Ronan Maher (footballer)

Ronan Arjun Maher (born 30 December 2004) is an English-born Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for National League North club Rushall Olympic, on loan from Walsall.

Ronan Maher
Personal information
Full name Ronan Arjun Maher[1]
Date of birth (2004-12-30) 30 December 2004[2]
Place of birth Birmingham
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 10 (0)
2023– → Rushall Olympic (loan) 3 (0)
International career‡
2022– Republic of Ireland U19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:00, 4 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 24 September 2022 (UTC)

Club career

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

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]

Career statistics
As of match played 2 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 2022–23[13]EFL League Two10010202[lower-alpha 1]0150
2023–24[14]EFL League Two0000111[lower-alpha 1]021
Walsall total 100103130171
Rushall Olympic 2023–24National League North3000000030
Career total 130103130201
  1. Includes appearance/s in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. "Club List of Registered Players" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  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. "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  14. "Games played by Ronan Maher in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
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