Sligo Rovers are thrilled to announce the signing of midfielder Muireann Devaney ahead of the 2024 League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division campaign.

Leitrim native Devaney signs for the Bit O’Red, having spent three seasons with Athlone Town. The 20-year-old returns to Rovers having played for the club’s Under 17 side in 2019 and 2020. Devaney was named Rovers’ women’s Under 17 player of the year in 2020.

She departed the Bit O’Red and joined Athlone Town in 2021, where she went on to impress throughout her stay in the Midlands. In 2022, the Manorhamilton native was rewarded for an incredible season by being named in the team of the year for the season.

Devaney said: “I’ve had three great seasons with Athlone, it started off with Tommy as the manager. I really enjoyed it. We won the cup last year. I always wanted to come back to Sligo at some stage, and I felt that this season was the right season to do it.”It’s good knowing who is managing and what he brings to it. I think Tommy is going to bring Sligo on leaps and bounds.”

“Travelling for the last number of years was hard, but Sligo is only in the road. It’s going to make it a bit easier for me, having friends and family in the stand when it’s so close. I hope it’s going to be a good year.”I went to Athlone with the ambition of winning something and getting my place in a senior team. I’ve had that experience now, and I hope there’s something I can bring to Sligo with that experience.”

Manager Tommy Hewitt added: “Getting Muireann back to Sligo, we always had these conversations every season, I encouraged her to have a look at Sligo. Muireann is massive, I think she’s the most under-rated player in the league. I’ve always said that to her. I think by now she should be a senior international and hopefully with her performances now at Sligo that will happen.

“She brings an awful lot of experience for such a young girl. For me as a manager to sign a player twice, and a player of Muireann’s quality, it’s fantastic. When we signed Kelly (Crompton), I said it was like Christmas morning; this is like everything rolled into one. When Muireann agreed to sign, I was over the moon.”