With two young daughters to support, the 25-year-old admits combining the two jobs was testing at times but his commitment ultimately paid off as he earned a move to Dalymount Park last November and with it, full-time football for the first time in his career.
Now able to solely focus on football, the Ballymun native says he’s jumping out of bed in the morning now and is relishing the next step in his career, with top four and Europe the ambition for 2024.
“It was hard before. If you had a hard day at work, you still had to drag yourself up for training. Now, I can solely focus on preparing myself for the next day of football,” said Rooney, speaking at the launch of Virgin Media’s League of Ireland coverage for 2024.
“(Last year) I’d leave the house at seven and get home about half two/three o’clock, get something to eat and head back out to training. (Then I’d get home) at about half-eight and get ready for the next day.
“If it had been the other way around, if I was going to work after training, I definitely wouldn’t have liked that.
“As much as I speak badly of it, it’s not too bad. It has to be done by some people. That was the situation. I had to do it and they (family) fully understood it.
“I have two daughters, a two-year-old (Kria) and a seven-month old (Sofia). So it’s a bit busy at the minute, the sleep isn’t that great! But it’s great watching them grow up and hopefully they’ll get to see me play football.
“I wanted to make sure my next step was the right one for all of us, that was a big thing. I could have easily stayed at Drogheda, but I felt I needed to go full-time for my career to take another step.
“I’m loving it. I’m jumping out of bed at the minute going straight to training. I’m enjoying it and really building up myself strength-wise, things you might not have had the time to do previously.
“This is my first time to go full-time. It’s taken a bit longer than others, but I’m glad it has happened the way it has and am looking forward to getting going.”
Rooney’s standout 2023 campaign at the Drogheda saw him secure his winter move to Declan Devine’s side. The winger’s five goals and 10 assists helped the Louth club to a comfortable seventh-placed finish, while blockbuster strikes away to Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic also caught the eye.
But despite new American backing arriving late last year, Rooney still felt a move away from Weavers Park was in his best interests.
“I think this year was a bit too early for them (to go full-time). I know Kevin (Doherty – manager) has gone full-time, but the players are still in in the evenings. It just would have been a lot for me to commit to again and I felt like going to Bohs was the right thing for me to do,” said Rooney, who made 74 appearances for Drogheda having signed from Shelbourne in 2021, where he won two First Division titles.
“I hope I get a good reception when I go back, it was a good club and did good things for me.”
“He didn’t take it too well, as you would expect,” he added, when asked how Doherty reacted to the news that he was departing.
“But I think he understood my situation and that I really wanted to go full-time. He was nice enough about it in the end. As soon as I got wind of Bohs and I met with Pat (Fenlon) and Declan I really, really wanted it.”
Having grown up in nearby Ballymun, Rooney is already well familiar with Dalymount. After Devine’s side finished in sixth last term, and fell to another FAI Cup final defeat to St Pat’s, the targets for this season are clear.
“Being local, I know just how big a club Bohs is. Ultimately, they didn’t achieve what they set out to do last year. The ambition this year must be a top four finish and European qualification.”
With his roofing days behind him for now, Rooney will be hoping to reach new heights in new surroundings in 2024.
www.independent.ie
https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/new-bohs-winger-rooney-opens-up-on-combining-roofing-job-with-part-time-football-last-year/a1511912736.html
