Karl Sheppard, is an Irish footballer who is signed to play for Shelbourne. He began his playing career at schoolboy club Portmarnock AFC before moving on to the schoolboy team of League of Ireland club Shelbourne. After a period in England's League Two, he played with a number of League of Ireland clubs, re-signing for Shelbourne in late 2019.
Club career
Academy
Sheppard initially played for Portmarnock AFC and Shelbourne before moving to the Everton Academy.
In February 2010 Sheppard signed for Galway United, and he made his League of Ireland debut at Richmond Park on the opening day of the 2010 League of Ireland season. His goal scoring in April earned him the Airtricity SWAI Player of the Month Award. In his last game for the club he scored the winner in the Premier Division Promotion/Relegation play-off.
In January 2011, Sheppard signed for the League of Ireland Champions. He picked up his first senior trophy, playing all five games and scoring three goals en route to winning the 2011 Setanta Sports Cup. In August 2011, Sheppard helped Shamrock Rovers make history in becoming the first ever League of Ireland team to reach the group stages of a major European club competition when they qualified for the 2011-12 UEFA Europa League group stage. Sheppard earned the penalty late in extra time that saw Rovers win through 3–2 on aggregate away to FK Partizan in the 2011 Europa League Playoff Round. In October he scored at PAOK in the Europa League group stage. He scored a total of 15 goals in 35 appearances in the 2011 Shamrock Rovers F.C. season.
On 4 August 2012, Reading announced that Sheppard was joining Accrington Stanley on a six-month loan deal. He made his debut in their 1–0 League Cup defeat against Carlisle United on 11 August and then scored the winner against Southend United a week later, his first goal in English football. He returned to Reading on 3 January 2013 having not featured for Accrington since mid October. On 31 January 2013, he re-joined Shamrock Rovers on a six-month loan deal. He made his return to the team in a 1–0 defeat to Coleraine on 11 February in the Setanta Cup, but had to wait nearly three months for his first goal, scoring a late equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Sligo Rovers on 3 May. Days before his original spell was due to expire, Sheppard's loan was extended until the end of the 2013 League of Ireland season.
Return to Shamrock Rovers
In December 2013 Sheppard signed a one-year contract with Shamrock Rovers for the 2014 season after leaving Reading without making an appearance.
On 1 November 2014, Cork City announced the signing of Karl Sheppard from Shamrock Rovers. Sheppard scored 2 goals in his first 2 games for the Leesiders. In August 2015, it was announced that Sheppard had signed a 2-year contract to keep him at City, and he went on to score 13 goals in the 2015 season. A member of the FAI Cup and Premier Division double winning squad in 2017, by the start of the 2018 season Sheppard had scored 30 goals from 92 league appearances across 3 seasons with Cork City.
Shelbourne
On 6 November 2019 Shelbourne FC announced the signing of Karl Sheppard following his departure from Cork City.
