{{short description|Irish footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rory Gaffney | image = | caption = Gaffney in 2024 | upright = 0.9 | full_name = Rory Nicholas Gaffney<ref>{{cite news |title=The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |publisher=The Football League |page=68 |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=1 December 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053003/http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |archivedate=4 March 2016 }}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|10|23|df=y}}<ref name="11v11">{{cite web |title=Rory Gaffney|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/rory-gaffney-247950/|publisher=11v11 |accessdate=1 December 2015}}</ref> | birth_place = Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland | height = {{convert|1.83|m|order=flip}}<ref name="11v11"/> | position = Forward | currentclub = Shamrock Rovers | clubnumber = 20 | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = Mervue United | caps1 = 59 | goals1 = 13 | years2 = 2011–2014 | clubs2 = Limerick | caps2 = 85 | goals2 = 29 | years3 = 2015–2016 | clubs3 = Cambridge United | caps3 = 6 | goals3 = 2 | years4 = 2015–2016 | clubs4 = → Bristol Rovers (loan) | caps4 = 7 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 2016–2018 | clubs5 = Bristol Rovers | caps5 = 93 | goals5 = 16 | years6 = 2018–2020 | clubs6 = Salford City | caps6 = 45 | goals6 = 11 | years7 = 2019–2020 | clubs7 = → Walsall (loan) | caps7 = 15 | goals7 = 1 | years8 = 2020– | clubs8 = Shamrock Rovers | caps8 = 142 | goals8 = 36 | club-update = 21:33, 14 May 2026 (UTC) }} '''Rory Nicholas Gaffney''' (born 23 October 1989) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for League of Ireland Premier Division club Shamrock Rovers.
==Career== ===Limerick=== Gaffney started his career at League of Ireland First Division team Mervue United before joining Premier League team Limerick in July 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.limerickfc.ie/limerick-fc-is-delighted-to-announce-that-rory-gaffney-mervue-united-has-signed-with-the-club|title=Limerick FC is delighted to announce that Rory Gaffney (Mervue United) has signed with the Club|date=30 July 2011|accessdate=27 October 2015}}</ref> He completed his studies at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology while playing in Ireland.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://campus.ie/surviving-college/sport/interview-rory-gaffney-gmit-theatre-dreams|title=Interview: Rory Gaffney – From GMIT to the Theatre of Dreams|date=14 April 2015|accessdate=27 October 2015}}</ref>
===Cambridge United=== On 25 November 2014 Gaffney agreed a move to League Two club Cambridge United when the transfer window opened. His first season was beset with injury and he made his Football League debut on 26 September 2015, replacing Conor Newton in the 81st minute in a 1–0 win against Stevenage at the Abbey Stadium providing the cross from which Cambridge scored.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34299297|title=Cambridge United 1–0 Stevenage|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 September 2015|access-date=30 September 2015}}</ref> Gaffney went on to score twice on his first start for Cambridge United in the 3–2 away win over Yeovil Town on 23 October.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/34641422|title=Cambridge United: Rory Gaffney to push himself after dream return|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 October 2015|accessdate=27 October 2015}}</ref>
===Bristol Rovers=== On 14 January 2016, Gaffney moved permanently to League Two club Bristol Rovers after a successful loan spell. After scoring five goals in seven games for the West Country Club. Gaffney ended the season with a tally of eight league goals as he played a useful part in the club's promotion to Football League One.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football|title=Top Scorers – Bristol Rovers – Football – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Gaffney scored his first goal in Sky Bet League One and his first for the club since 16 April 2016 on 1 October 2016 with his club's first goal in a dramatic 3–2 win over Northampton Town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobile.bristolrovers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/rovers-get-all-three-points-in-fantastic-game-at-northampton-town-3340226.aspx|title=ROVERS GET ALL THREE POINTS IN FANTASTIC GAME AT NORTHAMPTON TOWN|website=mobile.bristolrovers.co.uk|date=1 October 2016|accessdate=1 October 2016}}</ref> Rory scored his first goal since 10 December 2016 in the 4–2 victory over Bury<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38192432|title=Bristol Rovers 4–2 Bury – BBC Sport|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 December 2016|accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref> on 11 March 2017 in a 2–0 victory over Southend United.