Karl Sheppard

Karl Sheppard (born 14 February 1991), is an Irish former footballer who played for Galway United, Shamrock Rovers (over two spells), Reading, Accrington Stanley, Cork City and Shelbourne.

Karl Sheppard
Personal information
Full name Karl Sheppard
Date of birth (1991-02-14) 14 February 1991
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
Portmarnock A.F.C.
Shelbourne
2007–2010 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Galway United 35 (8)
2011–2012 Shamrock Rovers 24 (10)
2012–2013 Reading 0 (0)
2012–2013 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 10 (1)
2013 → Shamrock Rovers (loan) 26 (5)
2014 Shamrock Rovers 19 (1)
2014 Shamrock Rovers B 2 (0)
2015–2019 Cork City 150 (39)
2020 Shelbourne 11 (0)
National team‡
2011 Republic of Ireland U21 1 (0)
2011 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 January 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 August 2012

Club career

Academy

Sheppard initially played for Portmarnock AFC and Shelbourne before moving to the Everton Academy.[1][2][3]

Galway United

In February 2010 Sheppard signed for Galway United,[4] and he made his League of Ireland debut at Richmond Park on the opening day of the 2010 League of Ireland season. His goal scoring in April earned him the Airtricity SWAI Player of the Month Award.[5] In his last game for the club he scored the winner in the Premier Division Promotion/Relegation play-off.[6]

Shamrock Rovers

In January 2011, Sheppard signed for the League of Ireland Champions.[7] He picked up his first senior trophy, playing all five games and scoring three goals en route to winning the 2011 Setanta Sports Cup.[8]

In August 2011, Sheppard helped Shamrock Rovers make history in becoming the first ever League of Ireland team to reach the group stages of a major European club competition when they qualified for the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League group stage. Sheppard earned the penalty late in extra time that saw Rovers win through 3–2 on aggregate away to FK Partizan in the 2011 Europa League Playoff Round.[9]

In October he scored at PAOK in the Europa League group stage.[10]

He scored a total of 15 goals in 35 appearances in the 2011 Shamrock Rovers F.C. season.

Reading

On 12 January 2012, Sheppard announced via Twitter that he had signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Reading, leaving Shamrock Rovers on a free transfer.[11] Reading reportedly beat off interest from other Championship clubs including Blackpool, Cardiff and Peterborough United.[12]

Accrington Stanley Loan

On 4 August 2012, Reading announced that Sheppard was joining Accrington Stanley on a six-month loan deal.[13] He made his debut in their 1–0 League Cup defeat against Carlisle United on 11 August and then scored the winner against Southend United a week later, his first goal in English football.[14][15] He returned to Reading on 3 January 2013 having not featured for Accrington since mid October.[16]

Return to Shamrock Rovers

On 31 January 2013, he re-joined Shamrock Rovers on a six-month loan deal.[17] He made his return to the team in a 1–0 defeat to Coleraine on 11 February in the Setanta Cup,[18] but had to wait nearly three months for his first goal, scoring a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Sligo Rovers on 3 May.[19] Days before his original spell was due to expire, Sheppard's loan was extended until the end of the 2013 League of Ireland season.[20]

In December 2013 Sheppard signed a one-year contract with Shamrock Rovers for the 2014 season after leaving Reading without making an appearance.[21]

Cork City

On 1 November 2014, Cork City announced the signing of Karl Sheppard from Shamrock Rovers. Sheppard scored 2 goals in his first 2 games for the Leesiders. In August 2015, it was announced that Sheppard had signed a 2-year contract to keep him at City, and he went on to score 13 goals in the 2015 season. A member of the FAI Cup and Premier Division double winning squad in 2017, by the start of the 2018 season Sheppard had scored 30 goals from 92 league appearances across 3 seasons (2015/2016/2017) with Cork City.[22]

Shelbourne

On 6 November 2019 Shelbourne announced the signing of Sheppard following his departure from Cork City.[23] The season ended in disappointment for Sheppard and Shelbourne, as the club were relegated back to the League of Ireland First Division while Sheppard failed to score in his 13 appearances in all competitions over the season.[24] On the 17th January 2021, Sheppard announced his retirement from the game aged just 29, with Arthritis struggles cited as his reason for the decision.[25]

International career

While a Shelbourne player Sheppard scored the fifth goal in Republic of Ireland U16's 5–2 win over Japan at the Montaigu Tournament in 2007. Sheppard also represented his country at U17 level where he scored after coming on as a substitute at Terryland Park in a 2008 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship qualifying round.[26]

In the elite phase of the 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship elite qualification Sheppard played in all three games in the Ukraine as Ireland narrowly missed out on qualification.

