Gary Rogers calls time on League of Ireland career

Bohermeen man Gary Rogers has called a halt on his playing career 24 hours after his season officially ended with Dundalk in the Europa League against Arsenal at the Aviva Stadium.

It was definitely an eventful week for Rogers who helped Dundalk to win the FAI Cup final on Sunday, played against Arsenal on Thursday and announced his retirement this evening.

Rogers announced his retirement on social media this evening.

After 21 years I've packed away my glovers for the final time.

It's been one hell of a ride full of highs and lows.

I won't miss the sacrafices but I'll miss the game.

And 21 years in the League of Ireland playing at the top level is a remarkable achievement.

It's remarkable for a number of reasons, none more so than the uncertainty with many clubs in relation to finances and the customary short-term contracts that arise out of that uncertainty from one season to the next annually.

This was his sixth season with Dundalk and he took his European appearances across all clubs to over 50.

This year's campaign included the Champions League and then the Europa League where he helped his side to the group phase of the competition - the second time that he achieved that feat and only the third time for a League of Ireland club to make it.

"Playing in Europe is the barometer for any club player, how good are you and how can you perform against the top sides," remarked the Bohermeen man in an interview with the Meath Chronicle before the Group started in October.

"I've looked after myself in my playing career and I'm looking forward to the big games against Molde, Rapid Vienna and Arsenal.

"It's an unusual season, we all know that, we trained through lockdown and it was hard to know what was right and wasn't right during that time.

"It's also only half a season in the Premier League and that has proved costly for us, with 18 games we had no room for a blip, but that's the way it turned out.

Rogers helped Dundalk to a thrilling 4-2 extra-time FAI Cup final victory in the 100th decider at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

The FAI Cup final win on Sunday against Shamrock Rovers maintained the winning theme at Oriel Park and made amends for last season's defeat by the Dublin side in the decider.

Rogers played through the pain barrier on Sunday after he sustained a shoulder injury while making a save as he helped the Louth side to maintain a great record of winning silverware every season since he joined the club in 2015.

Prior to that he had a successful stint with Sligo Rovers winning a League title, FAI Cup and Setanta Cup and prior to that he had a successful spell with St Patrick'a Athletic.

He also scooped a Meath sportsperson of the year award.