Champions Shelbourne bolster squad ahead of new Women's National League season as Sarah Rowe joins Bohemians

Shelbourne have added no fewer than six players to their squad as they continue their preparations for the defence of their Women's National League title.

The new season kicks off next month, with Shels opening their campaign at home to Cork on 4 March.

Former Republic of Ireland international Siobhán Killeen returns, having spent five seasons playing Gaelic football for Dublin, winning three All-Irelands in the process.

Killeen previously played for Shelbourne, scoring 23 goals in 55 appearances as he she won a league and FAI Cup double in her last spell at Tolka Park, which ended after the 2017 season.

She is joined by wide player Ruvimbo 'Ru' Mucherera, who spent time in Lithuania with Gintra Universitas and in Finland with Kuopion Palloseura, after graduating from the University of North Carolina.

Shelbourne have also confirmed the additions of 23-year-old striker Christie Gray, who spent last season at Ravasens IK in the Swedish second tier, winger Kayla Hamric, who spent time with Houston Dash in the NSWL, midfielder and former US underage international Maggie Pierce, and Jenaya Robertson, who played with Cacereno Femenino in Spain's second tier in 2022.

The defending champions previously lost Abbie Larkin and Lia O'Leary to Shamrock Rovers, who have added some high profile players to their own squad ahead of their return to the league.

Elsewhere, Bohemians have confirmed the signing of Sarah Rowe, who previously spent time with Castlebar Celtic, Raheny and most recently Shelbourne in the WNL.

The Ballina native was last involved in 2016, and has since gone on to play Gaelic football with Mayo, as well as Australian Rules football with Collingwood in Melbourne.