Ladies Football and AFLW star Sarah Rowe has returned to Irish soccer ahead of the 2023 Women’s Premier Division season with her sights set on a last-minute call up to Vera Pauw’s Ireland World Cup team.
Bohemians yesterday (Feb. 23) confirmed signing of the 27-year-old midfielder, who has previously played for both Raheny United and Shelbourne, winning the FAI Cup/WNL double with the latter in 2016.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Sarah Rowe 🔴⚫️
Welcome to Dalymount @SarsRowe ✊ pic.twitter.com/E92zDfjhR7
— Bohemian Football Club (@bfcdublin) February 23, 2023
Rowe has also represented Ireland at the U19 level and at the senior level in the 2015 Istria cup, and she attended a training camp under Vera Pauw in 2021. In 2014, Rowe was part of the first-ever Irish side to qualify for the U19 European Championships, unbeaten through their six qualifying games. They were drawn into a heavyweight group with outsiders giving them no hope. Ireland were pitted against previous winners England and Sweden as well as the runners-up from the tournament two-years prior, Spain.
The results?
Republic of Ireland 1 – 0 Spain.
Republic of Ireland 2 -1 England.
Republic of Ireland 2 -1 Sweden.
The Netherlands eventually beat Ireland and ended the dream, as they went on to win the tournament. Ireland were history-makers and defied all odds. The team consisted of Sarah Rowe, Katie McCabe, Chloe Mustaki, Keeva Keenan, Claire Shine, Megan Conolly and many more!
The Mayo native also represented her county in an All-Ireland final and several national league finals before moving to Australia in 2018 to sign with AFLW team Collingwood, and winning Best First Year Player in her first season there.
Rowe’s interest in the Irish WNT has long been established. She was quoted in the Irish Independent last year saying that Vera Pauw told her “the door was open if I was willing to commit to soccer, even if that was with a club in Australia.”
She went on to join A-league team Melbourne Victory last month; that season will finish in April and Rowe will then come to play for Dalymount before the AFLW season starts later this year.
Cyaaaaaaa 👋🪄
Sarah Rowe. From the @aflwomens to the @LibFinancial A-League 🔥
Not a bad way to mark your @gomvfc debut 😎
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.Glory steal a point: https://t.co/eLiANQvlVR
#MVCvPER #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/TwL97RsDcx— Ninja A-League (@aleaguewomen) January 6, 2023
Rowe joins a long list of hopefuls ahead of Vera Pauw’s selection of her World Cup side. According to Pauw the team is considering a pool of about 40 players, but only 23 players and three training players will be selected to travel to Australia.
“Massive Moment for Sarah Rowe!” . Congrats @SarsRowe on her first @aflwomens goal for @CollingwoodFCW in Round 5. @Irish_Banshees pic.twitter.com/hYrcuefLCW
— AFLW Ireland (@aflw_ireland) March 3, 2019