Niamh Fahey, the Republic of Ireland’s fifth most capped women’s player, has announced her retirement from international football.
“There have been countless highs and lows, but the feeling of elation and satisfaction en route to qualifying and representing our country at the World Cup in 2023 will live long in the memory,” said the 37-year-old in a statement on Thursday.
Almost 17 years ago, after Arsenal played Ireland in a friendly, two young Irish players were offered contracts by the north London giants. Fahey accepted and spent six years at Arsenal before brief spells at Chelsea and Bordeaux led her to Liverpool, where she was named club captain in 2020.
The other player was Katie Taylor who turned away from a soccer career to become an Olympic and world champion boxer.
Fahey almost saved her finest moment in a green shirt until the very end. The defender narrowly missed the target with a thunderous effort during Ireland’s defeat to Wales at the Aviva Stadium last month, the loss seeing them miss out of qualification for this summer’s Euros in Switzerland.
A three-time recipient of the FAI senior women’s international player of the year award, she also won an All-Ireland medal with the Galway footballers aged 16.
“After 17 years in green, from my debut to cap 115, I have been on a journey beyond expectation and it has been a huge source of immense motivation, privilege and pride,” she said.
“A sincere thank you to all the people who have been on the journey with me and helped me in so many aspects. Your support, investment, passion and belief has pushed and inspired me in every way possible.
“To my family, who have been a core support and sounding board throughout, I would not have achieved what I have without you. I can’t thank you enough for everything, especially my parents Marjorie and Richard.”
The next step for Fahey appears to be coaching, with Liverpool manager Matt Beard facilitating the process after the club gave her a contract extension last September.
“I’m doing an MBA at John Moores University and doing my Uefa B coaching badges because I’ve got a hand in some coaching this season as well. It’s all geared to that bridge between football and a transition to coaching.”
Meanwhile, Shamrock Rovers have secured former Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty on a multiyear deal.
The former Ireland under-21 excelled last season during his second stint at The Showgrounds, on loan from Oxford United, which allowed Rovers to keep a close eye on their long-term target to compete with German Léon Pöhls.
“We’ve been talking to Ed for some time, also talking to Oxford, and these things take time when he’s signed somewhere else,” said Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley.
“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.”
McGinty is expected to start against Norway side Molde in the Uefa Conference League play-offs on February 13th and 20th, with Danny Grant, another new signing from Bohemians, set to replace Neil Farrugia, who recently joined League One club Barnsley.
Bradley also hopes to bring in a striker as Johnny Kenny has returned to Celtic after his loan period yielded 20 goals last year.
“You can be assured we’re working in the background to try and get some signings in,” said Bradley. “That work is ongoing and we hope to make progress on them in the next week or two.”
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