Shane Blaney (born 20 January 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish Premiership club Motherwell.

Shane Blaney
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-01-20) 20 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth Letterkenny, Ireland
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
Motherwell
Number 20
Youth career
Finn Harps
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Finn Harps 3 (0)
2018–2020 Doncaster Rovers 0 (0)
2018Tamworth (loan)
2018Grantham Town (loan) 4 (0)
2020Blyth Spartans (loan) 1 (0)
2021–2022 Sligo Rovers 37 (1)
2023– Motherwell 36 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:23, 15 December 2024 (UTC)

Early and personal life

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Blaney was born in Letterkenny.[1]

Career

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Finn Harps

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Blaney began his career with Finn Harps, captaining their under-17 team and also playing for their under-19 team.[2] He made his senior debut in the 2017 season, making 3 League of Ireland appearances.[1] He signed a new contract for the 2018 season in December 2017.[2]

Doncaster Rovers

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He turned professional in January 2018 after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with English club Doncaster Rovers in January 2018.[3][4][5] He moved on loan to Tamworth in July 2018 for an intended six months.[6] He returned sooner and then moved on loan to Grantham Town in October 2018 for a month,[7] making four appearances in all competitions.[8] Blaney signed for Blyth Spartans on loan in February 2020.[9] He was released by Doncaster at the end of the 2019–20 season.[10]

Sligo Rovers

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He signed for Sligo Rovers for the 2021 season.[11]

Motherwell

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In December 2022 it was announced that he would sign for Scottish club Motherwell in January 2023.[12][13][14]

International career

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Blaney represented Ireland at schoolboy level,[2][15] captaining the side.[3]

Career statistics

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As of match played on 24 October 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Finn Harps 2017[1] League of Ireland Premier Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Doncaster Rovers 2018–19[16] EFL League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 2 0
Tamworth (loan) 2018–19 Southern Football League 0 0 0 0
Grantham Town (loan) 2018–19[17] Northern Premier League 4 0 4 0
Doncaster Rovers 2019–20[18] EFL League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 2[c] 0 2 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Blyth Spartans (loan) 2019–20[1] National League North 1 0 1 0
Sligo Rovers 2021[1] League of Ireland Premier Division 12 1 1 0 2[d] 0 15 1
2022[1] 25 0 0 0 6[d] 1 31 1
Total 37 1 1 0 8 1 46 2
Career total 45 1 1 0 0 0 8 1 4 0 58 2
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup & FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup & EFL Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  4. ^ a b Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Shane Blaney at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Coll and Blaney re-sign for Harps". Finn Harps F.C. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  3. ^ a b Harry Walsh (15 January 2018). "Donegal teenager joins the professional ranks". Donegal News. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  4. ^ "Shane Blaney: Doncaster Rovers sign teenage Finn Harps defender". BBC Sport. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Blaney ambitious after Rovers move". Doncaster Rovers F.C. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  6. ^ "Blaney makes loan move to Tamworth". BBC Sport. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Loan deals for Rovers trio". Doncaster Rovers F.C. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  8. ^ "Profile". Grantham Town F.C. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Arrival | Blaney joins on loan from Doncaster Rovers". 7 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Retained list confirmed". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk.
  11. ^ "Sligo Rovers sign ex-Doncaster defender Shane Blaney". 28 December 2020 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ Coyle, Andy (20 December 2022). "Motherwell announce signing of defender Shane Blaney from Sligo Rovers". STV News.
  13. ^ "Former Sligo Rovers defender Shane Blaney signs for Motherwell". Irish Independent. 20 December 2022.
  14. ^ "'This is a really exciting move for me' – Shane Blaney can't wait to join Motherwell from Sligo Rovers". Irish Independent. 20 December 2022.
  15. ^ "Successful Finn Harps awards night". Finn Harps F.C. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Games played by Shane Blaney in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  17. ^ "StackPath". www.granthamtownfc.com.
  18. ^ "Games played by Shane Blaney in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 August 2019.