- Damien Brennan
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Damien Brennan Personal information Full name Damien Brennan Date of birth August 30, 1980 Place of birth Dublin, Republic of Ireland Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) Playing position Defender Club information Current club Shelbourne Youth career Belvedere 1997–2000 Huddersfield Town Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2000 Bohemians 0 (0) 2000–2002 Kilkenny City 2002–2003 Kildare County 52 (3) 2004–2005 Derry City 2006 Dublin City 17 (1) 2006–2007 Longford Town 39 (1) 2008–2009 Shelbourne 61 (6) 2010 Drogheda United 2 (0) 2010– Shelbourne 0 (0) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of May 15, 2010.
† Appearances (Goals).Damien Brennan (born August 30, 1980 in Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish footballer who currently plays for Shelbourne in the League of Ireland First Division. Brennan is an uncompromising central defender who can also play at right-back.
Career
Brennan previously played for Belvedere, Huddersfield Town, Bohemians, Kilkenny City, Kildare County, Derry City, Dublin City, Longford Town and Drogheda United. His short spell with Bohemians was during pre-season in 2000 when he made two appearances for them in the FAI Super Cup.
After his release in 2000 from Bohemians, Brennan joined First Division Kilkenny City for the remainder of the 2000–01 campaign. Brennan impressed during his two seasons at the Buckley Park club and he joined newly formed Kildare County for the 2002–03 season. He was regular figure at central-defence for the Thoroughbreds for two seasons and his impressive performances were rewarded with a move to Derry City in 2004.[1] Brennan struggled to become a regular starter during his spell at The Brandywell and he departed Derry at the end of the 2005 season to join Dublin City who were newly promoted to the Premier Division for the 2006 season. Brennan was regular for Dublin City in their 2006 campaign which saw the relegation favourites make an impressive start. In July 2006 Dublin City suddenly went out of business due to irreversible financial pressures.[2] Brennan was now a free agent but he swiftly found a new club with Premier Division outfit Longford Town.[3]
Brennan's Longford spell had its highs and lows. He immediately became a regular figure in the Longford side and helped guide them to an 8th-place finish in 2006. The 2007 season saw Brennan become Longford's captain but on and off the pitch, Longford's 2007 season would be a turbulent one. Financial pressures became apparent early on that season with speculation over players not being paid. This uncertainty was apparent on the pitch; Longford struggled for form and results and were languishing at the foot of the table. Longford's troubles turned for the worse as the club was deducted 6 points for administrative issues. The misfortune galvanised Brennan's squad during the second half of the season[citation needed] as Longford pushed their way up the table achieving impressive[says who?] results. Brennan captained Longford Town on another FAI Cup run as they reached the 2007 FAI Cup Final where they were eventually beaten 1–0 by Cork City at the RDS on December 2, 2007.[4] Despite Longford's turnaround in fortunes on the pitch, it was not enough to avoid relegation to the League of Ireland First Division as Longford finished bottom in 12th place; if Longford has not been deducted 6 points they would have finished 9th, clear of the relegation places. Despite relegation and a cup final defeat it was an impressive season for Brennan[says who?] as he matured as a captain and improved his game.
Brennan departed Longford after the 2007 FAI Cup Final to join First Division Shelbourne in December 2007.[5] He was immediately made captain of Shelbourne and he made his Shelbourne debut in a 0–0 draw against Dundalk at Tolka Park on March 7, 2008[6] and scored his first Shelbourne goal a week later in a 3-1 victory against Kildare County at Station Road on 14 March 2008.[7] Brennan finished a First Division runner-up in both 2008 and 2009 with Shelbourne, however the ending of the 2008 First Division was particularly agonizing for Brennan[citation needed] as his Shelbourne side conceded the title in the final 30 seconds during a heartbreaking[says who?] last-day 1–1 draw against Limerick 37.[8] Brennan lost form in the 2009 season for Shelbourne despite once again finishing as a First Division runner-up and he departed Shelbourne at the end of the season. He made 65 career league and cup appearances for Shelbourne, scoring 6 goals.
Brennan returned to Premier Division football in 2010 by signing for Drogheda United. However his debut was delayed after he twice underwent surgery for a knee injury before the start of the season. He finally made his Drogheda debut on 7 May 2010 against Sporting Fingal but struggled to hold down a first-team place before his release by the club in July 2010. On 27 August 2010, Brennan officially returned to former club Shelbourne for his second spell after training with the club for a number of weeks.[9]
References
- ^ Derry chase Thornley → news.bbc.co.uk
- ^ Dublin City FC bow out of eircom League → www.rte.ie
- ^ Longford Town v Drogheda United team news → www.rte.ie
- ^ Cork City 1-0 Longford Town → www.rte.ie
- ^ Player Update → www.shelbournefc.com
- ^ Shelbourne 0-0 Dundalk → www.rte.ie
- ^ Kildare 1-3 Shelbourne → www.rte.ie
- ^ Shelbourne 1-1 Limerick 37 www.shelbournefc.com
- ^ Damien Brennan & Mark O'Brien Return www.shelbournefc.com
External links
Preceded by
Cathal O'ConnorKildare County Senior Player
2003Succeeded by
Ray KennyShelbourne F.C. – current squad Categories:- 1980 births
- Living people
- People from County Dublin
- Republic of Ireland association footballers
- League of Ireland players
- Drogheda United F.C. players
- Shelbourne F.C. players
- Longford Town F.C. players
- Dublin City F.C. players
- Derry City F.C. players
- Kildare County F.C. players
- Kilkenny City A.F.C. players
- Bohemian F.C. players
- Huddersfield Town F.C. players
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