SHAMROCK ROVERS HEAD coach Collie O’Neill has called for “real investment and proper structures” to be implemented in women’s domestic football in Ireland following the departures of Ruesha Littlejohn and Katie Keane from his squad.
Rovers announced on Monday morning that 91-cap Ireland midfielder Littlejohn would leave after three months with the Hoops, a mutual agreement allowing her to pursue full-time football opportunities outside of Ireland during the July transfer window.
Teenage goalkeeper Keane, meanwhile, is set for a move to England’s WSL, as confirmed by Rovers. The Irish Independent reported last week that the 18-year-old has signed for Leicester City.
Katie Keane (file photo). Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
In a statement released on his personal X account, Rovers boss O’Neill commended the efforts of both women during their respective spells with The Hoops but described the Women’s Premier Division as being “a million miles off” the standard required to retain players of Littlejohn and Keane’s ilk.
O’Neill warned that without further investment and care, Ireland’s domestic top flight would continue to bleed its brightest talents to “leagues and organisations that treat the women’s game with the seriousness it deserves”.
“Both Ruesha and Katie were top professionals — on and off the pitch,” O’Neill said. “Their attitude, commitment, and professionalism were a credit to themselves and to Shamrock Rovers.
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“We would have loved to keep them, but the reality is simple: players of their calibre deserve to be playing full-time, top-level football.
“That’s not something Ireland can offer right now. We’re a million miles off it. Until there’s real investment and proper structures in place, we’ll keep losing talent to leagues and organisations that treat the women’s game with the seriousness it deserves.”
Ireland veteran Littlejohn joined Rovers in March, bringing huge excitement to the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, where she produced a highlight reel of goals, including one from the halfway line.
The 34-year-old on Monday became the latest Irish international in the market for a new club, joining Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Megan Campbell, Izzy Atkinson and Grace Moloney as a free agent.
Meath native Keane, meanwhile, has risen to prominence in recent years, from Shelbourne to Athlone Town to Rovers, and with Ireland underage teams.
She starred at last summer’s Uefa U19 European Championships and has been involved in senior camps.
The departures of Littlejohn and Keane are a blow to Rovers, who sit fifth in the league table. The Hoops progressed in the FAI Cup over the weekend following a 3-1 win over Waterford FC.
An official club statement bidding farewell to each player read: “Shamrock Rovers FC can confirm the departures of Katie Keane and Ruesha Littlejohn from our women’s first team squad.
“Katie, who joined the club ahead of the 2025 season, will complete a permanent transfer to the Women’s Super League in England.
“Ruesha, who became a Hoop in March of this year, is also set to move on. The club and Ruesha had a mutual agreement in place, allowing her to pursue full-time football opportunities outside of Ireland during the July transfer window.
“We would like to thank both Katie and Ruesha for their contributions to Shamrock Rovers over the past number of months and wish them every success in their future careers.”
***
In Men’s Premier Division news, Sligo Rovers will host League One side Mansfield Town in a mid-season friendly at the Showgrounds on Tuesday, 15 July [KO 7.30pm].
Nigel Clough’s Manfield are making a four-day visit to Ireland as part of preparations for the new season, which gets underway in August. They will undertake a training camp in Galway and play the Bit O’Red, John Russell’s side facing Dundalk in the FAI Cup three days later.
- First published 10.32am, updated at 1.30pm with Sligo Rovers news and again at 2:58pm with statement from Collie O’Neill.
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Shamrock Rovers boss calls for 'real investment' in domestic game as Littlejohn and Keane depart
LAST UPDATE | 30 Jun
SHAMROCK ROVERS HEAD coach Collie O’Neill has called for “real investment and proper structures” to be implemented in women’s domestic football in Ireland following the departures of Ruesha Littlejohn and Katie Keane from his squad.
Rovers announced on Monday morning that 91-cap Ireland midfielder Littlejohn would leave after three months with the Hoops, a mutual agreement allowing her to pursue full-time football opportunities outside of Ireland during the July transfer window.
Teenage goalkeeper Keane, meanwhile, is set for a move to England’s WSL, as confirmed by Rovers. The Irish Independent reported last week that the 18-year-old has signed for Leicester City.
In a statement released on his personal X account, Rovers boss O’Neill commended the efforts of both women during their respective spells with The Hoops but described the Women’s Premier Division as being “a million miles off” the standard required to retain players of Littlejohn and Keane’s ilk.
O’Neill warned that without further investment and care, Ireland’s domestic top flight would continue to bleed its brightest talents to “leagues and organisations that treat the women’s game with the seriousness it deserves”.
“Both Ruesha and Katie were top professionals — on and off the pitch,” O’Neill said. “Their attitude, commitment, and professionalism were a credit to themselves and to Shamrock Rovers.
“We would have loved to keep them, but the reality is simple: players of their calibre deserve to be playing full-time, top-level football.
“That’s not something Ireland can offer right now. We’re a million miles off it. Until there’s real investment and proper structures in place, we’ll keep losing talent to leagues and organisations that treat the women’s game with the seriousness it deserves.”
Ireland veteran Littlejohn joined Rovers in March, bringing huge excitement to the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division, where she produced a highlight reel of goals, including one from the halfway line.
The 34-year-old on Monday became the latest Irish international in the market for a new club, joining Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne, Megan Campbell, Izzy Atkinson and Grace Moloney as a free agent.
Meath native Keane, meanwhile, has risen to prominence in recent years, from Shelbourne to Athlone Town to Rovers, and with Ireland underage teams.
She starred at last summer’s Uefa U19 European Championships and has been involved in senior camps.
The departures of Littlejohn and Keane are a blow to Rovers, who sit fifth in the league table. The Hoops progressed in the FAI Cup over the weekend following a 3-1 win over Waterford FC.
An official club statement bidding farewell to each player read: “Shamrock Rovers FC can confirm the departures of Katie Keane and Ruesha Littlejohn from our women’s first team squad.
“Katie, who joined the club ahead of the 2025 season, will complete a permanent transfer to the Women’s Super League in England.
“Ruesha, who became a Hoop in March of this year, is also set to move on. The club and Ruesha had a mutual agreement in place, allowing her to pursue full-time football opportunities outside of Ireland during the July transfer window.
“We would like to thank both Katie and Ruesha for their contributions to Shamrock Rovers over the past number of months and wish them every success in their future careers.”
***
In Men’s Premier Division news, Sligo Rovers will host League One side Mansfield Town in a mid-season friendly at the Showgrounds on Tuesday, 15 July [KO 7.30pm].
Nigel Clough’s Manfield are making a four-day visit to Ireland as part of preparations for the new season, which gets underway in August. They will undertake a training camp in Galway and play the Bit O’Red, John Russell’s side facing Dundalk in the FAI Cup three days later.
- First published 10.32am, updated at 1.30pm with Sligo Rovers news and again at 2:58pm with statement from Collie O’Neill.
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Football Katie Keane Moving On? ruesha littlejohn Shamrock Rovers Soccer Women's Premier Division