Dara McGuinness

Last updated
Dara McGuinness
Personal information
Full name Dara McGuinness
Date of birth (2004-02-12) 12 February 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Monksland, County Roscommon, Ireland
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Galway United
Number 27
Youth career
St Joseph's (Athlone)
–2019 Belvedere
2019–2020 St Patrick's Athletic
2020–2022 Shamrock Rovers
2022–2025 Stoke City
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019 St Patrick's Athletic 0 (0)
2020 Shamrock Rovers II 2 (0)
2024–2025 Stoke City 0 (0)
2024–2025Leek Town (loan) 3 (0)
2025 Finn Harps 14 (6)
2025– Galway United 3 (1)
International career
2020 Republic of Ireland U16 4 (2)
2021 Republic of Ireland U18 4 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:00, 28 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:00, 28 August 2025 (UTC)

Dara McGuinness (born 12 February 2004) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for League of Ireland Premier Division club Galway United. He previously played for St Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers II, Stoke City, Leek Town and Finn Harps.

Contents

Career

Youth career

A native of Monksland, [1] on the County Roscommon side of the outskirts of Athlone, McGuinness began playing with local club St Joseph's, where he impressed to the point of representing the Athlone District Schoolboys League at the prestigious Kennedy Cup, where he earned a move to Dublin club Belvedere and then later a move to the academy of League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic. [2] [3]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 16 November 2019, McGuinness made his senior debut for St Patrick's Athletic, coming off the bench in a 4–0 win over Athlone Town at Richmond Park in the final of the 2018–19 Leinster Senior Cup in a side made up entirely of academy players. [4]

Shamrock Rovers II

In 2020, McGuinness moved to the academy of Shamrock Rovers. [5] On 6 March 2020, he made his League of Ireland First Division debut for the club's reserve side Shamrock Rovers II in a 1–0 defeat away to Cabinteely, before making a second appearance for the side by the end of the season. [6]

Stoke City

On 7 July 2022, McGuinness signed for the academy of EFL Championship club Stoke City. [7] [8] On 10 September 2024, he signed for Northern Premier League Premier Division club Leek Town on loan until 4 January 2025. [9]

Finn Harps

On 27 January 2025, McGuinness signed for League of Ireland First Division club Finn Harps. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] He made his debut for the club on 14 February 2025, in a 2–0 defeat away to Kerry. [15] On 21 February 2025, he scored his first goal in senior football, in a 3–1 loss to Treaty United at the Markets Field. [16] On 18 April 2025, he scored a brace in a 4–2 win over Kerry at Finn Park. [17] On 5 July 2025, Harps manager Kevin McHugh confirmed that McGuinness had left the club, after scoring 6 goals in 14 appearances during his time there, stating "His contract was up in June, Dara and his agent have sat down and he wants to play in the Premier Division. There are two or three clubs interested in him." [18]

Galway United

On 23 July 2025, McGuinness made signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Galway United. [19] [20] He made his debut 2 days later, coming on as a half time substitute for Jeannot Esua, before scoring in the 74th minute of an eventual 4–2 loss to Waterford at Eamonn Deacy Park. [21]

International career

McGuinness made his international debut in January 2020, featuring 4 times for the Republic of Ireland U16 side in the Aegean Cup in Turkey, scoring 2 goals in a 4–0 win over Kosovo U16 during the tournament. [2] In 2021, he featured 4 times for the Republic of Ireland U18 side, scoring once. [22]

Career statistics

As of match played on 22 August 2025 [23]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [a] League Cup [b] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
St Patrick's Athletic 2019 LOI Premier Division 0000001 [c] 010
Shamrock Rovers II 2020 LOI First Division 2020
Stoke City 2024–25 EFL Championship 000000
Leek Town (loan) 2024–25 NPL Premier Division 301040
Finn Harps 2025 LOI First Division 146146
Galway United 2025 LOI Premier Division 411152
Career Total237210010268
  1. Includes FAI Cup & FA Cup
  2. Includes League of Ireland Cup & EFL Cup
  3. Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

References

  1. "County Roscommon native set for move to Galway United - Soccer - Roscommon Herald". roscommonherald.ie. August 27, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Soccer star chosen as Young Sportsperson of the Year". Westmeath Independent. April 3, 2021.
  3. FC, Stoke City. "Dara McGuinness". Stoke City FC.
  4. Donnelly, Dave. "Leinster Senior Cup Final Report: St Patrick's Athletic 4 - 0 Athlone Town". extratime.com.
  5. "Dara McGuinness | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
  6. "Dara McGuinness | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
  7. Cooney, Gavin (July 7, 2022). "Teenage striker leaves Shamrock Rovers for Stoke City". The 42.
  8. "Athlone's Dara signs for Stoke City". Westmeath Independent. July 7, 2022.
  9. FC, Stoke City (September 10, 2024). "Dara McGuinness makes Leek loan switch". Stoke City FC.
  10. Lee, Ethan (January 27, 2025). "Harps Sign McGuinness from Stoke City - Finn Harps FC Official Website".
  11. FC, Stoke City (January 27, 2025). "Dara McGuinness completes Finn Harps move". Stoke City FC.
  12. McLoughlin, Jake. "Finn Harps bring in Dara McGuinness from Stoke City". extratime.com.
  13. Smith, by Peter (January 27, 2025). "'Exciting talent' completes Stoke City exit as transfer confirmed". Stoke on Trent Live.
  14. "Harps sign Irish striker from Stoke City". January 27, 2025.
  15. Bonnar, Dáire (February 13, 2025). "McGuinness eager to make his mark".
  16. Breslin, Conor (March 12, 2025). "Dara McGuinness betting on hard work to pay off at Finn Harps". www.donegallive.ie.
  17. "McGuinness strikes twice as Harps beat Kerry 4-2". April 18, 2025.
  18. McNulty, Chris (July 5, 2025). "Departures from Finn Harps as Kevin McHugh begins to put his own stamp on things". www.donegallive.ie.
  19. "Galway United » Dara McGuinness signs for Galway United". galwayunitedfc.ie.
  20. "Local star McGuinness joins Galway United". Westmeath Independent. July 25, 2025.
  21. "Pádraig Amond brace sees Waterford plunge Galway United further into danger zone". www.independent.ie. July 25, 2025.
  22. "Athlone's Dara McGuinness Features As Ireland U18s Held By Malta". Midlands 103.
  23. "Republic of Ireland - D. McGuinness - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.