Niamh Fahey

Last updated

Niamh Fahey
Niam Fahey, 15 September 2019 (02) (cropped).jpg
Fahey with Liverpool in 2019
Personal information
Full name Niamh Fahey [1]
Date of birth (1987-10-13) 13 October 1987 (age 36)
Place of birth Galway, Ireland
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder, centre-back
Team information
Current team
Liverpool
Number 5
Youth career
Salthill Devon
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2000–2008 Salthill Devon
2007Galway (loan)
2008–2014 Arsenal 73 (2)
2015–2017 Chelsea 28 (0)
2017–2018 Bordeaux 17 (0)
2018– Liverpool 88 (5)
International career
2007– Republic of Ireland 111 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:03, 18 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 August 2023

Niamh Fahey (born 13 October 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Women's Super League [2] club Liverpool, which she captains, and the Republic of Ireland national team. She has previously played for Chelsea. Before joining Chelsea in December 2014, Fahey spent six seasons with Arsenal. She has also won national cups playing Gaelic football with Galway Ladies Football. [3] Niamh is the sister of Galway's 2001 All-Ireland-winning Gaelic football captain Gary Fahey. [4]

Contents

Club career

Fahey began her career with her hometown club, Salthill Devon. She progressed through the ranks alongside future international teammate Méabh De Búrca. [5] Both players helped Galway win the FAI Women's Cup in 2007. In the final against Raheny United, Fahey scored the winning penalty and also subdued the attacking threat of Raheny's Olivia O'Toole, in what RTÉ described as "a splendid individual display." [6]

She joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2008. [7] In her first season with the Gunners Fahey made 18 appearances, mostly at left full–back, as the club won a domestic treble. [5]

On 19 December 2014, Fahey signed for Chelsea L.F.C. [8]

Liverpool

In the summer of 2018, Fahey signed for her lifelong supported club Liverpool where she has been the club captain since 2020. She stayed with the club after they were relegated on a points by points basis in the summer of 2020. [9]

In the 2021–22 FA Women's Championship season, Fahey led Liverpool to the FA Women's Championship title winning sixteen out of their twenty two league games, earning their promotion back to the FA Women's Super League. She missed only three games and also scoring two goals during the entirety of the season. [10]

After Liverpool finished seventh on their return to the top flight, Fahey then signed a contract extension ahead of the 2023-24 season. [11]

Gaelic football

Fahey won the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship in 2004 with Galway defeating Dublin by 3–11 to 0–9 [12] She also played in the 2005 final for Galway losing to Cork by 1–11 to 0–08. [13] in 2012 she also won the All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Football Championship with London club Parnells defeating Cahir of Tipperary by 2–14 to 1–2. [14]

International career

Fahey has won over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland, having previously represented her country at Under-17 and Under-19 level. In March 2007, Fahey made her senior debut for Ireland in a 1–1 draw with Portugal in the opening match of the Algarve Cup. [15] After becoming a regular in the team, Fahey was named FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year in 2008, [16] 2009 [17] and 2011. [18]

In April 2013, Fahey suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing for Arsenal. The 30 minutes she played for Ireland against the Basque Country in May 2014 was her first game back. [19]

On 16 February 2022, she played her 100th match for Republic of Ireland in a 2–1 win over Poland in the 2022 Pinatar Cup. [20] She scored her first ever goal for Ireland on the occasion of her 104th cap, in a 9–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A win over Georgia in Gori on 27 June 2022. [21]

Personal life

Fahey grew up a life long Liverpool fan and idolised Michael Owen.

‘I was out in the garden, pretending to be Michael Owen. Most of my family are Liverpool supporters, so it was only natural for me.’

During her career, she completed her degree and masters in pharmacology as well as an MBA. Fahey has also started some of her coaching badges. [22]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024 [23]

Some entries may be missing or incomplete due to lack of historical statistics.

