Patrick McEleney explained

Patrick McEleney
Fullname:Patrick McEleney
Birth Date:26 September 1992
Birth Place:Derry, Northern Ireland
Currentclub:Derry City
Clubnumber:10
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–2008
Youthclubs1:Foyle Harps
Youthyears2:2008–2009
Youthclubs2:Sunderland
Years1:2010–2015
Caps1:175
Goals1:26
Years2:2016–2017
Caps2:49
Goals2:13
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Oldham Athletic
Caps3:9
Goals3:1
Years4:2018–2021
Caps4:64
Goals4:5
Years5:2022–
Caps5:47
Goals5:2
Nationalyears1:2008
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland U16
Nationalyears2:2008–2009
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:7[1]
Nationalgoals2:1
Nationalyears3:2009–2010
Nationalteam3:Republic of Ireland U19
Nationalcaps3:4[2]
Nationalgoals3:0
Club-Update:14:35, 13 February 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:10 September 2012

Patrick McEleney (born 26 September 1992) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Derry City in the League of Ireland Premier Division.[3] He has previously played for Sunderland, Oldham Athletic and Dundalk. McEleney has represented Dundalk and Derry City in European competition.

Club career

Sunderland

McEleney joined Sunderland from Foyle Harps on a scholarship in the summer of 2008.[4] He signed a -year professional contract with the club in September 2008 and formed part of the under-18 and reserves teams which won their respective leagues that season under Kevin Ball. Both he and Everton youth team prospect, Shane Duffy, were granted a Civic Reception by the Mayor of Derry, Colr. Gerard Diver in the Guildhall in April 2009 to acknowledge their swift rise to prominence at their clubs.[5] However, his time at the Stadium of Light was cut short as the player struggled with homesickness and the club agreed to release him from his contract.[6]

Derry City

McEleney was one of the first four players signed by Stephen Kenny for Derry City following their relegation to the League of Ireland First Division, penning a two-year deal in December 2009.[7] He was a key member of the Derry side that won the 2010 First Division title, scoring 12 league goals in 31 appearances, and he attracted interest from some English Premier League clubs and Celtic due to his performances.[8] McEleney was nominated for the 2010 PFAI First Division Player of the Year award, ultimately losing out to Graham Cummins.[9] McEleney was involved in a controversial incident in October 2010 when, 3 days after pulling out of the Republic of Ireland's Under 19 squad due to an ankle injury, he played and scored twice in a First Division fixture against Shelbourne. The League of Ireland Participation Agreement stated that if a player was not released for international duty, he could not play for his club during the five days after that duty. The FAI cleared Derry of any breach, however, declaring that "by the time [McEleney] had recovered from the injury, he was no longer required to fulfil his international duties and so he was eligible to play for Derry City."[10] [11]

In 2011, McEleney made a further 34 league appearances as Derry finished third on their return to the Premier Division. He also won the League Cup as Derry beat Cork 1–0 in the final at Turner's Cross. In May 2012, McEleney scored a penalty in the final of the Setanta Sports Cup against Crusaders,[12] however Derry ultimately lost in the shootout.[13] Later in the year he was a member of the team who won the FAI Cup on 4 November 2012, playing 59 minutes in their 3–2 defeat of St. Patrick's Athletic in the final.[14]

McEleney featured in the UEFA Europa League with Derry City on a number of occasions. He played against Trabzonspor in the second qualifying round in 2013, and the following year he scored in Derry's 4–0 win over Aberystwyth Town in the first qualifying round. He also subsequently played against Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the second qualifying round.[15] [16] McEleney shone as Derry City reached the 2014 FAI Cup Final,[17] however on this occasion they lost to St. Patrick's Athletic. He made his 200th appearance in all competitions for Derry in a 4–2 loss against Bohemians on 24 July 2015. At the end of 2015, McEleney was unable to agree a new deal with Derry and his contract expired.[18]

