*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:24, 4 September 2024 (UTC)
Ronan Finn (born 21 December 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland First Division side UCD, where he is also club captain. Across a playing career spanning nearly 20 years, he has turned out for UCD (over 2 spells), Sporting Fingal, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers (over 2 spells). Having made over 50 appearances in European competition, Finn competed in the group stages of the Europa League with both Shamrock Rovers (2011) and Dundalk (2016).[1][2]
Club career
Finn began his youth career at Cambridge United, spending eight months with their youth team in 2004–05.[3] Due to a requirement that he had to finish school in Ireland, he would fly from Dublin to Cambridge after school on Fridays, play a game on Saturday and fly straight back home. Finn scored on his FA Youth Cup debut in a 3–1 victory over Mansfield Town.[4] As the demands to fly over became more frequent from Cambridge United youth manager Ricky Duncan, Finn decided to end his time with the club to instead focus on his education.[3]
UCD
Finn was signed by UCD in 2005 and went straight into the under-21 team. He was a member of the side that won a second straight Dr. Tony O'Neill Under-21 League Championship, scoring the winning goal in the final against Shelbourne. His impressive displays earned him a call-up to the first-team squad towards the end of the season. He made his League of Ireland debut for UCD in a 1–0 defeat against Longford Town in November 2005. He made his home debut the following week on 18 November against Shamrock Rovers, again as a substitute, and also scored his first senior goal in this fixture.
Finn started the 2006 season back in the under-21s. He regularly began to make the match day squad at the beginning of June, making a couple of brief substitute appearances. However, he got his chance to impress when he was handed his first senior start away to Sligo Rovers in August and was named the man-of-the-match in this game. He became a regular name on U.C.D. manager Pete Mahon's teamsheet for the remainder of the season. Finn made his FAI Cup debut in the third round against Limerick and scored his first goals of the season in this game, scoring twice in a 3–1 win. His displays did not go unnoticed, and he was nominated for the PFAIYoung Player of the Year award and also won the UCD Supporters' New Player of the Yea.
Finn secured his place as a regular in centre midfield in 2007. He forged a partnership with fellow Irish under-21 international Shane McFaul, which helping UCD reach the semi-finals of both the League and FAI Cups.
With the retirement of Tony McDonnell and the departure of Shane McFaul in 2008, Finn became one of the most experienced central midfielders at the club and formed a new partnership with Alan McNally in the centre. He began the 2008 season in good form in the opening games against Derry City and Bray Wanderers. However, UCD struggled as the season went on and was eventually relegated after finishing bottom of the Premier Division.
Following relegation, UCD lost almost all of its first-team squad but Finn decided to remain to complete his degree in Sports Management at the university. Finn was handed the captaincy of this squad by Martin Russell who led them to promotion and the 2009 First Division title.[5] He was subsequently named the PFAI First Division Player of the Year for 2009.[6]
On 10 February 2011 the directors of Sporting Fingal confirmed that the club withdrew its application for a licence from the FAI to participate in the 2011 Airtricity League season.[9] This decision was made after funding targets integral to the club's continued existence were not reached during the off-season. After their demise, Finn became a free agent.
He made his League debut for the club in the opening night win over Dundalk[11] and helped them win the Setanta Sports Cup by beating Dundalk 2–0 in the final.
In December 2014, Finn signed a two-year deal with Dundalk, linking up with his former boss at Shamrock Rovers, Stephen Kenny.[13] He won the league and cup double at the club in 2015. Following the departure of Richie Towell in December 2015, Finn was played in a more advanced position.[14] His form in this role and a hat-trick against Longford Town on 9 April[15] led to him being named the SWAI League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month for the first time in his career in April 2016.[16] Finn played in all 6 of Dundalk's UEFA Champions League qualifying matches as they reached the play-off stage.[17]
Shamrock Rovers return
In December 2016, Finn returned to Shamrock Rovers. On 31 March 2017, he scored his first league goal since his return to the club, in a 3–2 win against Finn Harps at Tallaght Stadium.
Finn holds the record for the most European appearances by a League of Ireland player (63) [18]
On 2 November 2023, Finn announced that he would be returning to his first senior club UCD, despite an offer of a contract extension from Shamrock Rovers, in order to combine football with a two-year Masters’ course in Sports Management at the University.[20]
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