Shamrock Rovers add to exciting new squad
Women’s Premier Division in 2023 is evident in the club’s raiding the ranks of their city rivals.
After rife rumours, Rovers confirmed the signings of five players from last year’s double winners, amid a seven-player recruitment splurge.
The highly-regarded Irish midfielder Abbie Larkin, along with Gargan, Shauna Fox, goalkeeper Amanda Budden and U17 international Lia O’Leary have all crossed the city to play for the Hoops.
In addition, Rovers have snapped up Aoibhe Fleming and Lauren Kelly from Peamount United as Collie O’Neill assembles a powerpacked squad capable of challenging for honours.
The new semi-professional status of the Women’s Premier Division means clubs with deep pockets such as Rovers can provide terms and conditions few of their rivals can match.
Rovers can also offer their fine training facilities at Kingswood and access to Tallaght Stadium, the premier club ground in the country.
For the Reds, champions in 2021 and 2022, the departures will sting, especially in light of a post-season understanding that players would commit to the club in 2023.
To lose four jewels from their crown is a blow to manager Noel King who faces a stiff rebuilding task before the new season kicks off in early March.
The departure of key players from the women’s team comes against uncertainty at Shelbourne regarding the future ownership of the club and hefty six-figure losses in 2022 in spite of reaching the Extra.ie FAI Cup final under Damien Duff.
Meanwhile, Celtic’s Joe Hart insists there is no chance he will lose focus during onesided games as being a goalkeeper is a ‘way of life’.
Aberdeen managed only two shots, both off-target, against Celtic on Saturday and Hart had another very quiet 45 minutes against Livingston on Wednesday before being beaten in first-half stoppagetime as Nicky Devlin pulled a goal back from the visitors’ first attack. The 75-times capped England international was slightly busier after the break and made a good stop from Stephen Kelly but there were no late scares as Celtic won 2-1 to restore their ninepoint advantage in the cinch Premiership.
Hart said: ‘As a team this year we have limited teams to few shots so I am just trying to stay as on my toes as I can. Obviously I am involved in the play but shots-wise we are very good at snuffing them out. It’s a way of life for me. Being a goalkeeper is a way of life.
‘It’s not like I have got anything else to think about. It’s not a secondary job, in the Sunday league, where maybe your mind would wander to work the next day.’