Dundalk

Despite interest from Peterborough United, Brentford[19] and St. Patrick's Athletic,[20] McEleney signed a two-year deal with Dundalk in December 2015, linking up again with his former boss Stephen Kenny.[21] He was primarily signed as a replacement for the departed Richie Towell who moved to Brighton and Hove Albion.[22] Due to the fact that McEleney was under the age of 24 at the time, Dundalk had to pay a fee of €28,000 to Derry in compensation, a fee equal to one year of the player's gross salary.[23] McEleney marked his home debut with a goal during a 3–0 defeat of Finn Harps.[24] He picked up a groin injury after just his fourth game for the club and a hamstring injury sustained during his comeback put him out for longer, with McEleney noting that it took him until the mid-season break to gain full fitness.[25] Following this, McEleney appeared in all six of Dundalk's UEFA Champions League qualifying ties, playing a particularly crucial role in the 3–0 defeat of BATE Borisov in the third qualifying round second leg after coming off the bench for the injured Ronan Finn and helping Dundalk qualify for the Europa League group stage.[26] [27] In the 2020 Europa League third qualifying round, he scored in the penalty shoot-out against Sheriff Tiraspol helping Dundalk qualify for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage.[28] In the 2021-22 Europa Conference League 3rd round Qualifiers, He scored 2 goals to draw the game against Vitesse Arnhem.[29]

Return to Derry City

It was announced on 8 July 2021 that McEleney had signed a pre-contract to re-join his hometown club Derry City on a two-year contract, commencing at the end of the season.[30] [31]

On 13 November 2022 McEleney helped Derry to win the 2022 FAI Cup Final.

International career

McEleney played for the Northern Ireland Under-16 team[32] before later representing the Republic of Ireland at youth level. He represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17 level seven times and scored on his debut against Bulgaria in a 2–0 win at the Ovcha Kupel Stadium in August 2008.[33] McEleney progressed to the Republic of Ireland Under-19 team in September 2009, making his debut against the Netherlands at the Carlisle Grounds in the Clarion Hotel Four-nation Tour.[34] He went on to make a further 3 appearances for the Under-19s.[35] [36] Despite being contacted by Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill with a view to being called up to their senior squad, McEleney has indicated that his international future lies with the Republic of Ireland.[37]

Personal life

McEleney is from the Shantallow area of Derry city.[38] His father, Henry, was also a footballer, playing for Coleraine in the Irish League.[39] Furthermore, McEleney's older brother, Shane, is a centre back and teammate of Patrick's at Derry City, having previously played for Finn Harps, Larne, Ottawa Fury & St Patrick's Athletic. Like Patrick, Shane has featured at youth level for the Republic of Ireland and recently switched allegiance to Northern Ireland, playing and scoring for the under-21 team in August 2012 against Hungary.[40] [41]

McEleney was a ballboy at Derry City in his youth.[42] In 2015, an Italian football fan travelled 5,000 km to watch Derry City play and obtain McEleney's autograph after managing the club in PC videogame Football Manager.[43]

Career statistics

[44]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Derry City2010LOI First Division3190000319
2011LOI Premier Division3450030375
2012273512172417
201328300302020353
2014275511141378
20152812010311
Total17526122102619221233
Dundalk2016LOI Premier Division233300012021404
20172610302120213512
Total49136021140427516
Oldham Athletic2017–18EFL League One9100000091
Dundalk2018LOI Premier Division11142002010183
201924240216010373
2020904180201
2021202116210285
Total645134212223010312
Derry City2022LOI Premier Division2715020341
2023201106000271
202400000000
Total472608000612
Career total3444737614450316446164

