Pat Jennings Jr. Explained

Pat Jennings
Upright:1.1
Fullname:Patrick Jennings
Birth Date:24 September 1979
Birth Place:Hertfordshire, England
Height:1.77 m
Position:Goalkeeper
Currentclub:St Patrick's Athletic (goalkeeping coach)
Youthclubs1:Tottenham Hotspur
Years1:2000–2003
Clubs1:UCD
Caps1:43
Goals1:0
Years2:2004–2010
Clubs2:Derry City
Caps2:50
Goals2:0
Years3:2008
Clubs3:Sligo Rovers (loan)
Caps3:3
Goals3:0
Years4:2010
Clubs4:Shamrock Rovers
Caps4:0
Goals4:0
Years5:2011
Clubs5:Glenavon
Caps5:5
Goals5:0
Years6:2012
Clubs6:Athlone Town
Caps6:26
Goals6:0
Years7:2013–2018
Caps7:1
Goals7:0
Totalcaps:128
Totalgoals:0
Manageryears1:2013–
Managerclubs1:St Patrick's Athletic (goalkeeping coach)

Patrick Jennings (born 24 September 1979), commonly known as Pat Jennings Jr., is an English former professional football goalkeeper who is goalkeeping coach of League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic. He is the son of Northern Ireland international, Pat Jennings.

Early life

Jennings attended The Broxbourne School in Hertfordshire, along with the sons of his father's fellow Tottenham Hotspur players Chris Hughton, Osvaldo Ardiles and his father's goalkeeping contemporary Ray Clemence.

Career

Jennings started his career at Tottenham Hotspur before joining UCD in January 2001 on a Sports Management Soccer Scholarship. He moved north to Derry City after several seasons at Belfield Park.

At Derry, Jennings unsuccessfully tried to displace first-choice keeper David Forde, but rejected offers to leave the club at the end of the 2005 season. Jennings was able to be the hero for Derry in the 2006 League of Ireland Cup final against Shelbourne as he came on from the substitute's bench at The Brandywell to fill the place of Forde, who had been sent off in the 84th minute of play. The game went to penalties with Jennings saving all of Shelbourne's attempts.[1]

With the departure of Forde to Cardiff City at the end of the 2006 season, Jennings began the 2007 season as Derry coach Pat Fenlon's first-choice goalkeeper despite the signing of Ola Tidman.

Jennings joined Sligo on loan for the 2008 season.

Jennings signed for Shamrock Rovers in July 2010[2] but never played competitively.

In March 2011 he signed for Glenavon until the end of the 2010–11 season.[3] On his debut he scored an own goal.[4]

In March 2012 he joined Athlone Town.[5]

Jennings signed for St Patrick's Athletic as a goalkeeper coach to goalkeepers Brendan Clarke and Dave Ryan for the 2013 season. Ryan picked up an injury towards the end of pre-season and Jennings was signed up as the club's third choice goalkeeper on 6 March.[6] With Pats sub keeper Rene Gilmartin picking up an injury in a Setanta Cup game, Jennings was once again signed up as cover to Brendan Clarke for the 2014 season. With Gilmartin out injured, manager Liam Buckley decided not to risk injury to Clarke for the Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final away to Athlone Town and gave Jennings his debut as Pats won 3–2 after extra time against Jennings' old club.[7] Jennings played in the 2014 Leinster Senior Cup Final on 9 September 2014, as Pats beat Longford Town 2–1 to become champions. His next appearance came on 22 September 2015 in the 2015 Leinster Senior Cup Semi-final vs. Dundalk. With first choice keeper Brendan Clarke out for the season with a broken finger, manager Liam Buckley opted not to risk young stand-in keeper Conor O'Malley in the competition of least importance to the club and played Jennings, two days before his 36th birthday, as Pats lost 1–0, despite Jennings saving a John Mountney penalty in the 59th minute.

Personal life

Jennings married former Miss Ireland, Sarah Morrissey at a ceremony in Tuscany in 2014.[8]

Honours

Derry City

2006

2005, 2006, 2007

St Patrick's Athletic

2013

2014

2015, 2016

2014

2014

Notes and References

  1. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120213003753/http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2346 . 13 February 2012 . Eircom League of Ireland Cup 2006 . fai.ie . 13 April 2013.
  2. Web site: Transfer News . 30 July 2010 . shamrockrovers.ie . 13 April 2013.
  3. Web site: Glenavon sign keeper Jennings . 30 March 2011 . BBC Sport . 13 April 2013.
  4. News: Glenavon 1–2 Dungannon Swifts. BBC Sport . British Broadcasting Corporation . 31 March 2011 . 26 March 2012 .
  5. News: Jennings clearance comes through in time for 'El Classico'. Athlone Town . 10 March 2012 . 26 March 2012 .
  6. Web site: Saints Announce New Signings.
  7. Web site: LSC – Athlone Town 2 St Patricks Athletic 3 AET Athlone Town FC – 2013 First Division Champions. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140429205909/http://athlonetownfc.ie/lsc-athlone-town-2-st-patricks-athletic-3-aet/. 29 April 2014.
  8. News: Calnan . Denise . Romantic Italy the setting for top Irish model Sarah Morrissey and footballer Jennings' big day . 15 March 2023 . Irish Independent . 15 June 2014.