Career
He last played for Warrington Town. Farrelly played schoolboy football for Home Farm. Aston Villa signed him as a 16-year-old in 1992, and he made his Villa début on the 20th of September 1995 against Peterborough United.
He moved to Everton in July 1997 for approximately £700,000, and after a season where Everton, and Farrelly personally, struggled, he scored the goal (ironically with his weaker right foot after numerous wayward efforts with left foot throughout the season)that preserved their Premier League status on the final day of the 1997-1998 season against Coventry City.
He also scored once in the League Cup against Scunthorpe United. However, he was soon on the move to Bolton Wanderers, initially on loan.
He was subsequently loaned out to Rotherham United, Burnley, Bradford City, and latterly Wigan Athletic. He was sacked on 30 August 2006 following Bohemian"s elimination from the FAI Cup at the hands of Shamrock Rovers, in which he missed a penalty late in the game.
Farrelly then underwent a trial with Leicester City.
He left the Foxes after they ended their interest in him. On 24 November 2006, he joined Blackpool on a short-term contract, which expired in February 2007. On 15 February 2007, he agreed to sign for Eircom League of Ireland Premier Division side Cork City on a two-year contract (explanation on this case here: Fédération internationale de football association 2).
On 12 May 2008 Farrelly underwent a serious operation to remove a tumour from his pancreas.
His manager Alan Matthews reported: "Gareth has had major surgery and remains in intensive care in Warwick hospital." The operation was an apparent success. Farrelly settled his case against Cork City for unfair dismissal in October 2009.
Since retiring as a professional football player, Gareth has moved into a career in law and now plays on an ad-hoc basis for Paul Hastings 5-a-side team Farrelly made his full international début for Ireland as a 21-year-old, and has six caps.