Ronan Maher (footballer)

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

Ronan Maher
Personal information
Full name Ronan Arjun Maher[1]
Date of birth (2004-12-30) 30 December 2004[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)

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]

Personal life

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

Career statistics
As of match played 7 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Walsall 2022–23[14]EFL League Two10010202[lower-alpha 1]0150
2023–24[15]EFL League Two3000112[lower-alpha 1]061
Walsall total 130103140211
Rushall Olympic 2023–24National League North25420—7[lower-alpha 2]4348
Career total 3843031114559
  1. Includes appearance/s in the EFL Trophy
  2. Includes appearance/s in the Staffordshire Senior Cup and Walsall Senior Cup

Honours

Rushall Olympic

References
  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.
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