Declan O'Brien (footballer)

Declan O'Brien

Personal information
Full name	Declan O'Brien
Date of birth	June 16, 1980 (1980-06-16) (age 31)
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Monaghan United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2008	Drogheda United	188	(76)
2009	Dundalk	15	(2)
2009	→ St Patrick's Athletic (loan)	12	(2)
2009–2010	Valletta	12	(9)
2010	Athlone Town	6	(4)
2011–	Monaghan United	26	(18)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Declan 'Fabio' O'Brien, (born June 16, 1980 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland), is a professional footballer who is currently playing for Monaghan United.

Playing career

Drogheda United

During his time with Drogheda United he was the club captain and talisman and he became the clubs all time leading goalscorer with 90 goals in 184 games, 76 in domestic league and the rest in domestic cups (Setanta Cup, FAI Cup and League of Ireland Cup).

O'Brien scored in the 2005 FAI Cup Final [1].

Dundalk

On 15 January 2009, O'Brien signed up with newly promoted Dundalk to compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. He played out of position as a left winger and left in transfer window in July. He managed 4 goals in 15 appearances.

St Patrick's Athletic

He signed for St Patrick's Athletic for the rest of the 2009 season on loan. He scored on his debut in the Europa League against Valletta [2] and repeated the trick in the second leg [3] to send St Patrick's Athletic into the next round.

O'Brien then scored in both rounds again against FC Krylia Sovetov Samara to become St Patrick's Athletic all time record scorer in European competition [4][5]. He finished the season as joint top scorer with St Patricks and was only there for four months.

Valletta

In December 2009, O'Brien joined Maltese football club Valletta (the same team that he eliminated in the Europa League qualifiers) on a free transfer, after his loan contract with St Patrick's Athletic expired the previous month. O'Brien holds the Irish record for consecutive goals in European ties (4).

In his debut with Valletta (in a Triangular tournament against Parma FC and Hibernians), Declan managed to score with a low flying header against Serie A's side Parma F.C..

On the 15th of February 2010 making his 6th league appearance for Valletta, O'Brien scored his first league goals in a 6-0 victory over Dingli Swallows. O'Brien scored 4 goals in the match.

Then on the 27th of February, on his 7th league appearance Declan managed to score 2 goals in just 15 mins when he was substitute in the 75th minute against Tarxien Rainbows with the score finish 6-2 for Valletta. He followed this up with another brace in the Gozo cup against Gozo a week later. He also scored 2 weeks later in the U*BET F.A Trophy Cup against Birkarkara in a 3-1 win.

He won his first piece of silverware with Valletta F.C., when winning the 100th League Anniversary Cup against bitter rivals Floriana on 13 April 2010. After the end of the 2009-2010 sesson he was released by Valletta. He received a medal for the trophy but was not involved in the final as he agreed to be released beforehand.

Athlone Town

In July 2010 he signed for Athlone Town [6].

Monaghan United

He signed for Monghan United in December 2010 on a two year deal. He scored two on his debut against Cork City in 2-2 draw at Turners Cross. He then scored the winning goal on his home debut v Longford Town in a 1-0 win.He scored in his first seven consecutive games for the mons setting a record for any new signing to a an eircom club.Declan hit his first hatrick for mons in the third round of FAI cup v Everton afc.(cork city) [7].Declan secured promotion in his first season , scoring 20 goals in all competitions including a brace in the playoff final v Galway.

Honours

Drogheda United

Winner

• 2002 League of Ireland First Division
• 2005 FAI Cup
• 2006, 2007 Setanta Cup
• 2007 League of Ireland Premier Division

Valletta F.C.

Winner

• 2010 100th League Anniversary Cup
• 2010 [[Maltese Cup]
• 2011 ((promotion to premier div ireland)) (Monaghan utd)

Persondata
Name	Obrien, Declan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1980-06-16
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Date of death
Place of death