Ciara Grant (footballer, born 1993)

Last updated

Ciara Grant
Ciara Grant WUG.jpg
Grant representing Ireland at the 2013 Summer Universiade
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-06-11) 11 June 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Heart of Midlothian
Number 6
Youth career
Lagan Harps
2005–2011 Loreto School
Kilmacrennan Celtic
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2016 UCD
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2014 Raheny United
2014–2016 UCD Waves
2019 Sion Swifts
2020–2022 Shelbourne
2022 Rangers
2022– Heart of Midlothian 26 (5)
International career‡
2012– Republic of Ireland 18 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 01 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 June 2023

Ciara Grant (born 11 June 1993) is an Irish physician and professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Women's Premier League and for the Republic of Ireland national team. Grant has previously played for Raheny United, UCD Waves and Shelbourne of the Women's National League, and for Women's Premiership club Sion Swifts. Immediately prior to joining Hearts, Grant played for Rangers.

Contents

In 2010, Grant was a member of the Republic of Ireland under-17 squad who were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She won her first senior cap in November 2012. Outside of football Grant is a qualified medical doctor and worked as a lecturer for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. She has also played Gaelic football for the Donegal county team. [1]

Early years

Grant attended Woodlands National School in Letterkenny where her classmates included Mark English. Between 2005 and 2011 Grant attended the Loreto Convent Secondary School, Letterkenny, where she studied for her Leaving Cert. As a schoolgirl, Grant played association football for Lagan Harps and Kilmacrennan Celtic as well as representing her school. In 2009, she helped Kilmacrennan Celtic win the WFAI Intermediate Cup and in 2011 she was a member of the Loreto team that won the FAIS Senior Girls Cup, the top cup competition for girls' school teams in Ireland. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Grant also played Gaelic football and basketball. Grant played for Donegal GAA in the 2010 All-Ireland Under-18 Ladies' Football Championship final. In basketball she played as a point guard for both her school and Letterkenny Blaze. [1] [7]

Club career

Raheny United

Between 2011 and 2014, Grant played for Raheny United in the Women's National League. During this time, Grant helped United win two successive league titles in 2012–13 and 2013–14. [4] She also helped them win two successive FAI Women's Cups in 2012 and 2013. In the 2013 final against Castlebar Celtic at the Aviva Stadium, Grant scored United's opening goal in spectacular fashion. Without breaking stride, Grant controlled a dropping ball and let it bounce before lifting it over the Castlebar Celtic goalkeeper. [8] [9] [10]

UCD Waves

Grant attended University College Dublin from 2011 until 2016. In her first year she studied physiotherapy before transferring to medicine. She graduated in 2017. [2] [11] [12] In 2014–15 when UCD Waves entered a team in the Women's National League, Grant switched over from Raheny United. In November 2014, she appeared in her third consecutive FAI Women's Cup final, losing out 2–1 after extra-time to her former club. [13] In addition to playing in the WNL, Grant also played for UCD at intervarsity level. [14] In 2014 Grant was captain of the UCD team who won the WSCAI Futsal Cup, defeating the holders, I.T. Sligo, 3–2 in the final at the Mardyke Arena. [15] [16] Grant also scored for UCD in a 3–2 win over I.T. Sligo in the 2013–14 WSCAI Premier Division final. [17] [18] In 2015 Grant was captain of the UCD team that won the WSCAI Intervarsity Cup. [19] [20]

Sion Swifts

After a period away from football while she completed her medical studies, Grant joined Sion Swifts in their 2019 Women's Premiership campaign. [21]

Shelbourne

Grant joined Shelbourne for the delayed and truncated 2020 Women's National League season. [22] In 2021 Grant helped Shelbourne win the Women's National League title. She also scored in the 2021 FAI Women's Cup Final, which Shelbourne lost 3–1 to Wexford Youths. [23]

Rangers

Grant joined Rangers on 28 January 2022. [24] The six-month contract was Grant's first full-time professional deal, and made her the first Republic of Ireland international to sign for Rangers since Alex Stevenson in 1932. [25] She helped Rangers finish the league season unbeaten and win their first ever Scottish Women's Premier League title. [26]

Hearts

In June 2022 Grant agreed a transfer to Heart of Midlothian. She signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year, becoming only Hearts' second ever full-time professional female player after Emma Brownlie who signed the previous day. [26]