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [lower-alpha 1] League cup [lower-alpha 2] Europe [lower-alpha 3] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Arsenal 2008–09 Women's Premier League 1621030202
2009–10 Women's Premier League210103060310
2011 Women's Super League 130100070210
2012 Women's Super League120003080230
2013 Women's Super League00301061101
2014 Women's Super League1101051171
Total732701512711224
Chelsea 2015 Women's Super League1402030190
2016 Women's Super League120201040190
2017 Women's Super League2000002040
Total280404060420
Bordeaux 2017–18 D1 Féminine 17000170
Liverpool 2018–19 Women's Super League1703031231
2019–20 Women's Super League1302130181
2020–21 Women's Championship 1931030233
2021–22 Women's Championship1922030242
2022–23 Women's Super League1201030160
2023–24 Women's Super League802010110
2024–25 Women's Super League00000000
Total8851111611157
Career total16952212923312439

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 200770
2008150
200950
201060
201140
2012100
201450
201590
201680
201740
201870
201980
202040
202170
202271
Total1061
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first. Score column indicates score after each Fahey goal. Updated as of 5 May 2023.
International goals scored by Niamh Fahey
No.CapDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
110427 June 2022 Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium, Gori Flag of Georgia.svg  Georgia 2–09–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual. [24]

Honours

2011, 2012 2015 FA WSL
2008–09, 2009–10
2021–22
2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–2015
2011, 2012, 2013
2008–09, 2014–15
2004
2012

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilly Flaherty</span> English footballer

Gilly Louise Scarlett Flaherty is an English former footballer who last played for FA WSL club Liverpool. Flaherty is a former Arsenal Ladies player who began her career in Millwall Lionesses' youth teams. She usually plays in the centre back position and represented England at youth level before making her senior debut in October 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Hayes</span> English football manager (born 1976)

Emma Carol Hayes is an English professional football manager who is the head coach of the United States women's national team. She is best known for her twelve-year stint with Chelsea Women, winning the FA Women's Super League on seven occasions, including five in a row from the 2019–20 season to the 2023–24 season. On August 10, 2024, she steered the U.S. women’s national team to a gold medal in the Paris Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gemma Davison</span> English footballer

Gemma Suzanne Davison is an English footballer who plays as a winger. She has previously played for Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Reading whom she joined from Chelsea in 2018. After joining Arsenal at youth team level from Watford Ladies, Davison became a regular player and won several trophies. She also spent time in the United States playing for various American clubs in three separate spells. Davison is a full senior international player for the England women's national football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Méabh De Búrca</span> Irish footballer

Méabh De Búrca is an Irish former footballer who plays for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team and Women's National League club Galway. At club level she previously played in America for Boston Aztec, in Norway for Amazon Grimstad and for Swedish club Eskilstuna United. De Búrca can play in defence or midfield.

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

Julie-Ann Russell is an Irish footballer who plays for Women's National League club Galway United W.F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louise Quinn</span> Irish footballer (born 1990)

Louise Catherine Quinn is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for the Women's Championship club Birmingham City and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.

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 winners 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">Christie Harrison-Murray</span> Scottish footballer

Christie Harrison-Murray is a Scottish footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and captains Birmingham City in the FA WSL. She has also played for Arsenal, Bristol Academy, and Doncaster Rovers Belles of the FA WSL, as well as Celtic and Glasgow City of the Scottish Women's Premier League. Since making her debut in 2010, Harrison-Murray has won eighty one caps for the Scotland national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruesha Littlejohn</span> Irish footballer (born 1990)

Ruesha Littlejohn is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for FA Women's Championship club London City Lionesses and the Republic of Ireland national team. She has had four spells with Glasgow City, and stints with Norwegian First Division club IL Sandviken and English sides Arsenal, Liverpool, London Bees, Leicester City, Birmingham City and Aston Villa.

<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 Championship club London City Lionesses and as a left back & center back for the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She has previously played for St. Francis, Raheny United, Florida State Seminoles, Manchester City and Liverpool. 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">Ciara Grant (footballer, born 1993)</span> Irish footballer (born 1993)

Ciara Grant is an Irish physician and professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Hebernian 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.

