Niamh Farrelly
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Niamh Farrelly
| image =
| caption =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1999|4|15}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland{{cite news |last1=Hannigan |first1=Mary |title=Girls in green: meet the Irish women's soccer team |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/girls-in-green-meet-the-irish-women-s-soccer-team-1.4359522 |accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=19 September 2020}}
| height =
| position = Defender, midfielder
| currentclub = London City Lionesses
| clubnumber = 71
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs1 = Esker Celtic
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}
| youthclubs2 = Peamount United
| years1 = 2015–2020
| clubs1 = Peamount United
| caps1 =
| goals1 =
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = Glasgow City
| caps2 =
| goals2 =
| years3 = 2022–2023
| clubs3 = Parma
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = London City Lionesses
| caps4 = 11
| goals4 = 1
| nationalyears1 = 2019–
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| pcupdate = 11:22, 26 November 2022 (UTC)
| ntupdate = 22 September 2021
}}
Niamh Farrelly (born 15 April 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Barclays Women's Championship Womens Championship side London City Lionesses. She previously played for Glasgow City of the Scottish Women's Premier League, who she joined from Peamount United of the Women's National League (WNL). In 2019 she made her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She can play in either the centre of defence or in midfield.{{cite news |last1=Dalton |first1=Gavin |title=Farrelly cherishes stellar season |url=https://www.echo.ie/sport/article/farrelly-cherishes-stellar-season |accessdate=20 November 2020 |publisher=Echo.ie |date=19 April 2019 |quote=Farrelly, a versatile player, comfortable operating in the centre of midfield and defence, puts last season’s success down to good timing and extra work behind the scenes.}}
Club career
Farrelly is from Lucan, Dublin and she learned to play street football alongside her brother. An Arsenal FC supporter, she spent one season with Esker Celtic playing in the Dublin and District Schoolboys'/girls' League (DDSL) before moving to Peamount United. She also played Gaelic football for the youth system of Lucan Sarsfields GAA, before deciding to focus on soccer.{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Emma |title='He told me that I was Ireland captain and then the Debs went out the window!' |url=https://www.the42.ie/niamh-farrelly-ireland-u19-player-of-the-year-feature-4554497-Mar2019/ |accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=The42.ie |date=21 March 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Hegarty |first1=Aron |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://eskerceltic.ie/hall-of-fame/ |accessdate=7 November 2020 |publisher=Esker Celtic F.C. |date=28 June 2020}}
In September 2015 Farrelly made her debut for Peamount United's first team in a 4–2 WNL Shield win over Castlebar Celtic.{{cite web |title=Niamh Farrelly |url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11121349/niamh_farrelly/ |publisher=Extratime.com |accessdate=6 November 2020}}{{cite web |title=Congrats to our WNL on their first win of the season v Castlebar Celtic |url=http://www.peamount.com/wnl-first-win-of-the-season-against-castlebar-celtic/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018073349/http://www.peamount.com/wnl-first-win-of-the-season-against-castlebar-celtic/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2016 |publisher=Peamount United F.C. |accessdate=6 November 2020 }} She enjoyed good form in the 2018 Women's National League, being named WNL Player of the Month for September 2018{{cite news |title=Farrelly named September Player of the Month |url=https://wnl.fai.ie/news/1009-farrelly-named-september-player-of-the-month.html |accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=Women's National League (Ireland) |date=31 October 2018 |archive-date=15 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815053521/https://wnl.fai.ie/news/1009-farrelly-named-september-player-of-the-month.html |url-status=dead }} and named in the Team of the Season.{{cite web|url=http://wnl.fai.ie/news/1012-rianna-jarrett-wins-2018-player-of-the-year.html|publisher=Continental Tyres Women's National League|date=9 November 2018|language=|accessdate=2 January 2019|title=Rianna Jarrett wins 2018 Player of the Year|archive-date=21 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121150228/https://wnl.fai.ie/news/1012-rianna-jarrett-wins-2018-player-of-the-year.html|url-status=dead}} She was part of the team as "The Peas" secured the 2019 Women's National League title.{{cite news |title=Peamount crush Cork to claim National League title |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2019/1026/1085865-peamount-crush-cork-to-claim-national-league-title/ |accessdate=7 November 2020 |publisher=RTÉ Sport |date=27 October 2019}}
