Rebel in green and white: Amanda Budden departs The Hoops, along with Shauna Fox and Lauren Kelly

Photo credit: Mark McDermott

News straight outta the Dublin 24 HQ today that Shamrock Rovers Women goalminder Amanda Budden, left back Shauna Fox and sweeping forward Lauren Kelly have departed The Hoops.

Signing with RW in 2023, the three Hoops formed an integral part of the squad that finished third on Rovers inaugral return to the Women's National League.

Let's take a closer look at each player...

Lauren Kelly

A desire for more game time could very well be the reason for Lauren Kelly's departure.

Clocking 227 minutes of play this campaign (source: Final Whistle), it's reasonable to assume that a player of the former Peas pedigree has decided to seek out a club where she can secure a guaranteed starting spot.

With the on form Joy Ralph firing on all cylinders up top, Rovers skipper Aine O'Gorman showing no signs of slowing down despite her veteran status and the promising signing of Wexford Youth Emily Corbet, Kelly perhaps felt her time had come to a natural end with the Tallaght tiki-takas.

Kelly's sweeping finish against her former club in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup this campaign demonstrated the magic that the number 14 can produce.

Perhaps a return to DLR Waves or the in form Wexford Youths could be on the cards?

With the loss of Ellen Molloy, Kelly could excel as a playmaker in the Sunny South East

Watch this space.

Shauna Fox

For defender Shauna Fox, the return of Savannah McCarthy and a backline of Maria Reynolds, Scarlett Herron, Fiona Owens and Jess Hennessy (before she signed with Nottingham Forest Women) never deterred the Shels double league title winner as she fought tooth and nail to retain her name on Collie O' Neills starting eleven - Foxes wiley play at the back securing 1849 of game time across all competitions for the number 4 in 2024 (source: Final Whistle)

With the departure of centre back Ciara Smith from Bohemians earlier in the season, could a team up with the formidable Lisa Murphy be on the cards for Fox? No doubt the Bohemian Boomers could benefit from another experienced player...?

Time will tell.

Amanda Budden

Our voiciferous and outspoken goalminder joined The Hoops in 2023 from Shelbourne.

A Douglas native, Budden previously played for Galway WFC and Cork City where she spent seven years - lifting the FAI Cup at the Aviva Stadium with a 1-0 win over The Waves.

The shot stopper netted 3,410 minutes across all competitions for The Hoops (source: Final Whistle) across the 2023 and 2024 campaigns and could regularly be heard from The West Stand directing from the edge of her own box.

Budden's reflexes were on show against league winners Athlone Town this campaign, The Hoops no 1 stopping two goal bound close range strikes on the bounce in spectacular fashion at Tallaght Stadium.

In addition, Budden saved a crucial penalty in the All-Island Cup Final.

For me, her reaction said it all as Jenna Slattery rued her miss.

Fire. Fury.

Our Rebel in green and white.

Best of luck girls, you will each be missed.