Jess Gargan adjusts to Tallaght Stadium surroundings as Shamrock Rovers begin WNL home campaign against Treaty Utd

LAST Tuesday night the Shamrock Rovers women’s team had a dress rehearsal for tonight’s home League of Ireland game against Treaty United.

They faced the men’s U14 side in a closed-doors game at Tallaght Stadium.

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Boss Collie O’Neill wanted the game to make his new team feel comfortable in their surroundings – if they could pull it off on a cold Tuesday night, today wouldn’t feel so strange.

And defender Jess Gargan told SunSport: “It was pretty much a run-up to Saturday – I just had to get used to doing the warm-up, getting into the dressing rooms, all the normal stuff.

“I had played there before but I think not everyone did so everyone just got used to the setup.”

The only way to appear at Tallaght in recent seasons has been by being in the Hoops’ underage structure, reaching a cup final or playing for Ireland.

And it speaks volumes for the club’s winter recruitment that so many have done so.

Rovers return to senior women’s football after a nine-year absence.

And Gargan added: “I would say the U19s like Jaime Thompson and all the Shels girls with the cup final and Athlone and the Peamount girls.”

That O’Neill was able to recruit some top talent has brought a few feathers to the league, as has the Hoops’ ambition.

The club had laid the groundwork for youth football in recent years but caused a sensation in the final season with major signings from rivals.

Gargan – financial advisor by day – was one of them when she decided to trade double winner Shelbourne for Tallaght.

But she admitted it was an opportunity she would have regretted not taking.

She explained: “When Rovers come knocking on your door, how can you refuse?

“It’s a professional contract, we’re the first women in Ireland with a professional football contract.

“It was an extremely difficult decision because I have a lot of friends at Shels and the last two years there have probably been the happiest of my life. But anyone who knows me knows how much I love football.

“And when you’re given the chance to take the next step and sign a professional contract. . .

“It’s a difficult decision for emotional reasons, but it was a step I had to take for myself.

“If I looked back over the years to come and said I was offered the opportunity to turn pro and said no, it could have been a regret.”

OUT OF THEIR SHELL

Her signing was a coup for the Hoops — she’s one of four members of last season’s Team of the Year snapped up by O’Neill.

And the quality brought in – from Amanda Budden in goal to Áine O’Gorman in attack – immediately got them talking about a title challenge.

But Gargan – a league winner for the last two seasons – warn it’s still a new team.

The 26-year-old added: “It’s a risk, it’s a new team, it’s a new project, it will take time.

“I think the goal this year is to grow together as a group, both off and on the pitch.

“We all come from different teams and that takes time.

“The goal is to grow together as a team, do our best on the pitch and win as many games as possible.”

Gargan underscored how much goes on undercover to ensure the Rovers’ return to the highest level is successful.

She said: “Collie is very technical, very analytical and he enjoys doing video analysis.

“We play a game, we look back on a game, what did we do well, what can we improve on. It can take weeks, months, but it’s about building on every game.”