About Grace Moloney
Born 1993. Grace Moloney is a British and Irish association football player.
Club career Reading Moloney played for Reading in the second-division FA WSL 2 during the 2015 FA WSL season. She helped the team win the league before signing a professional contract with them ahead of the 2016 season in the FAWSL 1. When Reading subsequently signed Mary Earps, Moloney was largely restricted to playing in the FA Women's League Cup.
Aston Villa (loan) In June 2016 Moloney joined Aston Villa on loan.
Reading In April 2019 Moloney signed a new contract with Reading. She had re-established herself as the first choice goalkeeper and helped the club reach the FA Women's Cup semi-final, which they lost to West Ham United on a penalty shootout. Reading recognised Moloney's 150th appearance for the club with a presentation before a 1–0 2019–20 FA Women's League Cup defeat by West Ham in November 2019. She signed another two-year contract extension with Reading in February 2021.
On 6 March 2022, Moloney made her 200th appearance for Reading.
London City Lionesses On 15 August 2023 Moloney joined London City Lionesses on a 2-year contract. She parted ways with the club by mutual consent in January 2025.
Sunderland On 12 July 2025. Moloney signed a one-year deal with Wearside club Sunderland in the Women's Super League 2 with the option of an additional year. On 29 May 2026, Sunderland announced that Moloney had departed the club after one season in red and white after making 15 appearances. Moloney last featured in a WSL 2 game on February 20, playing a full 90 minutes for Sunderland against Durham in a 3-2 win.
International career Youth In 2010, Moloney was a key member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad who were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. At the FAI International Football Awards she was named 2011 Under-19 Women's International Player of the Year.
Senior Moloney was included in the senior Republic of Ireland women's national football team for the first time in August 2010, for a friendly against the Netherlands, followed by 2011 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Russia and Israel. She returned to the senior squad as the third goalkeeper for the 2014 Cyprus Cup, but had to make a late withdrawal after she injured her back while training with Reading.
On 5 May 2014, Republic of Ireland women's national football team manager Susan Ronan named Moloney in an experimental squad for a friendly against the Basque Country. Moloney replaced Eve Badana at half-time to play the second half of Ireland's 2–0 defeat in Azpeitia, which was not classified as a full international fixture.
Moloney won her first senior cap at the 2016 Cyprus Cup, playing the full match in Ireland's opening 2–0 defeat by Austria. Despite the result, the Football Association of Ireland's website praised Moloney's "assured performance", while she expressed pride and delight at achieving her longstanding ambition of playing for Ireland at senior level. In August 2016 Ronan called up Moloney to a young and predominantly home-based senior squad for a training camp in Wales. She played in the first of two challenge matches against the Welsh hosts, a 0–0 draw at Rodney Parade in Newport.
Colin Bell replaced Sue Ronan as Ireland's coach in February 2017 and he soon installed Marie Hourihan as the long-term goalkeeping successor to Emma Byrne, believing Moloney to be too small. On 9 October 2018, Moloney played in Ireland's 4–0 friendly defeat by Poland in Ostróda, coming on for Hourihan at half-time.
Moloney was given her first competitive appearance in an important UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier against Germany at Tallaght Stadium on 1 December 2020. She won the confidence of coach Vera Pauw due to her improved form at club level with Reading. Despite Ireland's 3–1 defeat Moloney's performance was hailed as "fantastic" by Pauw.
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Important facts
People in Grace Moloney's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Grace Moloney's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Grace Moloney?
Irish footballer
When was Grace Moloney born?
Grace Moloney was born on 1 March 1993 in Slough.
What is Grace Moloney's occupation?
Grace Moloney is an association football player.
What nationality is Grace Moloney?
Grace Moloney is British and Irish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Grace Moloney. https://biography.guide/grace-moloney/
MLA: "Grace Moloney." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/grace-moloney/.
Chicago: "Grace Moloney." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/grace-moloney/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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