Ger Rowe

Gerard Rowe (born 3 August 1984 in Dublin) is an Irish professional footballer currently playing for Crumlin United in the Leinster Senior League (association football).

Rowe signed for Sunderland after impressing in the Milk Cup but after two and a half years, he returned home to sign for Shelbourne where he made his League of Ireland debut against Shamrock Rovers on 2 September 2002. However that was his only appearance that season and so he was sent on loan at the end of the season to Crusaders.

He returned to Shels shortly after for the beginning of the 2003 season and made 12 appearances as the Reds captured the Premier Division title. Rowe played a bigger role in retaining that crown 12 months later when he made 17 appearances and scored three goals and also representing his country in a Four Nations Tournament in Scotland in May 2004.

He left Shels to join Saint Patrick's Athletic on-loan ahead of the 2005 campaign. At Richmond Park, Rowe scored four goals in 26 league appearances before, after leaving the Saints and being released by Shels, he found his way to Ballymena United for a spell during the 2005/06 season. After one goal in 13 outings, Ger returned to the League of Ireland in July 2006 when he was snapped up by Pat Scully to aid Shamrock Rovers’ First Division title assault.

It proved a shrewd move by Scully as Rowe scored on his debut against Athlone Town before going on to net a further six in 13 more outings as the Hoops narrowly held off the challenge of Dundalk by a single point – although the margin of victory was lessened after the Dublin club were deducted three points for playing the suspended Paul Shiels against the Lilywhites earlier that season. Rowe remained on for Rovers’ return to the Premier Division after a one-season absence and scored six times in 29 appearances as the club finished a respectable fifth after threatening to derail Drogheda United's title charge for long periods before they tailed off towards the end of the campaign.

Rowe then looked set for a second full season with Rovers but he placed himself on the transfer list on 15 January 2007 before being taken off it 16 days later

However, the want-away striker finally got his wish in February 2008 when he was snapped up by Bray Wanderers' manager Eddie Gormley. He was an ever-present for the Carlisle Grounds outfit, appearing in 30 of their 33 league games and scoring four goals. However, he was released from the club at the end of the season after they finished an eye-catching sixth. Rowe also scored against Leeds United in a friendly on 20/7/20008. His goal helped Bray race in into a 2-0 lead before half time, but Bray eventually lost 3-2. His release sparked interest from Bohemians, who had previously chased the striker, and he spent pre-season there with his former boss Fenlon.

However, despite still training with the squad when their season kicked off away to Dundalk, the money was not available to offer Ger a contract and he left. Eventually, he ended up in Vietnam where he spent a week at TT Ha Noi, however, after being unimpressed with the setup there he returned home to Ireland and took up Sean Connor’s offer to join Dundalk. He made his debut for the Lilywhites when he entered as a second-half substitute in the 2–1 defeat by Cork City at Oriel Park on 17 April 2009 while his first start came a fortnight later in the 5–0 loss at Bohemians. He scored his first club goal in a 3–0 home win over Bray Wanderers on 5 June. Ger was also, incidentally, capped by the Republic of Ireland under-23 team three times in the past two years while he has also been capped at under-16 level.

Rowe signed for Newry City in February 2010 and made his debut at his old club Ballymena.

Honours

• League of Ireland: 2
  • Shelbourne – 2003, 2004
• League of Ireland First Division
  • Shamrock Rovers – 2006