Ronan Finn returning to College after Shamrock Rovers departure

Ronan Finn will depart Shamrock Rovers at the end of this season and return to UCD for the 2024 SSE Airtricity League of Ireland season.

Finn (35) started his career at Belfield, before going on to play with Sporting Fingal, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers.

He collected two Premier Division winners medals with the Lilywhites, but it was at Tallaght Stadium where he enjoyed the most successful part of his career, claiming five league winners medals over two spells.

Rovers completed their quest for four titles on the spin last week with Finn confirming afterwards that he would be playing in the League of Ireland next season. But he told RTÉ Sport today that it won't be at Tallaght Stadium.

"I'm not hanging up the boots. It was a massive decision for me to make, to decide to leave [Rovers]. The opportunity came to go back and play for UCD and do a Master's.

"It's something throughout my career I've always kept an eye on. I started in UCD. I did my degree there. The opportunity to go back there now and play, and finish with a Master's...

"I could be 37 or 38 when it's all done, so for me it's the right time."

Finn admitted that it was "an unbelievably big decision to make" but he acknowledged that he is looking to the future.

"You're walking away from the romance of the possible five [in a row]. In all my decisions I've made in football, you look at what's coming down the line.

"It's a big call but I think it's the right one. I've such fond memories of UCD, getting my degree when I was 20 and coming into the league.

"An opportunity now to finish with UCD, and to get my Master's, was one I couldn't turn down.

"They could be surprised seeing me walk in," he said of his new team-mates.

"It's a young dressing room. But it's something that I'm