Shamrock Rovers snap up Salford City striker Rory Gaffney

Shamrock Rovers have announced the signing of Salford City striker Rory Gaffney.

The 30 year old had been with the Ammies since 2018 and helped the side win promotion into he Football League last season.

“I’m really happy to get Rory in,” Rovers manager Stephen Bradley told the club’s website.

“It’s something myself and Stephen McPhail have been working on and thankfully we managed to get it done.

“Rory obviously knows about the League from having played in it and watched it from afar over the years.

“He had another year on his contract left so when I spoke to him he was very interested. He knew a lot about our group so when we spoke he was very keen to get it done.”

Bradley has the advantage of having played with Gaffney while the pair were at Limerick several years ago.

“Rory is a player I know really well having played with him a few years back at Limerick. I think he fits the way we play and fits as a person as well, so he ticks all the right boxes for us. Rory will score goals for us, there’s no doubt about that.

“I’ve played with him so I know what he’s like and what his movements are like. He suits the way we play and he has all the attributes to score goals for us.

“If you look all over the squad there’s really strong competition and I think Rory along with Aaron, Graham and Dean gives us good options up the top end of the pitch.”

A native of Tuam, Gaffney began his career with Mervue United in the League of Ireland First Division in 2009.

The striker made the move to Limerick in 2011. During his time with Limerick the club won the First Division in 2012— during the 2014 Premier Division season Gaffney netted 14 times earning a move to League 2 side Cambridge United.

A loan spell with Bristol Rovers during the 2015/16 season led to a permanent move with Gaffney helping the club win promotion to League 1.

He departed Salford at the start of the season on a loan spell with Walsall.