Ricky McEvoy

Ricky McEvoy

Personal information
Full name	Richard Patrick McEvoy
Date of birth	(1967-08-06) 6 August 1967 (age 56)
Place of birth	Gibraltar
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) [1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1977	Belvedere F.C.
1978–1981	Stella Maris
1981–1982	Belvedere F.C.
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1983–1988	Luton Town	1	(0)
1986–1987	→ Cambridge United (loan)	11	(1)
1988–1991	Shamrock Rovers	69	(13)
1991	Finn Harps	4	(0)
1991–1993	Dundalk	32	(4)
1993–1995	Bangor	77	(5)
1995–1996	Glentoran	3	(0)
1996–1997	Home Farm	10	(0)
1997–1998	Bangor	?	(?)
1998–1999	Monaghan United	?	(?)
International career
1985	Republic of Ireland U19	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Richard Patrick McEvoy (born 6 August 1967) is a Gibraltarian born Irish retired footballer.

Career

A schoolboys international from Patrician College Finglas McEvoy along with Martin Russell helped his school win the Leinster Junior Schools Cup and the All Ireland Colleges Junior title for the first time in 1983. McEvoy scoring in both finals. He was spotted by Luton scout Eddie Cochrane while playing for the national schoolboy team.

McEvoy played for the Republic of Ireland national football team youth team against Iceland in the qualifiers for the 1986 UEFA European Under-18 Championship in November 1985. Future Rovers teammate Wayne Cooney scored in this 2–0 win.

In the 1986–87 Football League season where Luton finished 7th in the Football League First Division McEvoy made one appearance as a substitute against Watford F.C. in the M1 derby on St. Stephen's Day 1986.

He was then loaned to Football League Fourth Division Cambridge United where he scored one goal in 11 league appearances, which he scored at Turf Moor on 4 April 1987.

The following season he appeared once for Luton in the Full Members Cup at Goodison Park. ^[2] On the back of his great form he was called up to the Ireland U21 team for the 1989 Toulon Tournament.

Despite an offer of a one-year contract from Coventry City F.C., McEvoy returned home to sign for Shamrock Rovers in August 1988. ^[3] McEvoy played in Rovers first game at the RDS Arena on 30 September 1990.

In his last game for The Hoops, McEvoy scored from a free kick against Waterford United for the RDS on 30 December 1990. He scored a total of 15 goals in 97 total appearances for The Hoops.

He moved on loan to Finn Harps in February 1991.

McEvoy signed for defending Champions Dundalk F.C. in June 1991. ^[4]

McEvoy scored in a 1991–92 European Cup tie at Budapest Honvéd FC. ^[5]

For the Lilywhites, McEvoy scored a total of 7 goals.

In October 1992 McEvoy moved to Bangor F.C., during the best season in their history, with Paul Byrne. They won the Irish Cup and the Irish League Cup with McEvoy scoring in the latter final. He made 2 appearances in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup scoring once against APOEL F.C. for the 1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup. This goal was the Seasiders' debut goal in European competition.^{[ citation needed ]}

In July 1996 he returned to the League of Ireland signing for Home Farm and scoring against Norwich City in a pre-season friendly. ^[6]

McEvoy was a natural two-footed player with superb passing ability, dribbling skills and shooting power but had disciplinary problems and a lack of consistency. During his spell at Rovers he was considered the best midfielder in the League.^{[ citation needed ]}

Honours

• Irish Cup :
  • Bangor F.C. – 1992–93
• Irish League Cup :
  • Bangor F.C. – 1992–93
• Ulster Cup :
  • Bangor F.C. – 1994–95
• Mid-Ulster Cup :
  • Bangor F.C. – 1995–96
• Irish FA Charity Shield :
  • Bangor F.C. – 1993–94 (shared)

Notes

1. Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 226. ISBN   978-0-356-14354-5.
2. "Tuesday 16 February 1988 : Everton 1 – 2 Luton". evertonresults.com. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
3. "Register" . The Irish Times . 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
4. "Register" . The Irish Times . 1991. p. 16. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
5. "1991 European Cup – Kispest Honved". Dundalk F.C. 17 September 1991. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
6. "HF/EVERTON: 1, NORWICH CITY: 2". The Irish Times. 23 July 1996. Retrieved 3 December 2013.

General references

• Doolan, Paul; Goggins, Robert (1993). The Hoops: History of Shamrock Rovers. Gill & MacMillan. ISBN   0-7171-2121-6.
• Shamrock Rovers programme, 16 October 1988
• Ramsay, Bartley (2008). The Finn Harps Story. Finn Harps Publications. ISBN   978-0-9558-0890-6.