Karl Sheppard

Karl Sheppard began his career as a schoolboy at his local club, Portmarnock AFC. From there he signed up for Shelbourne’s underage setup, where he played until he moved across the channel to Everton in 2007.

The young striker would spend three years on Merseyside, before returning to Ireland to join Galway United at the start of the 2010 season. Sheppard immediately caught the eye at Galway, and scored eight league goals that season. Shamrock Rovers were suitably impressed and signed the Dublin native up ahead of the 2011 season and his impressive form helped fire the Tallaght side to a league and Setanta Cup double. He also impressed on the European stage, as he helped Rovers become the first ever League of Ireland side to qualify for the group stage of a European club competition.

When the season eventually ended, Reading came knocking and Sheppard once again made a move cross-channel, but his chances were limited and after a loan spell at Accrington Stanley, the striker returned to Shamrock Rovers on loan a year later. During this loan spell, Sheppard would win the Setanta Sports Cup and the League Cup with the Hoops.

In November 2014, John Caulfield made the ex-Shamrock Rovers striker his first new signing of the off-season and was rewarded as the attacker was his side’s top scorer in 2015. He signed a contract extension in August 2015.