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/bristol-rovers-2-southend-united-8779|title=Bristol Rovers 2 Southend United 0: Darrell Clarke's side go nine unbeaten in Sky Bet League One|publisher=Bristol Post|date=11 March 2017|accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref> He scored his second goal in a week scoring what would prove to be the winner in a 2–1 victory over Chesterfield taking his season total to four league goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-rovers-2-chesterfield-1-10416|title=Bristol Rovers 2 Chesterfield 1: Rovers bounce back from Bury defeat to keep play-off hopes alive|publisher=Bristol Post|date=18 March 2017|accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref> Gaffney ended the season with a total of nine goals including two in a 4–2 loss vs Peterborough United as his side narrowly missed the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football|title=Bristol Rovers Top Scorers|website=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Gaffney scored his first goal of the 2017–18 season to make it 3–1 in a 4–1 defeat to Peterborough United on 12 August 2017 when he headed home a Lee Brown cross at the back post.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40834874|title=Bristol Rovers 1–4 Peterborough United|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2017|accessdate=12 August 2017}}</ref>
===Salford City=== In June 2018 he joined National League side Salford City on a three-year contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=Salford City: Devante Rodney and Rory Gaffney join the Ammies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44495616|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 June 2018|accessdate=20 June 2018}}</ref> He made his debut in the opening match of the 2018–19 season on 4 August as Salford drew 1–1 at home to Leyton Orient.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44989672 |title=Salford City 1–1 Leyton Orient |publisher=BBC Sport |date=3 August 2018 |accessdate=4 August 2018}}</ref> His first season with the club ended in success as Salford City won promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history in their first season in the fifth tier. Gaffney scored a penalty in a play-off semi-final shootout victory against Eastleigh<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48123408|title=Salford City 1–1 Eastleigh (Salford win 4–3 on penalties)|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 May 2019|accessdate=25 April 2021}}</ref> and came off of the bench in the 3–0 final victory over AFC Fylde.<ref name="NL Promotion">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48158693|title=Salford City beat AFC Fylde in National League promotion final at Wembley|work=BBC Sport|date=11 May 2019|accessdate=25 April 2021}}</ref>
====Walsall (loan)==== On 31 August 2019 he joined Walsall on loan for the remainder of the 2019–20 season, linking up with former-Rovers manager Darrell Clarke.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2019/august/gaffney-signs-for-the-saddlers/|title=Gaffney signs for the Saddlers|website=www.saddlers.co.uk|date=31 August 2019|accessdate=25 April 2021}}</ref> After 25 appearances, scoring just once, Gaffney had his loan terminated in February 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2020/february/gaffney-loan-terminated/|title=Gaffney leaves Walsall|website=www.saddlers.co.uk|date=24 February 2020|accessdate=25 April 2021}}</ref>
===Shamrock Rovers=== On 24 February 2020, Salford City announced they and Gaffney had mutually parted ways and he had left the club<ref>{{cite web |title=Rory Gaffney leaves the club |date=24 February 2020 |url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/rory-gaffney-mutually-parts-company-feb20/ |publisher=Salford City F.C. |accessdate=24 February 2020}}</ref> and later that day signed for Shamrock Rovers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rovers |first1=Shamrock |title=Rory Gaffney is a Hoop! |work=Shamrock Rovers |date=24 February 2020 |url=https://shamrockrovers.ie/2020/02/24/rory-gaffney-is-a-hoop/ |accessdate=24 February 2020}}</ref> In April 2021, Gaffney opened his scoring for the club with a late equaliser against Sligo Rovers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/sligo-rovers-1-1-shamrock-23891733|title=Sligo Rovers 1–1 Shamrock Rovers|publisher=Irish Mirror|date=10 April 2021|accessdate=25 April 2021}}</ref>
Gaffney scored twice at KF Teuta Durrës in a 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League tie where Rovers won 2-0 <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/match/2033065/ | title=Teuta-Shamrock Rovers | UEFA Europa Conference League 2021/22 }}</ref>In the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League Gaffney scored against Hibernians F.C.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2034956/ | title=Shamrock Rovers-Hibernians | UEFA Champions League 2022/23 }}</ref> When Gaffney scored at KF Shkupi in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa League he completed his scoring record in all three main European club competitions <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2035368/ | title=Shkupi-Shamrock Rovers | UEFA Europa League 2022/23 }}</ref>