Sheppard made a substitute appearance for the League of Ireland XI in a 7–1 defeat to Manchester United in the first game to be played at the Aviva Stadium in August 2010.[27]

In September 2010 he was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team for the final 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualifier in Turkey but did not make an appearance.[28]

Sheppard made his U21 debut in November 2011 in a 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship win over Liechtenstein.

Career statistics

Professional appearances updated 17 January 2021.[29]

Club Division Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Galway United League of Ireland Premier Division 2010 3384110—1[lower-alpha 1]13910
Shamrock Rovers 2011 241031005[lower-alpha 2]15[lower-alpha 3]33715
Reading EFL Championship 2011–12 000000——00
Accrington Stanley (loan) EFL League Two 2012–13 1010010—1[lower-alpha 4]0121
Shamrock Rovers (loan) League of Ireland Premier Division 2013 2654021—10[lower-alpha 5]3429
Shamrock Rovers 2014 1915220—4[lower-alpha 6]1304
Shamrock Rovers Total 6916123415119710928
Shamrock Rovers B (loan) League of Ireland First Division 2014 20————20
Cork City League of Ireland Premier Division 2015 311360002[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 7]14014
2016 28842103[lower-alpha 2]02[lower-alpha 8]03810
2017 33953104[lower-alpha 2]12[lower-alpha 9]34516
2018 31641004[lower-alpha 10]03[lower-alpha 11]2429
2019 27320002[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 7]1324
Cork City Total 15039216201519719753
Shelbourne League of Ireland Premier Division 2020 1101000—1[lower-alpha 12]0130
Career Total 27564381081202311537292
  1. Appearances in the League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Playoff
  2. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in the Setanta Sports Cup
  4. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
  5. 6 appearances, 1 goal in the Setanta Sports Cup, 4 appearances, 2 goals in the Leinster Senior Cup
  6. 3 appearances in the Setanta Sports Cup, 1 appearance, 1 goal in the Leinster Senior Cup
  7. Appearances in the Munster Senior Cup
  8. 1 appearance in the President's Cup, 1 appearance in the Munster Senior Cup
  9. 1 appearance & 1 goal in the President's Cup, 1 appearance & 2 goals in the Munster Senior Cup
  10. 2 appearances in the UEFA Champions League, 2 appearances in the UEFA Europa League
  11. 1 appearance & 1 goal in the President's Cup, 2 appearances & 1 goal in the Munster Senior Cup
  12. Appearances in the League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Play-Off

Honours
Shamrock Rovers
Cork City

References
  1. "Delight For Academy Duo". evertonfc.com. Everton FC. 10 August 2007. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018.
  2. "Everton win Sheppard race". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 7 June 2007.
  3. "Former PAFC player Karl Sheppard scores cracker". Portmarnock AFC. 15 April 2017.
  4. "Connor adds three to his squad". Galway United FC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  5. McDonnell, Daniel (14 May 2010). "Writers flock to praise Sheppard". Irish Independent.
  6. "Galway United 1–0 Bray Wanderers". Galway United FC. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  7. "Hoops scoop top young talent". Shamrock Rovers FC. 9 January 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  8. "Shamrock Rovers win Setanta Sports Cup". Extratime. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  9. "Rovers hoping to make history in Europe". RTÉ News. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  10. "PAOK FC 2–1 Rovers". Shamrock Rovers FC. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 7 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  11. "Karl Sheppard on Twitter". Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  12. Malone, Emmet (12 January 2012), "Sheppard set to finalise move", The Irish Times
  13. "Sheppard & Williams Loaned". Reading F.C. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
  14. "Carlisle United vs. Accrington Stanley". Soccerway. 11 August 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  15. "Southend 0–1 Accrington". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  16. "Sheppard returns to Reading". Accrington Stanley F.C. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  17. "Sheppard joins hoops on loan". Shamrock Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
  18. "Rovers 0–1 Coleraine". Shamrock Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  19. "Shamrock Rovers 1–1 Sligo Rovers". Shamrock Rovers F.C. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  20. "Sheppard to stay at Hoops". Evening Herald. Dublin. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  21. Kelly, Ryan (6 December 2013). "Karl Sheppard signs for Shamrock Rovers". Goal.com. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  22. "Karl Sheppard". Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018.
  23. "Major coup for Shelbourne as Sheppard joins ahead of top flight return". the42.ie.
  24. https://int.soccerway.com/players/karl-sheppard/121189/
  25. https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2021/0117/1190308-arthritis-forces-karl-sheppard-29-into-retirement/
  26. "Ukraine 1–3 Republic of Ireland". UEFA. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  27. "Airtricity League XI 1–7 Manchester United". FAI. 4 August 2010. Archived from the original on 6 August 2010.
  28. "Turkey U21 1–0 Republic of Ireland U21". FAI. 7 September 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  29. "Republic of Ireland – K.Sheppard". Ie.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
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