Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ronan Michael Finn | ||
Date of birth | 21 December 1987 | ||
Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | UCD | ||
Number | 8 | ||
Youth career | |||
2004–2005 | Cambridge United | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2005–2009 | UCD | 97 | (10) |
2010 | Sporting Fingal | 34 | (8) |
2011–2014 | Shamrock Rovers | 116 | (27) |
2015–2016 | Dundalk | 62 | (12) |
2017–2023 | Shamrock Rovers | 175 | (18) |
2024– | UCD | 13 | (0) |
International career | |||
2007 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 1 | (0) |
2010 | Republic of Ireland U23 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:24, 4 September 2024 (UTC) |
Ronan Finn (born 21 December 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division side UCD, where he is also club captain. Across a playing career spanning nearly 20 years, he has turned out for UCD (over 2 spells), Sporting Fingal, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers (over 2 spells). Having made over 50 appearances in European competition, Finn competed in the group stages of the Europa League with both Shamrock Rovers (2011) and Dundalk (2016). [1] [2]
Finn began his youth career at Cambridge United, spending eight months with their youth team in 2004–05. [3] Due to a requirement that he had to finish school in Ireland, he would fly from Dublin to Cambridge after school on Fridays, play a game on Saturday and fly straight back home. Finn scored on his FA Youth Cup debut in a 3–1 victory over Mansfield Town. [4] As the demands to fly over became more frequent from Cambridge United youth manager Ricky Duncan, Finn decided to end his time with the club to instead focus on his education. [3]
Finn was signed by UCD in 2005 and went straight into the under-21 team. He was a member of the side that won a second straight Dr. Tony O'Neill Under-21 League Championship, scoring the winning goal in the final against Shelbourne. His impressive displays earned him a call-up to the first-team squad towards the end of the season. He made his League of Ireland debut for UCD in a 1–0 defeat against Longford Town in November 2005. He made his home debut the following week on 18 November against Shamrock Rovers, again as a substitute, and also scored his first senior goal in this fixture.
Finn started the 2006 season back in the under-21s. He regularly began to make the match day squad at the beginning of June, making a couple of brief substitute appearances. However, he got his chance to impress when he was handed his first senior start away to Sligo Rovers in August and was named the man-of-the-match in this game. He became a regular name on U.C.D. manager Pete Mahon's teamsheet for the remainder of the season. Finn made his FAI Cup debut in the third round against Limerick and scored his first goals of the season in this game, scoring twice in a 3–1 win. His displays did not go unnoticed, and he was nominated for the PFAI Young Player of the Year award and also won the UCD Supporters' New Player of the Yea.
Finn secured his place as a regular in centre midfield in 2007. He forged a partnership with fellow Irish under-21 international Shane McFaul, which helping UCD reach the semi-finals of both the League and FAI Cups.
With the retirement of Tony McDonnell and the departure of Shane McFaul in 2008, Finn became one of the most experienced central midfielders at the club and formed a new partnership with Alan McNally in the centre. He began the 2008 season in good form in the opening games against Derry City and Bray Wanderers. However, UCD struggled as the season went on and was eventually relegated after finishing bottom of the Premier Division.
Following relegation, UCD lost almost all of its first-team squad but Finn decided to remain to complete his degree in Sports Management at the university. Finn was handed the captaincy of this squad by Martin Russell who led them to promotion and the 2009 First Division title. [5] He was subsequently named the PFAI First Division Player of the Year for 2009. [6]
Finn departed UCD after five seasons to join Sporting Fingal on 8 December 2009. [7] He represented the club in the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League qualifying second round against Maritimo. [8]
On 10 February 2011 the directors of Sporting Fingal confirmed that the club withdrew its application for a licence from the FAI to participate in the 2011 Airtricity League season. [9] This decision was made after funding targets integral to the club's continued existence were not reached during the off-season. After their demise, Finn became a free agent.
Following the demise of Sporting Fingal, Finn signed for Shamrock Rovers on a two-year deal in February 2011 [10]
He made his League debut for the club in the opening night win over Dundalk [11] and helped them win the Setanta Sports Cup by beating Dundalk 2–0 in the final.
In his first season at the club, Finn won the League of Ireland Premier Division and was also a member of the first Irish team to reach the group stage of European competition, as they went on to reach the 2011–12 UEFA Europa League group stages. [12]
In December 2014, Finn signed a two-year deal with Dundalk, linking up with his former boss at Shamrock Rovers, Stephen Kenny. [13] He won the league and cup double at the club in 2015. Following the departure of Richie Towell in December 2015, Finn was played in a more advanced position. [14] His form in this role and a hat-trick against Longford Town on 9 April [15] led to him being named the SWAI League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month for the first time in his career in April 2016. [16] Finn played in all 6 of Dundalk's UEFA Champions League qualifying matches as they reached the play-off stage. [17]
In December 2016, Finn returned to Shamrock Rovers. On 31 March 2017, he scored his first league goal since his return to the club, in a 3–2 win against Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium.