At the end of the 2022 season, a season in which Shamrock Rovers won the league for a third consecutive season,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rovers |first1=Shamrock |url=https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/2022/10/24/shamrock-rovers-are-league-champions/|title=Shamrock Rovers are League Champions!|website=www.shamrockrovers.ie|date=24 October 2022|accessdate=23 November 2022}}</ref> Gaffney was named the PFAI Players' Player of the Year at the end of season awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2022/1119/1337150-rory-gaffney-named-the-pfai-player-of-the-year/|title=Rory Gaffney named the PFAI Player of the Year|website=www.rte.ie|date=19 November 2022|accessdate=23 November 2022}}</ref>He was also awarded the SSE Airtricity League Player of the Year award <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.the42.ie/rory-gaffney-shamrock-rovers-europe-6098912-Jun2023/ | title='It's why you want to be playing for the best team in Ireland' | date=22 June 2023 }}</ref>
Having originally being allowed leave the club at the end of the 2024 season following the end of his contract, Gaffney returned to Shamrock Rovers on 21 February 2025, 3 competitive games into the season, after proving his fitness following 10 months without a competitive appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shamrockrovers.ie/2025/02/21/rory-gaffney-re-signs-for-2025/|title=Rory Gaffney re-signs for 2025 21 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/i-didnt-want-to-go-through-another-year-like-last-year-rory-gaffney-ready-to-enjoy-second-chance-at-shamrock-rovers/a1161404006.html|title='I didn't want to go through another year like last year' – Rory Gaffney ready to enjoy second chance at Shamrock Rovers|date=9 March 2025|website=www.independent.ie}}</ref>
On 4 April 2025, Gaffney scored his first goal since his new contract in a 1-0 win away to Galway United. He then went on an impressive goal scoring run netting against Cork City, Waterford, Wexford St Joseph's and twice against Derry City and Ballkani in the space of 2 months. On 2 December 2025, he was named as League of Ireland Player of the Month for November, after scoring twice in his side's 2025 FAI Cup final win over Cork City.<ref>https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/1202/1546856-cup-final-hero-gaffney-earns-player-of-month-accolade/</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played on 27 November 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Mervue United |2009<ref name="RGSW">{{soccerway|rory-gaffney/74916|accessdate=21 September}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|LOI First Division |14||3||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||15||3 |- |2010<ref name="RGSW"/> |31||6||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||31||6 |- |2011<ref name="RGSW"/> |14||4||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||14||4 |- !colspan="2"|Total !59!!13!!0!!0!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!60!!13 |- |rowspan="5"|Limerick |2011<ref name="RGSW"/> |rowspan="2"|LOI First Division |11||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||11||0 |- |2012 |24||10||0||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||27||10 |- |2013<ref name="RGSW"/> |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |19||5||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||21||5 |- |2014<ref name="RGSW"/> |31||14||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||32||14 |- !colspan="2"|Total !85!!29!!0!!0!!6!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!91!!29 |- |rowspan="3"|Cambridge United |2014–15 |rowspan="2"|EFL League Two |0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0 |- |2015–16<ref name="RG15">{{soccerbase season|69371|2015 |accessdate=21 September 2017}}</ref> |6||2||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||7||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !6!!2!!1!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!7!!2 |- |Bristol Rovers (loan) |2015–16<ref name="RG15"/> |EFL League Two |7||5||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||7||5 |- |rowspan="4"|Bristol Rovers |2015–16<ref name="RG15"/> |EFL League Two |17||3||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||17||3 |- |2016–17<ref name="RG16">{{soccerbase season |69371|2016|accessdate=21 September 2017 }}</ref> |rowspan="2"|EFL League One |34||6||2||3||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=EFT|Appearances in the EFL Trophy}}||0||41||9 |- |2017–18<ref name="RG17">{{soccerbase season |69371|2017|accessdate=21 September 2017 }}</ref> |42||7||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|name=EFT}}||0||48||7 |- !colspan="2"|Total !93!!16!!3!!3!