Two Irish female soccer stars, Aine O’Gorman and Karen Duggan, announced their retirement last week following the final round of games in this season’s Women’s Premier Division on Saturday.
The pair played together for Peamount United, UCD Waves, and the Republic of Ireland. O’Gorman, who has been at Shamrock Rovers for the last three years, earned 119 caps with the Girls in Green over an 18-year period. She retired from international duty after the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The 36-year-old Wicklow native sits fourth on the all-time appearance list for the women’s national team.
O’Gorman was one of only two League of Ireland players in Vera Pauw’s squad at the World Cup, alongside her then clubmate at Shamrock Rovers, Abbie Larkin. Domestically, O’Gorman enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Peamount, lifting two League of Ireland titles in 2019 and 2020, and two FAI Women’s Cups in 2010 and 2020. She scored over 200 league goals in the LOI across spells with Peamount, DLR Waves, and three seasons with Shamrock Rovers.
Karen Duggan, aged 34, was capped 35 times for Ireland. A natural leader, she started her career at Peamount United but, along with O’Gorman and manager Eileen Gleeson, moved to UCD Waves (now known as DLR Waves) in 2014. Duggan returned to Peamount in 2018, where she remained until her retirement. She won four league titles with Peamount and one FAI Cup.
—
**Champagne Still on Ice for Shamrock Rovers**
The champagne is still on ice for Shamrock Rovers after they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night — the only League of Ireland game played over the weekend.
Rovers needed just a point to clinch their 22nd League of Ireland title, but a goal from Kerr McInroy gave Shelbourne all three points, improving their chances of European football next season.
The Hoops now travel to Inchicore on Friday, where they will be hoping for at least a point against St Patrick’s Athletic to secure the title.
Meanwhile, Dundalk claimed the First Division title and will return to the Premier Division for their 100th anniversary in the League of Ireland. The County Louth club was founded in 1919 and joined the League in 1926.
—
**UEFA Not Keen on Overseas Domestic Games**
UEFA has reluctantly approved the staging of two domestic league games overseas but says it will work to ensure this does not set a precedent.
Barcelona and Villarreal are seeking to play their December LaLiga game in Miami, while AC Milan and Como want to stage their Serie A encounter in Perth, Australia next February.
The UEFA executive committee delayed a decision last month and reports widespread lack of support for the concept following consultations. However, UEFA felt compelled to approve these two requests due to the absence of a “clear and detailed” regulatory framework, which FIFA is still in the process of finalising.
The final decision on these matches, strongly opposed by Football Supporters Europe, will now pass to FIFA.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said:
“League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions. Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns.”
The English Premier League has confirmed it will not follow La Liga and Serie A in relocating domestic fixtures overseas.
—
**Funding Boost for Clubs with Academies**
In last week’s Irish budget, Finance Ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers confirmed that League of Ireland clubs with an Academy will receive €3 million annually to invest in youth soccer.
Importantly, the funds will be distributed by Sport Ireland rather than the FAI.
Meanwhile, Derry City have announced they will join Irish League club Crusaders in launching legal proceedings to challenge both clubs’ exclusion from Stage 2 of the Northern Ireland Football Fund process.
The highly anticipated fund aims to improve sporting stadia and infrastructure in Northern Ireland and was approved last January when the Northern Ireland Executive announced that clubs could apply for a share of just over £36 million.
—
**Dinny Lowry, 90**
Also last week, the football community mourned the passing of Dinny Lowry, the former goalkeeper for St Patrick’s Athletic, Bohemians, and Sligo Rovers, who died aged 90.
Born in Crumlin, Lowry began his career with local club Bulfin United before joining St Patrick’s Athletic in 1952. He spent 17 seasons with the Inchicore club, winning two League titles and two FAI Cup medals with the Saints.
Lowry later won an FAI Cup medal with Bohemians when they defeated Sligo Rovers after a second replay in 1970.
A regular on League of Ireland representative teams, Lowry earned an Irish senior cap when he came on as a substitute for the injured Alan Kelly in a friendly against Austria at Dalymount Park in April 1962.
After retiring as a player, Lowry worked as a goalkeeping coach with Shamrock Rovers, contributing to the development of future generations in Irish football.
—
*End of update.*
https://www.irishecho.com/2025/10/duggan-o-gorman-retire