Mikey Drennan Explained

Mikey Drennan
Fullname:Michael Joseph Drennan[1]
Birth Date:2 February 1994[2]
Birth Place:Kilkenny, Ireland
Height:1.77m
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:Evergreen
Youthyears2:2010–2011
Youthclubs2:Aston Villa
Years1:2011–2015
Clubs1:Aston Villa
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Years2:2014
Clubs2:Carlisle United (loan)
Caps2:6
Goals2:0
Years3:2014
Clubs3:Portsmouth (loan)
Caps3:14
Goals3:3
Years4:2015–2016
Clubs4:Shamrock Rovers
Caps4:37
Goals4:12
Years5:2017
Clubs5:Evergreen
Years6:2018
Clubs6:Sligo Rovers
Caps6:13
Goals6:6
Years7:2019
Clubs7:St Patrick's Athletic
Caps7:26
Goals7:6
Years8:2020–
Clubs8:Evergreen
Nationalyears1:2010
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U16
Nationalyears2:2010
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2012
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:4
Nationalyears4:2014–2016
Nationalteam4:Republic of Ireland U21
Nationalcaps4:2
Nationalgoals4:0
Club-Update:23:42, 6 November 2019 (UTC)
Ntupdate:09:10, 10 April 2017 (UTC)

Michael Joseph 'Mikey' Drennan (born 2 February 1994) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker, most recently for St Patrick's Athletic. Drennan has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level and won the Football Association of Ireland's Under-16 International Player of the Year in 2010. Drennan was scouted by then Premier League side Aston Villa and spent five years in their youth and reserve sides where he was loaned out to English Football League sides Carlisle United and Portsmouth. He returned to Ireland, playing for Shamrock Rovers, local side Evergreen, Sligo Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic.

Career

English Football

Aston Villa

Born in Kilkenny, Drennan began his career in hometown's Evergreen FC, playing for the youth side until before moving to Aston Villa in June 2010, after being tracked by Villa and Manchester City since January.[3] In his first season, he impressed for the Academy side, scoring ten goals (also one with the Reserves), and signed a professional deal in March of the following year.[4]

Drennan appeared 13 times for the reserves in 2011–12 season, also appearing four times in the NextGen Series and scoring a brace against Rosenborg. In the 2012–13 season, he played a key part for the Reserves both in U21 Development League and in NextGen Series, also being the second top goalscorer for the NextGen, despite being injured for the latter stages of the tournament.[5] His foot injury (suffered in a NextGen game against Ajax), kept him sidelined for nine months.[6]

Carlisle United Loan

On 17 January 2014 Drennan joined Carlisle United on a one-month youth loan deal,[7] and made his debut as a substitute in a 2–4 home loss to Colchester United the following day.[8] He returned to Villa in February after appearing six times for Carlisle, starting in three matches.

Portsmouth Loan

On 21 February 2014, Drennan joined League Two side Portsmouth on a one-month loan.[9] Drennan scored on his league debut in a 5–1 defeat against Scunthorpe United on 22 February 2014.[10] On 24 March 2014, Drennan extended his loan stay with Pompey for the remainder of the 2013–14 season.[11]

Return to Ireland

Shamrock Rovers

On 30 January 2015, Drennan returned to his home country, signing for League of Ireland side, Shamrock Rovers on a two-year deal.[12] His first season saw him score 12 goals in 35 games across all competitions, including his first appearances in the UEFA Europa League.[13]

Time Out Of Professional Football

In 2016 Drennan took a break from football with depression, taking work in his native Kilkenny and playing for the local hurling side James Stephens GAA and local junior football side Evergreen where he began his career, he stated he might return to Shamrock Rovers in January 2017.[14] However, Drennan continued playing for Evergreen on their run to the FAI Junior Cup final, including a goal in the quarter-final against Kilmallock.[15] [16]

Sligo Rovers

Drennan returned to professional football on 13 June 2018, signing for Sligo Rovers under manager Gerard Lyttle.[17] Drennan scored an impressive 9 goals in 17 appearances in all competitions, including a hattrick against Livingston in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[18]

St Patrick's Athletic

On 12 December 2018, it was announced that Drennan had signed a 2-year contract with Dublin club St Patrick's Athletic, alongside former teammate Brandon Miele.[19] [20] He started off life at the Saints in excellent form, scoring the winner on his debut at home to Cork City,[21] as well as scoring an injury time winner in his second game, away to his former club Sligo Rovers.[22] On 29 March 2019, he was shown a straight red card against Bohemians for making comments to the referee after a soft free kick was given against him,[23] he was suspended for 3 games as a result.[24] Drennan's sixth goal of the season came on 26 April 2019, this proved to be his last goal of the season as he went on a disappointing 19 game goal drought across all competitions until the end of the season.[13] Drennan featured in both legs of his sides UEFA Europa League tie against Swedish side IFK Norrköping.[25] [26] On 27 July, Drennan received another straight red card for making comments to the referee following a free kick being given against his side.[27] This saw him receive a 4 match suspension.[28] It was announced on 6 November 2019 that Drennan had been released from his contract a year early by new Saints manager Stephen O'Donnell, having failed to impress him during his 7 games in charge.[29]

Return to Evergreen

Drennan left the professional game again in January 2020, opting to sign for his local Kilkenny side Evergreen once again.