International career

Youth

Grant has represented the Republic of Ireland at under-15, under-17, [3] under-19, university and senior level. In 2010 she was a member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad who were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. [27] In December 2011 Grant was included in a Football Association of Ireland (FAI) scholarship programme for potential senior women's international players. [28] Grant also represented Ireland at the 2013 and 2015 Summer Universiades. [29] [30] [31] [32]

Senior

Grant made her senior international debut in November 2012, in a 5–0 friendly defeat by the United States in Portland, Oregon, replacing Niamh Fahey in the 57th minute. [33] National team coach Sue Ronan deployed Grant in an unfamiliar right-back role. [34] Grant subsequently represented Ireland at the 2013 and 2014 Cyprus Cups and in their unsuccessful 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup and UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying campaigns. [4] [5] [35]

After showing good form for Shelbourne, Grant was recalled to the national team by Vera Pauw in June 2021. [36] On 30 November 2021 she made another appearance in a record 11–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A win over Georgia. [37]

International Appearances

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearApps
Republic of Ireland 20122
20135
20145
20153
20211
Total16

Personal life

Grant is a qualified medical doctor. She returned to her native Letterkenny to volunteer at a local hospital soon after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. [38]

Honours

Association football

Individual
Raheny United
UCD Waves/UCD
Republic of Ireland U-17
Loreto School
Kilmacrennan Celtic

Gaelic football

Donegal

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FAI Women's Cup</span> Football tournament

The Football Association of Ireland Women's Cup is the senior cup competition for women's association football in the Republic of Ireland. It is commonly known as the Women's FAI Cup, the WFAI Cup, or prior to 2001, the Ladies FAI Cup or the LFAI Cup. Organised by the Women's Football Association of Ireland, like the Women's National League, the Cup is currently sponsored by EVOKE.ie and is known as the EVOKE.ie FAI Women's Cup. Previous sponsors include Continental Tyres, Umbro and Brother International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peamount United F.C.</span> Football club

Peamount United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Newcastle, South Dublin. The club is best known for its senior women's team who in 2011–12 became founder members and inaugural champions of the Women's National League. They have also represented the Republic of Ireland in Europe and in 2011–12 they became the first Republic of Ireland team, including men's teams, to qualify from their group for the knockout stages of a European competition. The club's senior men's team compete in the Leinster Senior League. Peamount United have also fielded teams in the Dublin Women's Soccer League, the Dublin and District Schoolboys League and the Metropolitan Girls League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julie-Ann Russell</span> Irish footballer (born 1991)

Julie-Ann Russell is an Irish footballer who plays for local Women's National League club Galway.

The League of Ireland Women's Premier Division is a professional women's association football league in the Republic of Ireland, organised by the League of Ireland, which began play in the 2023 season. The league consists of eleven teams, eight of which owned by clubs with men's teams in the League of Ireland's Premier Division or First Division. The premiers of the league qualify for the first round of the UEFA Women's Champions League in the following season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castlebar Celtic W.F.C.</span> Football club

Castlebar Celtic W.F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Castlebar, County Mayo. The club is the women's section of Castlebar Celtic and has entered teams in the Women's National League, the Mayo Women's Football League and the FAI Women's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dora Gorman</span> Irish footballer (born 1993)

Dora Gorman is an Irish physician and footballer who plays as a midfielder for Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL). In 2010, she was captain of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad who were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. As well as being a medical doctor, Gorman is an all-round sportswoman. She has also represented the Ireland women's national field hockey team at various levels and has played senior inter-county ladies' Gaelic football for the Galway county team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelbourne F.C. (women)</span> Irish association football club

Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Northside, Dublin. It is the women's section of the League of Ireland club Shelbourne FC. The senior women's team currently plays in the Women's National League. They have also fielded teams in the Dublin Women's Soccer League, the Metropolitan Girls League and the North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megan Campbell</span> Irish footballer (born 1993)

Megan Campbell is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Women's Super League club Liverpool FC and as a left back for the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She has previously played for St. Francis, Raheny United, Florida State Seminoles and Manchester City. In 2010, she was a member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad that were runners-up at the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Campbell is known as a long throw-in specialist and has been compared to Rory Delap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCD Women's Soccer Club</span> Football club

UCD Women's Soccer Club is an Irish association football club based in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. It is the women's association football team of University College Dublin. Founded in 1966, UCD are one of the oldest women's football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. Like the UCD men's team, the women's football team has competed in national competitions, such as the FAI Women's Cup and the Women's National League, as well as intervarsity competitions. UCD has also represented the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Cup. Between 2014 and 2018, following a merger, with DLR Waves, the club played in the Women's National League and FAI Women's Cup as UCD Waves. However in 2018 UCD withdrew from the WNL. DLR Waves was subsequently revived as a separate club, taking UCD Waves' place in the WNL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raheny United F.C.</span> Association football club in Raheny, Dublin

