but it was at Sligo Rovers that he really made his mark contributing handsomely to the winning of the Premier Division title. His efforts did not go unrecognised and he was voted as the PFAI Player of the Year for the 2012 season.
Squad number 19
Craigavon-born Thomas is currently in his second spell at Shamrock Rovers having rejoined the club just as the July 2012 transfer window was about to close. Thomas first joined Rovers under manager Michael O’Neill in 2010 and was on the team that won the Premier Division for the first time since 1993/94. He began his senior football career with Portadown in 2001 and this was followed by a three-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He played for Linfield and Derry City respectively after he came home from England.
Squad number 17
Came to prominence with Galway United last year in his first year playing in the League of Ireland. He played his Schoolboy football at his local club Portmarnock up to Under 13 before joining Shelbourne. At 16 years of age he made a move from Shels to Everton in England. After three years at Goodison Park Karl returned to Ireland and joined Galway United. He was signed by Shamrock Rovers in 2011 as part of Michael O’Neill’s plan to strengthen the strike force which was depleted with the loss of Dessie Baker (retired). He was transferred to Reading at the end of the 2011 season and since had a loan spell from Reading to Accrington Stanely. Karl rejoined the Hoops on loan from Reading on the final day of the English transfer window.
It was as a young player that Trevor began his own League of Ireland career back in 1992 when he signed for Drogheda United at the age of 18. After four seasons at United Park he moved back nearer to home when he signed for St. Patrick’s Athletic in 1996. A rock solid performer in the Saints’ back four, Trevor won Premier Division honours twice during his time at Richmond Park. He joined Shamrock Rovers in 2003 but a troublesome knee injury saw him retire from the playing side of the game much sooner than he would have originally expected. He then went into coaching and in 2007 joined Longford Town but was soon on his way back to Richmond Park. In 2009 Trevor came on board as assistant to Michael O’Neill at Shamrock Rovers but resigned during the 2011 season on account of differences with O’Neill. Last year Trevor assisted Liam Buckley at St. Pat’s and in late November was unveiled as manager of Shamrock Rovers.
Galway-born Colin began his career with the well-known local club Salthill Devon from where he moved to Coventry City in 1995. Colin was one of the Republic of Ireland players who came to national prominence at the FIFA World Youth Championship Finals in Malaysia in 1997 after which he was enticed by Pat Dolan to join St. Patrick’s Athletic. His senior career took off immediately after his arrival at Richmond Park where he won league honours twice. He also played for Bohs and Shels and added two more league medals to his haul. Spells at Coventry, Brighton, Sporting Fingal and Dundalk followed. He joined Shamrock Rovers in January 2012.
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