Rory Gaffney

Rory Gaffney
Personal information
Full name Rory Nicholas Gaffney[1]
Date of birth (1989-10-23) 23 October 1989 (age 35)[2]
Place of birth Tuam, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Shamrock Rovers
Number 20
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Mervue United 59 (13)
2011–2014 Limerick 85 (29)
2015–2016 Cambridge United 6 (2)
2015–2016 → Bristol Rovers (loan) 7 (5)
2016–2018 Bristol Rovers 93 (16)
2018–2020 Salford City 45 (11)
2019–2020 → Walsall (loan) 15 (1)
2020– Shamrock Rovers 115 (27)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:50, 18 June 2024 (UTC)

Rory Nicholas Gaffney (born 23 October 1989) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Club Shamrock Rovers.

Career

[edit]

Limerick

[edit]

Gaffney started his career at League of Ireland First Division team Mervue United before joining Premier League team Limerick in July 2011.[3] He completed his studies at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology while playing in Ireland.[4]

Cambridge United

[edit]

On 25 November 2014 Gaffney agreed a move to League Two club Cambridge United when the transfer window opened. His first season was beset with injury and he made his Football League debut on 26 September 2015, replacing Conor Newton in the 81st minute in a 1–0 win against Stevenage at the Abbey Stadium providing the cross from which Cambridge scored.[5] Gaffney went on to score twice on his first start for Cambridge United in the 3–2 away win over Yeovil Town on 23 October.[6]

Bristol Rovers

[edit]

On 14 January 2016, Gaffney moved permanently to League Two club Bristol Rovers after a successful loan spell. After scoring five goals in seven games for the West Country Club. Gaffney ended the season with a tally of eight league goals as he played a useful part in the club's promotion to Football League One.[7]

Gaffney scored his first goal in Sky Bet League One and his first for the club since 16 April 2016 on 1 October 2016 with his club's first goal in a dramatic 3–2 win over Northampton Town.[8] Rory scored his first goal since 10 December 2016 in the 4–2 victory over Bury[9] on 11 March 2017 in a 2–0 victory over Southend United.[10] He scored his second goal in a week scoring what would prove to be the winner in a 2–1 victory over Chesterfield taking his season total to four league goals.[11] Gaffney ended the season with a total of nine goals including two in a 4–2 loss vs Peterborough United as his side narrowly missed the playoffs.[12]

Gaffney scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season to make it 3–1 in a 4–1 defeat to Peterborough United on 12 August 2017 when he headed home a Lee Brown cross at the back post.[13]

Salford City

[edit]

In June 2018 he joined Salford City on a three-year contract.[14] He made his debut in the opening match of the 2018–19 season on 4 August as Salford drew 1–1 at home to Leyton Orient.[15] His first season with the club ended in success as Salford City won promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history in their first season in the fifth tier. Gaffney scored a penalty in a play-off semi-final shootout victory against Eastleigh[16] and came off of the bench in the 3–0 final victory over AFC Fylde.[17]

Walsall (loan)

[edit]

On 31 August 2019 he joined Walsall on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season, linking up with former-Rovers manager Darrell Clarke.[18] After 25 appearances, scoring just once, Gaffney had his loan terminated in February 2020.[19]

Shamrock Rovers

[edit]

On 24 February 2020, Salford City announced they and Gaffney had mutually parted ways and he had left the club[20] and later that day signed for Shamrock Rovers.[21] In April 2021, Gaffney opened his scoring for the club with a late equaliser against Sligo Rovers.[22]

Gaffney scored twice at KF Teuta Durrës in a 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League tie where Rovers won 2-0 [23]

In the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League Gaffney scored against Hibernians F.C.[24]

When Gaffney scored at KF Shkupi in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League he completed his scoring record in all three main European club competitions [25]

At the end of the 2022 season, a season in which Shamrock Rovers won the league for a third consecutive season,[26] Gaffney was named the PFAI Players' Player of the Year at the end of season awards.[27]

