Player
Profiles - 2002/03 Player
Profiles - 2002/03 .
Ciaran
Kelly - Joined Rovers last season from junior football. The 22 year old
keeper was born in Ballinrobe and was outstanding for the Mayo league Oscar
Traynor team during the 2001/02 season. When the Mayo league coach, Leo Tierney,
joined Rovers coaching staff one of his first tasks was to take Kelly with him
to the Showgrounds. He established himself as the first choice keeper last season.
Although he is prone to the odd error he more than made up for this with a string
of man of the match performances as Rovers hauled themselves back into the promotion
shake-up near the end of the season
Steve
Feeney - Another young local player who made a name for himself in the Summerhill
college under-age teams. Joined the club as a striker and made his debut in
the first team as a centre forward. He was then converted to a centre back when
the squad was stretched. His performances at centre half the season before last
were sensational and already the cross-channel scouts have been sniffing around
with Aston Villa showing some interest. His reading of the game is exceptional
and his distribution from the back is almost faultless. He has already been
capped at under-18 and under-21 level by Brian Kerr. He struggled a little to
win a regular place in the starting eleven last season and will be hoping for
an extended run in the first team this season.
Rafael
Cretaro Former Real Tubber player forced his way into the first team three
seasons ago and impressed many in a striker or wide midfield role. Was injured
at the start of the following season but was sensational on his return playing
in a very unfamiliar right back position. He managed to get on the scoresheet
last season in spite of his more defensive duties. Rafael has become a very
important player for Rovers and his versatility has been used to great effect
by the manager. His best position is probably on the right side of midfield
but he can play in defence or up front. With three seasons experience under
his belt now Rafael is now well established as a first team regular.
Barry O'Dwyer 19 year old youngster joined the club three seasons ago from junior football. He played in the under-21 team in his first season but forced his way into the first team the season before last. Tall center half with good vision on the ball and a huge threat from set pieces. He was a regular in the team earlier in the season before losing his place to Jim Sheridan or Mark Hutchinson. He did force his way back into the team late on in the season. Barry is a bright prospect and will surely establish himself at this level. Still only 19 years old he has time on his side.
Gerry
Carr - Originally joined Rovers in the Willie Mc Stay era back in the 1993/94
season and went on to write himself into the history books by scoring the winning
goal in the 1994 cup final. He is an aggresive and combatant midfield player
who adds a bit of steel to the Rovers midfield. He also provides some experience
to what is a very young squad. Last season he never seemed to be at full fitness
but with the benefit of a full pre-season his fitness should be better this
time around. With the clubs financial situation making it difficult to recruit
experienced players Rovers could do with a return to the sort of form which
made him a pivotal figure in the team that went on to make history by winning
the treble back in 1994.
Gareth Gorman - Joined Rovers from Finn Harps over the summer Gareth is
the brother of former Rovers midfielder Anthony. He had a spell under Don O'Riordan
at Galway United a some years ago. He is a left-sided midfield player who posesses
a lethal left foot. His strong point is good deliveries from set plays and provides
the the strikers with plenty of opportunities as well as chipping in with a few
goals himself. He has also filled in at full back when required and many supporters
consider this to be his best position. He is not always involved in the game as
much as he might be and Rovers manager, Don O'Riordan, will be looking for a big
season from Gareth. He will be expected to be one of Rovers most creative forces
during the coming season.
Colin
Jinks - A player who featured in Cartron Utd's Barry Cup winning team two
years ago. The 18 year old midfielder who is tenacious and spent most of last
season in the under-21 team where he was voted player of the year. He is a hard
tackling, hard working midfielder whose enegry and work rate will stand to him
in his quest to establish himself in the first team. He has also a very useful
goals tally for a midfield player. He ia another one who will be looking to
feature more in the first team this season after his first season at the club.
Luther
Watson - Joined Rovers last season after playing in junior football. He
had a spell under Don O'Riordan at Galway United. Although he joined Rovers
as a striker the manager moved him back to midfield in the middle of the season
when he wanted to exploit his battling qualities. At a time when the team was
beginning to slide down the division he helped steady the ship and contributed
to the club fighting its way back into the promotion sshake-up. His best position
is probably up front, though, where he could provide a strong centre forward
for Paul Mc Tiernan to feed off.
Stephen
Mullen - The pacy striker joined Rovers during the pre-season break from
Athlone Town. He can play up front or wide midfield and can cause a lot of problems
with his pace. During his time with Athlone he also chipped in with his fair
share of goals. Rovers fans will be hoping that he can help take some of the
burden off Paul Mc Tiernan on this front.
