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Ronan Maher (footballer)

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Ronan Maher
Personal information
Full name Ronan Arjun Maher[1]
Date of birth (2004-12-30) 30 December 2004 (age 19)[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Walsall
Number 16
Youth career
2011–2015 West Bromwich Albion
2015–2022 Walsall
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Walsall 13 (0)
2023–Rushall Olympic (loan) 25 (4)
International career
2022– Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:00, 7 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 24 September 2022 (UTC)

Ronan Arjun Maher (born 30 December 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League Two club Walsall. Born in England, he represents the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Club career

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Maher played futsal at an early age, and played football at West Bromwich Albion for four years before being released at under-11 level.[3] He then joined Walsall at the age of eleven and was the under-18 team's top-scorer during the 2021–22 campaign.[4] He made his first-team debut on the opening day of the 2022–23 season on 30 July 2022, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over Hartlepool United at the Bescot Stadium.[5] He signed a three-year professional contract the following month.[6]

He scored his first professional goal for Walsall on 8 August 2023 in a 3–4 EFL Cup first round defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.[7]

On 25 August 2023, Maher signed for National League North side Rushall Olympic on a youth loan until 6 January 2024.[8] Maher made his debut for The Pics on the following day in a 1–1 draw with Banbury United.[9]

International career

[edit]

Maher made his debut for the Republic of Ireland under-19 team in a 6–0 win over Gibraltar on 21 September 2022.[10] He started in the following game, a 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification match with Wales, which ended in a 2–0 victory for the Irish.[11] Walsall manager Michael Flynn said that he was "very proud of Ronan".[12]

Personal life

[edit]

Born in England, Maher is of Irish and Indian descent.[13]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 7 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Walsall 2022–23[14] EFL League Two 10 0 1 0 2 0 2[a] 0 15 0
2023–24[15] EFL League Two 3 0 0 0 1 1 2[a] 0 6 1
Walsall total 13 0 1 0 3 1 4 0 21 1
Rushall Olympic 2023–24 National League North 25 4 2 0 7[b] 4 34 8
Career total 38 4 3 0 3 1 11 4 55 9
  1. ^ a b Includes appearance/s in the EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Includes appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup and Walsall Senior Cup

Honours

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Rushall Olympic

References

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  1. ^ "EFL – Squad List 2023/24: Walsall – Under 21 Contract players" (PDF). English Football League. p. 143. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  2. ^ Ronan Maher at Soccerway
  3. ^ "Ronan Maher speaks to Saddlers Shout". www.saddlers.co.uk. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  4. ^ Edwards, Joe (19 August 2022). "Walsall hand Ronan Maher first professional contract". Express and Star. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Walsall 4-0 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Ronan Maher signs first professional contract". www.saddlers.co.uk. 19 August 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Walsall". BBC Sport. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Ronan Maher joins Rushall Olympic on loan". www.saddlers.co.uk. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  9. ^ "FIRST-TEAM 1-1 BANBURY UNITED". www.rofc.co.uk. 26 August 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Watch as Walsall's Ronan Maher Starts for Ireland Under-19s". www.bescotbanter.net. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Maher enjoys fruitful week on international duty". www.saddlers.co.uk. 29 September 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  12. ^ Edwards, Joe (29 September 2022). "Michael Flynn proud of Walsall youngster Ronan Maher's international call-up". Express and Star. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  13. ^ "British South Asians in football: Who makes it into the 2022/23 Team of the Season?". Sky Sports. 14 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  16. ^ "Pics boss full of pride following cup final triumph". Express & Star. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  17. ^ "Chasetown beaten by Rushall Olympic in Walsall Senior Cup final". Lichfield Live. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.