Finn holds the record for the most European appearances by a League of Ireland player (63) [18]
He scored his only European goal against Hibernians F.C. in a 2022–23 UEFA Champions League qualifier [19]
On 2 November 2023, Finn announced that he would be returning to his first senior club UCD, despite an offer of a contract extension from Shamrock Rovers, in order to combine football with a two-year Masters’ course in Sports Management at the University. [20]
Finn was called up to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time in early 2007, for the annual Madeira Cup tournament. He won his first cap when he came on as a half-time substitute against Madeira. In May 2010, Finn made his Republic of Ireland U23 debut against England C in the 2009–11 International Challenge Trophy game at the Waterford Regional Sports Centre. [21]
Finn has a degree in Sports Management from University College Dublin. [5]
UCD
Shamrock Rovers
Dundalk
Individual
Mark Quigley is an Irish former professional footballer who played for Millwall, Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic, Bohemians, Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and Derry City.
Stephen O'Donnell is an Irish professional football coach and former player. During his playing career the clubs he played at were Arsenal, Falkirk, Bohemians, Cork City, Galway United, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.
The League of Ireland Premier Division, also known as the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, is the top level division in both the League of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland football league system. The division was formed in 1985 following a reorganisation of the League of Ireland. St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians are the only current League of Ireland clubs never to have been relegated from the Premier Division. The league has been won on two occasions by Northern Ireland-based club Derry City, the presence of which within the league makes it a cross-border competition. Since 2003, the Premier Division has taken place from spring to autumn.
Alan Kirby is an Irish former footballer. He played as a midfielder, most often on the right wing.
Shaun Williams is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder, most recently for English League Two club Gillingham. He has previously played for Drogheda United, Finn Harps, Sporting Fingal, MK Dons, Millwall and Portsmouth. He represented the Republic of Ireland national team at various levels, gaining three caps for the senior team in 2018.
Evan McMillan is an Irish football coach and former player. He is the older brother of Dundalk player David.
Chris Turner is a Northern Irish footballer. He has been capped at under-19 and under-21 level by Northern Ireland.
The 2010 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 26th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The division was made up of 10 teams. Shamrock Rovers were champions while Bohemians finished as runners-up.
Christopher Stephen Forrester is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He has also previously played for Bohemians, Peterborough United, Aberdeen and the Republic of Ireland under-21's. In March 2016 he was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad but has yet to be capped.
Sean Gannon is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Shelbourne in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He previously played for Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Dundalk and has won 10 League of Ireland Premier Division winners medals. Gannon has featured regularly in European competition for Dundalk and was part of their team that became only the second Irish side ever to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in August 2016.
Seán Hoare is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for League of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers
Andrew Boyle is an Irish professional footballer who primarily plays as a centre-back. He plays for Dundalk. He has previously played for League of Ireland sides Dundalk, UCD and Shelbourne, Scottish club Dundee, English Club Preston North End and on loan at Ross County. With Dundalk, Boyle was the team's vice-captain and was part of the first Irish side to reach the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League in August 2016 and qualified for the Europa League group stages. Boyle also played regularly in 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Ciarán Kilduff is an Irish footballer who most recently played as a striker with Shelbourne in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He has played for seven clubs in the League of Ireland throughout his career and appeared 16 times in European competition, playing in the Europa League group stages in two separate seasons. The first occasion was with Shamrock Rovers when they became the first Irish side to reach the group stage of the Europa League in 2011, and he was also part of the Dundalk team that qualified for the Europa League group stages after becoming the first Irish club to reach the play-off round of the Champions League in 2016.
Dane Massey is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division clubs Bray Wanderers, Dundalk and Drogheda United, as well as for the Republic of Ireland national futsal team. Massey has made all 14 of his appearances in European competition for Dundalk and was part of their team that became the first Irish side to reach the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League in August 2016.
The 2019 season was St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.'s 90th year in existence and was the Supersaint's 68th consecutive season in the top-flight of Irish football. It was the first season Harry Kenny took charge of the club, following Liam Buckley's spell in charge for the previous seven seasons. The fixtures were announced on 19 December 2018, with the Saints facing Cork City at home on the opening day of the season for the second year in a row, with the Inchicore side set to play champions Dundalk away from home on the final night of the season. Harry Kenny left his post on 24 August following a 3–1 loss away to bottom of the table UCD in the FAI Cup. He was replaced by Stephen O'Donnell on 31 August, his first managerial role. Pats finished 5th in the league and won the Leinster Senior Cup, playing the semi-final and final with their underage sides after the league season had ended for the senior team.
Jason McClelland is an Irish professional footballer who plays for League of Ireland Premier Division club, St Patrick's Athletic, having previously played for UCD for 5 seasons.
George Martin Kelly is an Irish professional association footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club Carlisle United.
Mark Doyle is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger or striker for USL Championship club Rhode Island, having previously spent six seasons at Drogheda United and two seasons with St Patrick's Athletic.
Andrew Patrick Lyons is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for EFL League One club Blackpool.
Greg Bolger is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division club Cork City. His previous clubs are UCD, Sporting Fingal, Dundalk, St Patrick's Athletic, Cork City, Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.