Waterford FC are delighted to announce the signing of Cliodhna Malone to the club, as our former WU17 captain returns to the Blues for the second-half of 2026.
An energetic midfielder, who can play in a variety of positions, becomes our first signing of the summer window.
Having started her footballing journey at Piltown AFC – the same schoolgirl club as fellow teammates Keira Burke & Ruby Norris – Cliodhna joined our Academy set-up in 2023 before going on to lead our WU17’s in 2025 whilst also lining out for our WU19’s.
Midway through last season, she made the move to Turners Cross where she earned her first taste of first-team football for the remainder of the 2025 season with Cork City – making her SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division debut in a defeat to Treaty United coming on as a second substitute at Turners Cross last July.
The 17 year-old midfielder made a further 7 appearances in 2025, 3 of which were starts, before making a further 5 appearances across league & All-Island Cup duties this season so far, as she returns to the Blues to bolster our midfield options for the remainder of 2026.
Cliodhna has been training with the group in recent weeks, integrating amongst the group as Gary Hunt’s side prepare to kick-off their Club Orange Women’s FAI Cup campaign this Saturday at home to Sligo Rovers at the RSC, with Malone’s registration now completed in time for her to be available for selection on Saturday.
Speaking on re-joining her local League of Ireland club, Malone spoke of her focus to get straight to work with the Blues, saying:
“I’m happy to be back with Waterford. I have had a couple of weeks training with the group under my belt now and feeling good & ready to get going for the rest of the season and to see what we can achieve together as a group”.
Blues Head Coach Gary Hunt is pleased to secure the services of Cliodha for the second-half of 2026, stating:
“Cliodhna returns to us having had a short spell down the road with Cork. She will give the squad a little more competition in different areas and it’s a great opportunity for her to showcase her talents in first-team football.
She knows all the girls so that has helped her integration into the group and I am sure in time we will see her make her stamp on the league with the Blues.”
Cliodhna will wear the number 26 shirt for the Blues for the remainder of the season.
Welcome back, Cliodhna!