Raheny United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Raheny, Dublin. Raheny United was founded in 1994 following the amalgamation of Raheny Boys and Dunseedy United. In 2017–18 their senior men's team compete in the Premier A division of the Athletic Union League. An over–35s team compete in the Amateur Football League. They also have 35 schoolboy teams competing in both the Dublin & District Schoolboy League and the North Dublin Schoolboys/Girls League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katie McCabe</span> Irish footballer (born 1995)

Katie Alison McCabe is an Irish professional footballer who plays for English Women's Super League club Arsenal and captains the Republic of Ireland women's national team. Mainly a left back, she can also operate as a left winger and a left midfielder.

The Dublin Women's Soccer League was a women's association football league featuring teams from the Republic of Ireland. While the majority of the participating clubs were based in the Greater Dublin Area, the DWSL had regularly included teams from outside this area. Whilst previously the DWSL was one of the largest women's leagues in Ireland it had been overtaken by the Wexford, MGL and Cork Leagues. In late 2019, the FAI following discussions revamped Women's Football in the Greater Dublin area and the Eastern Women's Football League (EWFL) chaired by the MGL's Tony Gains were granted the only license to run women's adult football in the Dublin area. The EWFL is run by committees of the MGL and the former DWSL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wexford Youths W.F.C.</span> Football club

Wexford Youths Women Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Crossabeg, County Wexford. Their senior team plays in the Women's National League. In recent seasons Wexford Youths have emerged as one of the league's strongest teams.

The 2015–16 Women's National League was the fifth season of the Women's National League. Two new clubs joined the league before the start of the season, restoring the number of teams in the league to eight. Kilkenny United were formed as expansion team while Raheny United's senior women's team merged with Shelbourne Ladies. This effectively saw Shelbourne Ladies takeover Raheny United's place in the WNL. The season also saw the introduction of the WNL Shield. Wexford Youths and Shelbourne Ladies finished the season as the league's two strongest teams. In the league itself, the two teams finished level on points before Wexford Youths retained the title after a play-off. Wexford Youths also completed a treble, having already won both the FAI Women's Cup and WNL Shield. Shelbourne Ladies were also runners up in the WNL Shield before going onto win the WNL Cup. Before the season was finished Castlebar Celtic withdrew because they were unable to field a team.

Karen Duggan is an Irish footballer who plays for Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL). She has previously played for UCD Waves and the Republic of Ireland women's national football team. Between 2013 and 2016 Duggan was selected for the WNL Team of the Season for four successive seasons. She was the only player selected all four seasons. In 2015–16 she was also WNL Senior Player of the Season. Duggan has also played camogie at club, university and county level.

Siobhán Killeen is a Republic of Ireland women's international footballer. She has also played for UCD, Raheny United and Shelbourne Ladies. In 2010, she was a member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad that were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. Killeen has also played senior ladies' Gaelic football for Dublin.

The 2016 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2016 FAI Irish Daily Mail Senior Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 96th season of the national Football competition of the Republic of Ireland. The winners of the competition earned a spot in the First qualifying round of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League.

Noelle Murray is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Irish club Shelbourne and the Republic of Ireland national team. Between 2011 and 2016 Murray played in six successive FAI Women's Cup finals with three clubs - St Catherine's, Raheny United and Shelbourne Ladies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Rowe</span> Irish female footballer

Sarah Rowe is a triple code sportswoman who plays association football for Women's National League club Bohemians. She is a former Republic of Ireland women's association football international. In addition to association football, Rowe has also played two other football codes at a senior level. She has played ladies' Gaelic football for Mayo and women's Australian rules football for Collingwood in the AFLW. At club level, Rowe has also played association football for Castlebar Celtic, Raheny United and Shelbourne in the Women's National League and for Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women. Rowe was a member of the Republic of Ireland U19 team that won their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualified for the semi-finals. In 2016, she was also a member of the Shelbourne Ladies team that won a Women's National League/FAI Women's Cup double.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chloe Mustaki</span> Irish footballer (born 1995)

Chloe Naomi Mustaki is a footballer who plays as a defender or midfielder for Bristol City of the English Women's Championship. Born in the United States, she is a member of the Republic of Ireland women's national team and also holds French citizenship. At club level she has previously played for Shelbourne, UCD Waves and Peamount United in her home country, as well as for Girondins de Bordeaux in France and Charlton Athletic in England.