Honours

Club

Derry City
Dundalk

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Players profile on SoccerScene.ie. SoccerScene.ie. 28 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Players profile on SoccerScene.ie. SoccerScene.ie. 28 August 2016.
  3. Web site: UEFA.com - Under-19 - McEleney . https://archive.today/20110806201555/http://en.uefa.com/under19/teams/player=250005042/index.html . dead . 6 August 2011 . . 7 December 2010 .
  4. Web site: Sunderland sign star young stopper. Sunderland Echo. 25 January 2015. 10 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151210213858/http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/sunderland-sign-star-young-stopper-1-1066950. dead.
  5. Web site: Duffy, McEleney hope to emulate Gibson. Derry Journal. 26 August 2016.
  6. Web site: McEleney happy to 'stay at home'. Derry Journal. 25 January 2015.
  7. News: Derry sign up first four players. BBC. 10 December 2009. 25 January 2015.
  8. News: Premier League clubs and Celtic interested in McEleney. BBC. 26 August 2010. 26 August 2016.
  9. Web site: Hoops and Sligo dominate PFAI nominations. RTÉ Sport. 21 October 2010. 26 August 2016.
  10. News: BBC Sport - Football - Derry City cleared over Patrick McEleney eligibility. BBC Online. 7 December 2010. 15 October 2010.
  11. Web site: Derry City cleared over Patrick McEleney eligibility. Bristol News. 7 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120315200903/http://www.bristolwired.co.uk/news.php/99237-Derry-City-cleared-over-Patrick-McEleney-eligibility. 15 March 2012. dead. dmy-all.
  12. Web site: Crusaders lift Setanta Sports Cup trophy. 12 May 2012. goal.com. 26 August 2016.
  13. Web site: Gareth McKeown was the hero as Crusaders won the Setanta Sports Cup, after a penalty shoot-out. 12 May 2012. RTÉ Sport. 26 August 2016.
  14. Web site: As it happened: Derry City v St Patrick's Athletic, Ford FAI Cup final.
  15. Web site: Derry 4-0 Aberystwyth. Uefa.com. 25 January 2015.
  16. Web site: Uefa Europa League - Patrick McEleney. Uefa.com. 25 January 2015.
  17. Web site: 'We know what it takes' - Derry City's Patrick McEleney confident ahead of FAI Cup final. Goal.com. 26 August 2016.
  18. Web site: Patrick McEleney: Derry City midfielder moves to Dundalk. BBC Sport. 26 August 2016.
  19. Web site: Dundalk's bonus territory brings welcome boost. Irish Independent. 26 August 2016.
  20. Web site: Dundalk make two big signings as they bid to replace Richie Towell. the42.ie. 26 August 2016.
  21. Web site: Dundalk land McEleney and Benson. Irish Independent. 26 August 2016.
  22. Web site: Dundalk's Patrick McEleney insists Finn Harps must not be underestimated ahead of Oriel Park clash. Irishmirror.ie. 11 March 2016. 26 August 2016.
  23. Web site: Dundalk Big On Ben . https://web.archive.org/web/20191214134254/https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/the-argus/20151209/282218009726140. 14 Dec 2019.
  24. Web site: Patrick McEleney on target as Dundalk show class. RTÉ Sport. 11 March 2016. 26 August 2016.
  25. Web site: Dundalk's bonus territory brings welcome boost. Irish Independent. 26 August 2016.
  26. Web site: Dundalk will go for it against Legia Warsaw, insists McEleney. Goal.com. 26 August 2016.
  27. Web site: Dundalk's bonus territory brings welcome boost. Irish Independent. 26 August 2016.
  28. Web site: Bittersweet night for Dundalk star as he equals Glen Crowes European . the42 . the42 . 5 November 2020 . 22 November 2020.
  29. Web site: Patrick McEleney steals the show as Dundalk grab a draw at Vitesse. 5 August 2021.
  30. Web site: Derry City announce Patrick McEleney is to rejoin from Dundalk.
  31. Web site: City Confirm McEleney Pre-Contract Deal. 8 July 2021.
  32. Web site: Finland v Northern Ireland. Irish FA. 25 January 2015.
  33. Web site: Match report from SoccerScene.ie. SoccerScene.ie. 28 August 2016.
  34. Web site: Match report from SoccerScene.ie. SoccerScene.ie. 28 August 2016.
  35. News: Poland beat Ireland Under-17s in friendly at United Park. 25 January 2015.
  36. News: Ryan Connolly wins it for U19s. FAI.ie. 25 January 2015.
  37. Web site: 'Trapattoni will never look towards our league' says Derry City midfielder Patrick McEleney. Goal.com. 25 January 2015.
  38. Web site: DERRY CITY: Patrick McEleney explains reasons behind Dundalk move. Derry Journal. 26 August 2016.
  39. Web site: Patrick McEleney - from humble Beginnings to League of Ireland Stardom. 9 November 2018.
  40. News: Derry City's Shane McEleney handed NI U21 call-up. BBC. 25 January 2015.
  41. News: Friendly international: Hungary U21 3-2 N Ireland U21. BBC. 25 January 2015.
  42. News: Dundalk's McEleney eyes shot at big time. Rowan. Paul.
  43. Web site: Football Manager fan makes 5000km round Derry City FC trip after three years managing the Candystripes online. Derry Journal. 26 August 2016.
  44. https://int.soccerway.com/players/patrick-mceleney/122827/
  45. Web site: Dundalk and Cork dominate PFAI team of the year. RTÉ Sport. 18 October 2016. rte.ie. 18 October 2016.