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!4!!0!!113!!24 |- |rowspan="3"|Salford City |2018–19<ref name="soccerway">{{Soccerway|rory-gaffney/74916}}</ref> |National League |43||11||3||1{{efn|name=facqr|Includes appearance and goal in FA Cup qualifying match against Marine<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://salfordcityfc.co.uk/matches/marine-v-salford-city-emirates-fa-cup-q4-20101819/|title = Marine 1-2 Salford City}}</ref>}}||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|name=nlp|One appearance in the FA Trophy; two appearances in the National League playoffs}}||0||49||12 |- |2019–20<ref name="soccerway"/> |EFL League Two |2||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !45!!11!!3!!1!!1!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!3!!0!!52!!12 |- |Walsall (loan) |2019–20<ref name="soccerway"/> |EFL League Two |15||1||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||4{{efn|name=EFT}}||0||22||1 |- |rowspan="6"|Shamrock Rovers |2020<ref name="soccerway"/> |rowspan="5"|LOI Premier Division |6||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- |2021<ref name="soccerway"/> |33||8||2||1||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=TTTW|Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League; four appearances, two goals in the UEFA Europa Conference League}}||2||1{{efn|name=PRC|Appearances in the President of Ireland's Cup}}||0||42||11 |- |2022<ref name="soccerway"/> |35||10||3||2||colspan="2"|—||12{{efn|name=TTTT|Four appearances, one goal in the UEFA Champions League; three appearances, one goal in the UEFA Europa League; five appearances, one goal in the UEFA Europa Conference League}}||3||1{{efn|name=PRC|Appearances in the President of Ireland's Cup}}||0||51||14 |- |2023<ref name="soccerway"/> |33||8||1||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in the UEFA Champions League}}||0||1{{efn|Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}}||1||37||9 |- |2024<ref name="soccerway"/> |8||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||1{{efn|name=PRC}}||0||9||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !115!!27!!6!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!20!!5!!4!!1!!145!!36 |- |rowspan="3"|Shamrock Rovers |2025<ref name="soccerway"/> |rowspan="2"|LOI Premier Division |27||9||4||3||colspan="2"|—||11{{efn|Appearances in the UEFA Conference League}}||3||colspan="2"|—||42||15 |- |2026<ref name="soccerway"/> |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !27!!9!!4!!3!!colspan="2"|—!!11!!3!!0!!0!!42!!15 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !452!!110!!20!!10!!13!!0!!31!!8!!15!!1!!531!!129 |} {{notelist}}
==Honours== '''Limerick''' *League of Ireland First Division: 2012<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2012.html|title=Ireland 2012|website=RSSSF|access-date=5 July 2018}}</ref>
'''Bristol Rovers''' *Football League Two third-place promotion: 2015–16<ref>{{cite book |editor-first=John |editor-last=Anderson |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2016–2017 |year=2016 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-1-4722-3395-0 |pages=90–91}}</ref>
'''Salford City''' *National League play-offs: 2019<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48158693 |title=AFC Fylde 0–3 Salford City |first=Josef |last=Rindl |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2019 |accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref>
'''Shamrock Rovers''' *League of Ireland Premier Division (5): 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 *FAI Cup: 2025 *President of Ireland's Cup: 2022
'''Individual''' *League of Ireland Player of the Month (2): October 2022,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41002715.html|title=Shamrock Rovers striker Rory Gaffney named Player of the Month for October|first=James|last=Whelan|date=9 November 2022|website=Irish Examiner}}</ref> 2025<ref>https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/1202/1546856-cup-final-hero-gaffney-earns-player-of-month-accolade/</ref> * PFAI Premier Division Team of the Year (2): 2021, 2022 * PFAI First Division Team of the Year: 2012 * PFAI Players' Player of the Year: 2022 * SRFC Player of the Year: 2022 * FAI League Player of the Year: 2022
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Soccerbase}}
{{Shamrock Rovers F.C. squad}} {{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = Gold | list1 = {{PFAI Players' Player of the Year}} {{FAI League Player of the Year}} {{2022 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}} {{2021 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}} {{2012 PFAI League of Ireland First Division Team of the Year}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaffney, Rory}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Association footballers from County Galway Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Mervue United A.F.C. players Category:Limerick F.C. players Category:Cambridge United F.C. players Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. players Category:Salford City F.C. players Category:Walsall F.C. players Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players Category:League of Ireland players Category:English Football League players Category:National League (English football) players Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:21st-century Irish sportsmen