Former Bristol Rovers striker Rory Gaffney has been named the PFA Ireland Player of the Year after a season in which he’s scored 15 goals in all competitions for Shamrock Rovers, to fire them for the title and also edge himself into international consideration.
Gaffney remains a much-loved figure in north Bristol after an eventful two-and-a-half years in blue and white, starting with a prolific loan stint in which he scored five goals in seven games before the move from Cambridge United became permanent and he was part of the promotion drive under Darrell Clarke.
The flame-haired striker scored some important goals - most notably braces against Leyton Orient and Luton and then an equaliser against Yeovil Town in the 2015/16 campaign which culminated in Lee Brown’s winner at the Mem - but also grew a bond with Gasheads due to his hard work off the ball.
Gaffney found the net 29 times for the Gas in 120 appearances before departing for Salford City in 2018.
After two years in the north west, and a loan spell at Walsall, again linking up with Clarke, he returned to his native Ireland and has enjoyed the most productive period of his career, scoring 21 goals in 83 appearances for Shamrock and claiming back-to-back League of Ireland titles, including this year’s which was sealed in 2022.
On Sunday night, the 33-year-old was honoured by his fellow professionals at an awards ceremony in Dublin with Gaffney also on standby for the Republic of Ireland squad.
“It’s the ultimate honour as a player to be recognised by all the other lads in the league as one of the best performers,” said Gaffney. “I don’t think you can get any better recognition from the players in the league than to be nominated.
“Out of all the strikers that they’ve come up against this year, they’ve basically said I’ve been the best one. It’s the ultimate compliment.”
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