After helping Peamount United secure a League and Cup "double" in their 2020 campaign, Farrelly signed a three-year professional contract with Scottish Women's Premier League club Glasgow City in December 2020.{{cite news |title=Niamh Farrelly: Glasgow City sign Republic of Ireland defender |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55366007 |access-date=19 December 2020 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 December 2020}} She had played in the teams' UEFA Women's Champions League fixture the previous month.{{cite news |last1=Russell |first1=Adrian |title=Niamh Farrelly makes switch to Glasgow City from Peamount |url=https://www.the42.ie/niamh-farrelly-glasgow-city-5304589-Dec2020/ |access-date=19 December 2020 |work=The42.ie |publisher=TheJournal.ie |date=18 December 2020}} The transfer was scheduled to complete with the opening of the transfer window on 2 January 2021, and Farrelly was assigned City's number 17 jersey.{{cite news |title=City sign Irish International defender Niamh Farrelly |url=https://www.glasgowcityfc.co.uk/latest/city-sign-irish-international-defender-niamh-farrelly |access-date=19 December 2020 |publisher=Glasgow City F.C. |date=18 December 2020}}
On her professional debut Farrelly scored a goal and was named Player of the Match in a 3–0 win over Celtic in April 2021. She also scored in both of her next two matches with the club to help secure the 2020–21 Scottish Women's Premier League title.{{cite news |last1=Dalton |first1=Gavin |title=Niamh Farrelly Flourishing In Glasgow |url=https://www.hersport.ie/soccer/niamh-farrelly-flourishing-in-glasgow-28501 |access-date=3 July 2022 |publisher=Her Sport |date=1 June 2021}} In February 2022 Farrelly was criticised for a dangerous foul on Celtic's Chloe Craig which left both players injured.{{cite news |last1=Fulton |first1=Matthew |title=Celtic women's star suffers horror challenge in brutal footage as tackle branded 'the worst I've ever seen' |url=https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/sport/football/celtic-womens-star-suffers-horror-26203793 |access-date=3 July 2022 |publisher=Daily Express |date=11 February 2022}} Glasgow City announced that Farrelly was among seven players to leave the deposed Scottish champions in June 2022.{{cite news |title=Glasgow City FC: Squad update |url=https://www.glasgowcityfc.co.uk/latest/2022/6/16/glasgow-city-fc-squad-update |access-date=3 July 2022 |publisher=Glasgow City F.C. |date=17 June 2022}}
In July 2022 Farrelly announced that she had signed for newly formed Parma, of the Italian Serie A.{{cite news |title=Ireland international Niamh Farrelly completes Serie A move to Parma |url=https://www.the42.ie/niamh-farrelly-parma-5830579-Aug2022/ |access-date=20 August 2022 |work=The42.ie |publisher=TheJournal.ie |date=1 August 2022}} Although Farrelly had been happy during her 18 months in Glasgow, she accepted the move to Italy because she wanted to test herself in a different culture.{{cite news |last1=Hannigan |first1=Mary |title=Niamh Farrelly: 'We get what the men get, there's real ambition here' |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2022/08/25/niamh-farrelly-we-get-what-the-men-get-theres-real-ambition-here/ |access-date=27 August 2022 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=25 August 2022}}
On 16 August 2023 it was announced that Farrelly would join London City Lionesses on a one-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.londoncitylionesses.com/post/london-city-lionesses-sign-republic-of-ireland-midfielder-niamh-farrelly/|title=London City Lionesses sign Republic of Ireland midfielder Niamh Farrelly|date=16 August 2023|website=Lionesses}}
International career
=Youth=
Farrelly represented Ireland at schoolgirl level while she attended St. Joseph's College, Lucan.{{cite web |title=Niamh Farrelly |url=http://www.faischools.ie/national/players/girls-international/niamh-farrelly |accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=FAI Schools}} She represented the Republic of Ireland women's national under-17 football team in the 2015 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification mini tournament in Serbia, but was disappointed to be dropped from the squad for the final tournament. Spurred on by that rejection, she missed her Debs to train with the Republic of Ireland women's national under-19 football team and was then appointed captain at the higher age group. At the FAI International Football Awards she was named 2018 Under-19 Women's International Player of the Year.{{cite news |title=Farrelly's star continues to rise |url=https://dublingazette.com/sport/farrellys-star-continues-to-rise/ |accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=Dublin Gazette |date=28 March 2019}}