References

  1. 1 2 "Donegal v Galway - Ladies Gaelic Football Minor A All-Ireland Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 24 July 2010. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Ciara Grant @ LinkedIn". ie.linkedin.com. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Ciara Grant". www.faischools.ie. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ciara Grant". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  5. 1 2 "Ciara's taking nothing for 'Grant'-ed". Donegal News. 15 May 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Loreto crowned FAIS Umbro Senior Girls champions". www.fai.ie. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Senior Basketball". www.loretoletterkenny.ie. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "Ciara Grant's two-touch lob helps Raheny win FAI Cup". www.the42.ie. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Raheny United 2-1 Peamount United". www.rte.ie. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  10. ↑ Fallon, John (4 November 2013). "Raheny triumph in Women's FAI Cup final report". www.irishtimes.com. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  11. ↑ "UCD Ad Astra Academy awards 65 scholarships - Academic Scholars Gallery". www.ucd.ie. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "Women's Soccer Scholarship Programme". www.ucd.ie. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Maher, Gareth (2 November 2014). "Raheny retain FAI Continental Tyres Women's Cup". www.fai.ie. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  14. ↑ "UCD Squad". www.ucd.ie. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  15. ↑ "WSCAI National Futsal Finals Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "UCD beat holders, IT Sligo, 3–2 in a thrilling WSCAI Futsal Cup at the Mardyke Arena". www.ucd.ie. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  17. ↑ "Ciara Grant on the mark as UCD win WSCAI Premier Division final against IT Sligo". www.donegaldemocrat.ie. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  18. ↑ "UCD Report of the President 2013–14" (PDF). www.ucd.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "UCD Take Intervarsity Cup After Long Wait". www.thirdlevelfootball.ie. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  20. ↑ "UCD v UCC - WSCAI Intervarsities Cup Final Photos". www.sportsfile.com. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  21. ↑ Hannigan, Mary (6 August 2020). "For Ciara Grant, getting back to playing ball is just what the doctor ordered". Irish Times . Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  22. ↑ Malone, Emmet (25 March 2021). "Shelbourne's Ciara Grant eager to break back into Ireland squad". Irish Times . Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  23. ↑ Donlon, Mark (28 January 2022). "Shelbourne and Republic of Ireland star Ciara Grant joins Rangers". Daily Mirror . Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  24. ↑ Fitzmaurice, Aidan (28 January 2022). "Ireland international Ciara Grant leaves Shels to join Rangers". Irish Independent . Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  25. ↑ Donnelly, David (28 January 2022). "Ciara Grant becomes first Republic of Ireland international to join Rangers in 90 years". Dublin Live. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  26. 1 2 Duffy, Emma (1 June 2022). "Republic of Ireland international swaps Scottish champions Rangers for Hearts". The42.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  27. ↑ "List of Players - Republic of Ireland" (PDF). FIFA. 6 September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  28. ↑ "FAI womens [sic] scholarships announced". www.thirdlevelfootball.ie. 6 November 2011. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "World University Games Kazan 2013 - Soccer - Ireland vs Great Britain". inpho.ie. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  30. ↑ "Help Letterkenny girl get to World Student Games in South Korea!". Donegal News. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
  31. ↑ "World University Games 2015 Team Announcement". www.studentsport.ie. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  32. ↑ "Match Report - Ireland vs Czech Republic" (PDF). www.gwangju2015.com. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "USA 5–0 Republic of Ireland". www.rte.ie. 12 May 2014.
  34. ↑ "Grant ready for another US test". Football Association of Ireland. 9 May 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  35. ↑ "Ciara Grant Called Upon For Cyprus Cup". Donegal News. 13 May 2014.
  36. ↑ Kennedy, Ciarán (4 June 2021). "Ireland manager Pauw recalls Grant and McLaughlin in 23-player squad for Iceland double-header". The 42.ie. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  37. ↑ O'Riordan, Joanne (9 December 2021). "Ciara Grant hoping to make the leap from hospital ward to professional ranks". Irish Times . Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  38. ↑ "for-ciara-grant-getting-back-to-playing-ball-is-just-what-the-doctor-ordered". www.irishtimes.ie. 20 August 2020.
  39. ↑ "Doyle named eircom Player of the Year". RTÉ.ie. RTÉ. 8 February 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  40. ↑ "Bus Éireann National Women's award nominations". www.rte.ie. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.