Career statistics

Professional appearances – correct as of 31 October 2019.[30]

ClubDivisionSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aston VillaPremier League2013–1400000000
2014–1500000000
Carlisle United (loan)EFL League One2013–146000000060
Portsmouth (loan)EFL League Two2013–14103000000103
2014–154000000040
Portsmouth Total143000000143
Shamrock RoversLeague of Ireland Premier Division20152912101040003512
2016800000000080
Shamrock Rovers Total3712101040004312
Sligo RoversLeague of Ireland Premier Division2018136101023179
St Patrick's AthleticLeague of Ireland Premier Division201926600102010306
Career Total96272030603311030

Honours

Club

Aston Villa Under-19s

2012–13 (1)

Aston Villa Reserves

2011–12 (1)

Individual

Notes and References

  1. News: Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists . Premier League . 35 . 4 February 2014 . 12 February 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140316063138/http://www.premierleague.com/content/dam/premierleague/site-content/News/publications/squad-lists/Premier-League-Squad-Lists-January-2014.pdf . 16 March 2014 .
  2. Web site: Michael Drennan. 11v11 . 12 January 2016.
  3. Web site: 'Villa move looms as Drennan stars for Ireland . Kilkenny People . 21 January 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140224182553/http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/sport/villa-move-looms-as-drennan-stars-for-ireland-1-2169412 . 24 February 2014 . dmy-all .
  4. Web site: Michael Drennan turns pro at Aston Villa . Tribal Football . 2 March 2011 . 21 February 2014.
  5. Web site: Aston Villa Under-21s . www.avfc.com . 25 September 2013.
  6. Web site: Villa management welcomes back fit-again Drennan . Tribal Football . 26 November 2013 . 21 February 2014.
  7. Web site: Transfer Window: Carlisle sign Aston Villa's Michael Drennan . . 17 January 2014 . 21 February 2014.
  8. Web site: Carlisle 2–4 Colchester . BBC Sport . 18 January 2014 . 21 February 2014.
  9. Web site: Drennan Arrives on Loan . Portsmouth FC . 21 February 2014.
  10. News: Scunthorpe 5–1 Portsmouth . BBC . 22 February 2014 . 24 February 2014 .
  11. Web site: Drennan Extends Pompey Loan . Portsmouth FC . 24 March 2014.
  12. Web site: Welcome Mikey Drennan. Shamrock Rovers. Shamrock Rovers. 30 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150130223312/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/latest-news/3833-welcome-mikey-drennan. 30 January 2015. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Republic of Ireland - M. Drennan - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway.
  14. Web site: 'I walked out of dressing room and started crying' - Shamrock Rovers star opens up on depression battle. Irish Independent. 14 September 2016.
  15. Web site: Killarney Celtic to face Sheriff YC in FAI Junior Cup semi-finals. Football Association of Ireland. 10 April 2017.
  16. Web site: Holden: Time for Evergreen to give their best. Kilkenny People. 10 April 2017.
  17. News: Drennan signs for Sligo following two-year absence . Ed . Leahy . 13 June 2018 . RTE . 10 May 2020 .
  18. Web site: Rovers 4-1 Livingston Colts – Report – Sligo Rovers.
  19. Web site: Drennan and Miele move to St Patrick's Athletic. . 12 December 2018.
  20. Web site: Double swoop as St Pat's complete deals for ex-Shamrock Rovers duo Miele and Drennan. 12 December 2018 .
  21. Web site: League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 1 - 0 Cork City.
  22. Web site: League Report: Sligo Rovers 0 - 1 St. Patrick's Athletic.
  23. Web site: League Report: Bohemians 1 - 0 St. Patrick's Athletic.
  24. Web site: St Pat's star striker Mikey Drennan hit with additional two-match ban. 5 April 2019.
  25. Web site: Europa League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 0 - 2 IFK Norrkoping.
  26. Web site: The official website for European football.
  27. Web site: League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 0-1 Dundalk.
  28. Web site: St Pat's Drennan punished for dissent as part of four-match ban. 8 August 2019 .
  29. Web site: Saints marching out.
  30. Web site: Republic of Ireland – M.Drennan. Ie.soccerway.com. 2018-12-13.