While enrolled at Dublin City University, Farrelly represented Ireland at the 2019 Summer Universiade.{{cite web |title=Match Report Irl v Bra 3:0 |url=https://results.universiade2019napoli.it/assets/pdf/FBLWTEAM11------------GPC-000100--_73%201.0.pdf |publisher=2019 Summer Universiade |accessdate=6 November 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715100344/https://results.universiade2019napoli.it/assets/pdf/FBLWTEAM11------------GPC-000100--_73%201.0.pdf |archivedate=15 July 2019 |date=2 July 2019}}
=Senior=
In August 2016 Ireland coach Susan Ronan named Farrelly in a young and predominantly home-based senior squad for a training camp in Wales.{{cite news |last1=Blake |first1=Ben |title=Youth given a chance to impress as 9 new faces named in Ireland senior women's squad |url=https://www.the42.ie/ireland-senior-womens-squad-sue-ronan-2933517-Aug2016/ |accessdate=7 November 2020 |publisher=The42.ie |date=17 August 2016}}{{cite news |title=Sue Ronan names Wales training camp squad |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/sue-ronan-names-wales-training-camp-squad |accessdate=7 November 2020 |publisher=Football Association of Ireland |date=16 August 2016}} She did not feature in either of the scheduled challenge matches against the Welsh hosts.{{cite news |title=Young Ireland hold Wales in stalemate |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/young-ireland-hold-wales-in-stalemate |accessdate=7 November 2020 |publisher=Football Association of Ireland |date=20 August 2016}}{{cite news |title=Video: Late McCabe double secures victory over Wales |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/video-late-mccabe-double-secures-victory-over-wales |accessdate=7 November 2020 |publisher=Football Association of Ireland |date=21 August 2016}} Ronan's successor as national team coach Colin Bell called up Farrelly for the first time as a late replacement in the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying fixture away to European Champions the Netherlands in November 2017. She was not included in the match day squad for Ireland's encouraging 0–0 draw, but took heart from the experience.
She won her first senior cap in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Belgium, staged in Murcia, Spain, on 20 January 2019. She was an 86th-minute substitute for Claire O'Riordan who had a head injury.{{cite news |title=Ireland WNT: Young side succumb to Belgian defeat |url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/55501/2018/999944966?tab=report|accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=Football Association of Ireland |date=20 January 2019}} In August 2019 she started a 3–0 friendly defeat by the United States at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, and was complimented on her performance by interim manager Tom O'Connor: "Niamh Farrelly and Jess Gargan were excellent, they didn't look out of sync at all".{{cite news |title=World champions USA prove too strong for Ireland as victory tour kicks off |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/world-champions-usa-prove-too-strong-for-ireland-as-victory-tour-kicks-off-38372809.html |accessdate=6 November 2020 |publisher=Irish Independent |date=4 August 2019}}
=International appearances=
| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |
| scope="col" | National team
!scope="col" | Year | scope="col"| Apps |
|---|---|
| rowspan="2"|Republic of Ireland
|scope="row"| 2019 | 2 |
| scope="row"| 2021 | 2 |
| colspan="2"|Total | 4 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{UEFA player|250079078}}
- {{Soccerway|niamh-farrelly/385395}}
{{London City Lionesses squad}}
{{FAI Under-19 Women's International Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farrelly, Niamh}}
Category:Ladies' Gaelic footballers who switched code
Category:Republic of Ireland women's association footballers
Category:Women's association football midfielders
Category:Peamount United F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland Women's Premier Division players
Category:Association footballers from County Dublin
Category:Republic of Ireland women's international footballers
Category:People from Lucan, Dublin
Category:Sportspeople from South Dublin (county)
Category:Republic of Ireland expatriate women's association footballers
Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Scotland
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Scottish Women's Premier League players
Category:Glasgow City F.C. players
Category:Republic of Ireland women's youth international footballers
Category:Expatriate women's footballers in Italy
Category:Serie A (women's football) players
Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in Italy