Never 'raney but it pours

NEW ROVER JAKE ON HIS MANY 2025 PROBLEMS

- BY MARK McCADDEN

JAKE MULRANEY has opened up about the off-field struggles that affected his performances on the pitch last season.

And he revealed that he has been called a "rat" by St Patrick's Athletic fans over his closeseason move to Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers.

Mulraney made an impressive start to his Hoops career in Saturday's 1-0 President's Cup defeat to Derry City - showing flashes of his 2024 form at Saints.

He admitted that he did not hit the heights expected of him last season but said there were issues away from football that saw his performances dip.

"I would agree with that, absolutely" he said. when it was put to him he had a disappointing season last year. "I didn't live up to the heights that I did the previous year. I experienced a few things outside of football that I hadn't before, which kind of messed up my focus slightly.

"When that's happening, when football's not going too well either, it becomes a difficult period. It's hard to get out of. Mentally now I'm fresh. I feel good. I'm ready to go."