Offaly's Ellen makes switch to Scottish side, Hearts
An Offaly teenage football sensation has switched her allegiance from Peamount United, where she has been one of the leading goal scorers, to Scottish side, Hearts.
Ellen Dolan (19), who began her football career with her local club, Mucklagh FC, has signed for Edinburgh-based Hearts on an 18-month deal from Peamount United. The move is subject to international clearance and SFA approval, and she is set to play in the top tier of Scottish women's football, the Scottish Women's Premier League (SWPL).
The former Republic of Ireland youth international earned a call-up to the Republic of Ireland women's senior squad two years ago, having enjoyed remarkable success with Peamount United in the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division where she was one of the leading goal scorers.
Dolan will wear the number 12 maroon jersey with Hearts and will play as a forward. She has been warmly welcomed to the Scottish club by women's team manager, Eva Olid, who described the Mucklagh native as “very versatile and strong in the air” and said she was “very excited” to see her join the Jambos.
Olid said Hearts FC were very keen to “add further quality to their attack” and added that “we've certainly done that with the arrival of Ellen...I'm delighted she's here and can't wait to start working with her.”
The women's manager also referred to the difficulty faced by managers in their bid to add quality to their squads during the January transfer window, saying that Ellen "will suit our style of play perfectly”.
Mucklagh Schoolboys/Girls Community Soccer Club paid tribute to their former underage player in a warm Facebook post, describing Ellen Dolan as “once a star.......always a star” and speaking of their pride in her latest achievement. “We are so proud of you and wish you every success,” the club said.
Peamount United also paid a glowing tribute to one of their star players. In an Instagram post the club said: “Everyone at Peamount United would like to wish Ellen Dolan the very best of luck as she joins Hearts! Ellen has been an inspiration for so many at the club, which included going from an Academy prospect to one of the best in the Women’s Premier Division! We all wish her well with this exciting new chapter in Scotland.”
At the time of her first call-up to the to the Republic of Ireland women's team in November 2023, the then 17-year-old Ellen Dolan had been named as the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Month for October/November, having scored seven goals to finish as joint second top goalscorer for the League-winning Peamount United.