He was also awarded the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year award [28]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played on 22 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Mervue United 2009[29] LOI First Division 14 3 0 0 1 0 — — 15 3
2010[29] 31 6 0 0 0 0 — — 31 6
2011[29] 14 4 0 0 0 0 — — 14 4
Total 59 13 0 0 1 0 — — 60 13
Limerick 2011[29] LOI First Division 11 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 11 0
2012 24 10 0 0 3 0 — 0 0 27 10
2013[29] LOI Premier Division 19 5 0 0 2 0 — 0 0 21 5
2014[29] 31 14 0 0 1 0 — 0 0 32 14
Total 85 29 0 0 6 0 — 0 0 91 29
Cambridge United 2014–15 EFL League Two 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0
2015–16[30] 6 2 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 7 2
Total 6 2 1 0 0 0 — 0 0 7 2
Bristol Rovers (loan) 2015–16[30] EFL League Two 7 5 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 7 5
Bristol Rovers 2015–16[30] EFL League Two 17 3 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 17 3
2016–17[31] EFL League One 34 6 2 3 2 0 — 3[a] 0 41 9
2017–18[32] 42 7 1 0 3 0 — 1[a] 0 48 7
Total 93 16 3 3 5 0 — 4 0 113 24
Salford City 2018–19[33] National League 43 11 3 1[b] 0 0 — 3[c] 0 49 12
2019–20[33] EFL League Two 2 0 0 0 1 0 — 0 0 3 0
Total 45 11 3 1 1 0 — 3 0 52 12
Walsall (loan) 2019–20[33] EFL League Two 15 1 3 0 0 0 — 4[a] 0 22 1
Shamrock Rovers 2020[33] LOI Premier Division 6 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 6 0
2021[33] 33 8 2 1 — 6[d] 2 1[e] 0 42 11
2022[33] 35 10 3 2 — 12[f] 3 1[e] 0 51 14
2023[33] 33 8 1 0 — 2[g] 0 1[h] 1 37 9
2024[33] 8 1 0 0 — 0 0 1[e] 0 9 1
Total 115 27 6 3 — 20 5 4 1 145 36
Career total 425 101 16 7 13 0 15 5 15 1 484 114
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Includes appearance and goal in FA Cup qualifying match against Marine[34]
  3. ^ One appearance in the FA Trophy; two appearances in the National League playoffs
  4. ^ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League; four appearances, two goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in the President of Ireland's Cup
  6. ^ Four appearances, one goal in the UEFA Champions League; three appearances, one goal in the UEFA Europa League; five appearances, one goal in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  7. ^ Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
  8. ^ Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

[edit]

Limerick

Bristol Rovers

Salford City

Shamrock Rovers

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 68. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Rory Gaffney". 11v11. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Limerick FC is delighted to announce that Rory Gaffney (Mervue United) has signed with the Club". 30 July 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  4. ^ "Interview: Rory Gaffney – From GMIT to the Theatre of Dreams". 14 April 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  5. ^ "Cambridge United 1–0 Stevenage". BBC Sport. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  6. ^ "Cambridge United: Rory Gaffney to push himself after dream return". BBC Sport. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  7. ^ "Top Scorers – Bristol Rovers – Football – BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
  8. ^ "ROVERS GET ALL THREE POINTS IN FANTASTIC GAME AT NORTHAMPTON TOWN". mobile.bristolrovers.co.uk. 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Bristol Rovers 4–2 Bury – BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 0: Darrell Clarke's side go nine unbeaten in Sky Bet League One". Bristol Post. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  11. ^ "Bristol Rovers 2 Chesterfield 1: Rovers bounce back from Bury defeat to keep play-off hopes alive". Bristol Post. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Bristol Rovers Top Scorers". BBC Sport.
  13. ^ "Bristol Rovers 1–4 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  14. ^ "Salford City: Devante Rodney and Rory Gaffney join the Ammies". BBC Sport. 15 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  15. ^ "Salford City 1–1 Leyton Orient". BBC Sport. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  16. ^ "Salford City 1–1 Eastleigh (Salford win 4–3 on penalties)". BBC Sport. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Salford City beat AFC Fylde in National League promotion final at Wembley". BBC Sport. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Gaffney signs for the Saddlers". www.saddlers.co.uk. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Gaffney leaves Walsall". www.saddlers.co.uk. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Rory Gaffney leaves the club". Salford City F.C. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Rory Gaffney is a Hoop!". Shamrock Rovers. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  22. ^ "Sligo Rovers 1–1 Shamrock Rovers". Irish Mirror. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Teuta-Shamrock Rovers | UEFA Europa Conference League 2021/22".
  24. ^ "Shamrock Rovers-Hibernians | UEFA Champions League 2022/23".
  25. ^ "Shkupi-Shamrock Rovers | UEFA Europa League 2022/23".
  26. ^ "Shamrock Rovers are League Champions!". www.shamrockrovers.ie. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  27. ^ "Rory Gaffney named the PFAI Player of the Year". www.rte.ie. 19 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
  28. ^ "'It's why you want to be playing for the best team in Ireland'". 22 June 2023.
  29. ^ a b c d e f Rory Gaffney at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 September.
  30. ^ a b c "Games played by Rory Gaffney in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  31. ^ "Games played by Rory Gaffney in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  32. ^ "Games played by Rory Gaffney in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h Rory Gaffney at Soccerway
  34. ^ "Marine 1-2 Salford City".
  35. ^ "Ireland 2012". RSSSF. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  36. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2016). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-4722-3395-0.
  37. ^ Rindl, Josef (11 May 2019). "AFC Fylde 0–3 Salford City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  38. ^ Whelan, James (9 November 2022). "Shamrock Rovers striker Rory Gaffney named Player of the Month for October". Irish Examiner.
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