Derek O'Brien: Winger who joins Rovers this season from Galway United.
He is blessed with lightning pace and is strong on either foot. He is highly
rated by the manager and can be very useful addition to the Rovers squad for
the new season. His delivery from either wing is very good and if he can combine
with Mullen and Mc Tiernan Rovers could possess one of the quickest sets of
strikers in the division this season..
Ramuel
Miller - The Barbados midfielder joined Rovers on loan last seaason before
returning to the Carribean just before Christmas. He can play wide midield or
in the center and posess good ball skills and good vision on the ball. He has
a terrific work rate and also chips in with his fair share of goals. He will
give the manager a few options in midfield although it is expected that he will
miss the start of the season.
Paul
Mc Tiernan - Joined two seasons ago as a 19 year old the striker who had
scored 50 goals for Boyle Celtic the previous season in the Sligo-Leitrim league.
He is a natural finisher and is quick and brave around the box. He formed a
good partnership with Sean Flannery in his first season and scored 9 goals before
his season was hampered by injury. Fears that he might need an operation during
the summer were not realised and he returned to the team half way through last
season scoring 10 goals. One of the brightest prospects in this team he has
the potential to set this division on fire. Paul has been in great form during
pre-season and if he gets the supply he will definitely score his share of the
goals.
Owen
O'Donoghue - Another former Boyle Celtic player he came into the team as
a wide left sided midfielder. In the latter part of his first season he moved
to the centre where he partnered Aubrey Dolan with some distinction. He is a
very creative player with a cultured left foot and delivers excellent crosses.
He hardly ever wastes possesion in the midfield. He also has a cool head as
he demonstrated in taking his first league goal against Dublin City last season
. He didn't feature a lot in the first team last season and will be looking
to re-establish himself as a regular first choice this season.
John
Jordan - The Mayo born striker joined Rovers tthee seasons ago from Castlebar
Celtic after impressing in a friendly for the Mayo league. He eventually forced
his way into the first team and scored 11 goals in his debut season. He was
on a hot streak when injury cut short his season in the game against Drogheda
United in April. Needed an operation to finally clean out his cartilage problem
and only featured intermittently last season. Quick and neat with a good eye
for goal Jordan has become a firm favourite with the Rovers fans. If he can
finally put his fitness problems behind him it would be a huge boost to the
club. The prospect of Jordan and Mc Tiernan combining up front is a mouth watering
one for Rovers fans
Andrew Mc Loughlin - 17 year old local winger. Andrew played with Abbey
United before joining Rovers two seasons ago. He is the nephew of Rovers great,
Harry. Andrew might have expected to go into the under-21 team last season but
he made his first team debut and has scored a north west derby goal against
Finn Harps at Ballybofey on his debut. He didn't feature much after his good
start but was exceptional for the under-21 team. He is a tricky winger who likes
to take on his man and has the potential to be one of Rovers great players.
Another with time on his side and his slight physique should fill out as he
gets older. He will be another looking to feature more this season.
Keith
Nibbs - Another ex-Abbey United player Keith is a right sided midfield player
who played most of his football in the under-21 team last season. He made his
first team debut in the final game of the 2001/02 season against Drogheda United,
coming on as substitute. Keith had an outstanding season in the under-21 team.
He will be another who is pushing to feature more in the first team this season
and will surely achieve this if he can continue the form he showed for the under-21's
Ian
Rossiter - Yet another local though one of the more experienced players
in the team. Ian joined Rovers from Galway United four seasons ago. He had an
outstanding first season before losing his way a little under Tommy Cassidy.
He left the club last summer for a brief spell at Newry Town before teaming
up with his former manager at Galway United again, Don O'Riordan. The manager
seems to have rekindled his hunger for the game as Ian turned in some outstanding
performances late last season. He will be a key player again this season and
as one of the experienced players in the squad will have to shoulder some extra
responsibality. He was injured in pre-season and the manager will be hoping
he will not be unavailable for long
David
O'Dowd - 20Yeard old striker joined Rovers three seasons ago from Enniscrone
United. Another Mayo man David was born in Castlebar. He forced his way into
the first team two seasons ago when injury struck Paul Mc Tiernan and John Jordan.
He has good close control and uses the ball well. His work rate is phenomenal
and he has featured on the scoresheet. He will be hoping to improve on his tally
of two goals from last season. David is another who has been capped at youth
international level. He is another who will be pushing to feature regularly
in the first team this season, though if O'Riordan has all his strikers fit
he will have an abundance of riches.