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

Galway United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Galway. It is the women's section of the League of Ireland club Galway United. Since 2013–14 the club played in the Women's National League (WNL) and did so as Galway WFC until 2022. Throughout its existence the club has been closely associated with both the Galway Ladies League and the Galway Football Association. The WNL team had its origins in the Galway Ladies League representative team that won the 2007 FAI Women's Cup and then represented the Republic of Ireland in the 2008–09 UEFA Women's Cup. The Galway Ladies League and its member clubs, such as Salthill Devon, Galway Bohemians, Corrib Celtic, Colga F.C. and NUI Galway, served as a feeder system for Galway WFC.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carla Humphrey</span> English footballer

Carla Humphrey is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Championship club Charlton Athletic.

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">Taylor Hinds</span> English footballer


Taylor Jasmine Hinds is an English footballer who plays as a fullback or midfielder for Women's Super League club Liverpool, where she is Vice-Captain. She has represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-23 level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leanne Kiernan</span> Irish footballer (born 1999)

Leanne Kiernan is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Women's Super League club Liverpool and the Republic of Ireland national team.

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

Sarah Rowe is a triple code sportswoman. 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 played association football for Castlebar Celtic, Raheny United, Shelbourne, Bohemians 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. In 2023, she returned to association football briefly playing for Melbourne Victory and then for Bohemians.

The 2019–20 Liverpool F.C. Women season was the club's 31st season of competitive football and its 10th season in the FA Women's Super League, the highest level of the football pyramid, having been one of the league's foundation clubs. Along with competing in the WSL, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

The 2020–21 Liverpool F.C. Women season was the club's 32nd season of competitive football and its first season outside the FA WSL, the highest level of the football pyramid, since the league's foundation. Along with competing in the FA Women's Championship, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

References

  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 – Squad List: Republic Of Ireland (IRL)" (PDF). FIFA. 11 July 2023. p. 25. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  2. "Reds complete signing of defensive midfielder Fahey". Liverpool Ladies FC. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  3. "Senior Women Player Profiles". Football Association of Ireland. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  4. Barry, Brian (25 September 2020). "Niamh Fahey: Liverpool captain and All-Ireland winner with Galway". Sky Sports . Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  5. 1 2 Kieran Beckles (24 August 2009). "Irish stars prepare for World Cup qualifying". The Sport Review. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  6. "Galway League 1–0 Raheny United". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 14 October 2007. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  7. "19. Niamh Fahey". Arsenal F.C. Archived from the original on 22 August 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2009.
  8. "Ladies sign new defender". chelseafc.com. 19 December 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  9. "Liverpool Women: Niamh Fahey signs new contract with relegated WSL club". BBC Sport. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  10. "Liverpool promoted to WSL after clinching Championship title". BBC Sport. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  11. "Liverpool FC Women captain Niamh Fahey signs new contract". Liverpool Football Club. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. https://ladiesgaelic.ie/galway-ladies-win-in-outstanding-final/, [ bare URL ]
  13. "Mulcahy shoots the rebels to historic title treble". 3 October 2005.
  14. "Sheridan kicks Parnells into history". Independent.ie. 10 December 2012.
  15. "Portugal 1–1 1 Ireland". Soccerscene.ie. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  16. "19th eircom/FAI International Award winners announced". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  17. "FAI International Football Award winners announced". FAI.ie. 8 August 2010. Archived from the original on 23 August 2010. Retrieved 7 February 2011.
  18. "2012 Three FAI International Award Winners Announced". FAI.ie. Archived from the original on 9 November 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
  19. Ryan, Seán (8 June 2014). "Fahey hopes for rub of green after return from cruciate injury". Irish Independent . Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  20. "Niamh Fahey on 100 caps and 'dream' FA Cup fixture". Liverpool F.C. 26 February 2022.
  21. Duffy, Emma (28 June 2022). "'She's only 17-years-old, but I hope that everybody has seen how talented she is'". The42.ie. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  22. Gallegher, Mark (16 July 2023). "'I was in the garden pretending to be Michael Owen' – Niamh Fahey ready to fulfil World Cup dream". Extra.ie. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  23. "England – R. Williams – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway".
  24. "Georgia 0–9 WNT". FAI. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.