Cillian Sheridan

Cillian Sheridan

Sheridan with CSKA Sofia in 2010
Personal information
Full nameCillian Sheridan
Date of birth23 February 1989
Place of birthBailieborough, County Cavan, Ireland
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[1]
Playing positionStriker
Club information
Current team
APOEL
Number9
Youth career
Bailieborough Celtic
–2006Belvedere
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2010Celtic14(4)
2009→ Motherwell (loan)13(2)
2009–2010→ Plymouth Argyle (loan)13(0)
2010→ St. Johnstone (loan)16(6)
2010–2012CSKA Sofia19(4)
2011–2012→ St. Johnstone (loan)28(4)
2012–2013Kilmarnock26(9)
2013–APOEL45(8)
National team‡
2009–2010Republic of Ireland U2110(2)
2010–Republic of Ireland3(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 4 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 August 2010

Cillian Sheridan (born 23 February 1989) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for APOEL in the Cypriot First Division, as a striker. He has also represented the Republic of Ireland at international level.

Sheridan kicked off his career with Scottish club Celtic in 2006, but a lack of first team opportunities saw him being loaned to other Scottish clubs. In 2010, he switched clubs and countries joining CSKA Sofia of Bulgaria. Here he too struggled for matches and was loaned to Scottish side St. Johnstone. After playing for Kilmarnock between 2012 and 2013, he signed for defending Cypriot champions APOEL. In the first season with the club, he won the Cypriot League and the Cup.

Club career

Early years

Born in Bailieborough, County Cavan, he grew up playing Gaelic football for Bailieborough Shamrocks.[2] He began playing the association code with Bailieborough Celtic before travelling to Dublin to play for Belvedere, where he received call-ups for Irish youth squads.[2][3][4] During his time at Belvedere, Sheridan chose to focus on his football career, having turned down an offer to join Australian rules club Brisbane Lions.[2][5][6] He had trials with several clubs before being offered a contract by Scottish Premier League club Celtic, which he accepted.[4][5]

Celtic

After joining Celtic in the summer of 2006, while simultaneously studying to achieve a diploma for Applied Physiology at Strathclyde University, Sheridan was promoted to the reserve team and then the first team squad during his first season at the club, a "spectacular rise" according to coach Joe McBride.[7]

He made his first team debut for Celtic in the Scottish Cup against Inverness Caledonian Thistle on 25 February 2007. He set up Kenny Miller for the winning goal in the 92nd minute and signed a new three-year contract with the club two days later.[8] Sheridan made his European debut on 21 October 2008, coming on as a sub for Scott McDonald in Celtic's Champions League game against Manchester United at Old Trafford.[9] He also started in the return game at Parkhead on 5 November 2008 in a 1–1 draw.[10] Just four days after his European debut, Sheridan made his first Celtic start against Hibernian. Celtic won 4–2 with Sheridan scoring their second goal in the 36th minute.[11]

Loan moves

Cillian playing for Motherwell in May 2009

On 2 February 2009 Sheridan signed for Motherwell on loan until the end of the season and was given the number 9 shirt, previously worn by Chris Porter, who had signed for Derby County the previous day.[12] Sheridan made his debut on 7 February 2009, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw with St Mirren in the Scottish Cup.[13] He made his first start and league debut a week later on Valentine's Day in Motherwell's 1–0 win over Hamilton, playing the entire 90 minutes as his strike partner David Clarkson scored the only goal of the game.[14] Sheridan scored his first league goal for The Well a fortnight later, the winning goal in a 2–1 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle.[15][16] His only other goal for Motherwell came near the end of the season in a 3–0 win over Hamilton.[15]

On 13 August 2009, Sheridan joined Plymouth Argyle on a six-month loan deal.[17] He played 14 times for the Championship team but failed to find the net.[18]

Sheridan completed his loan spell at Plymouth and returned to Celtic on 14 January 2010. Later the same day Sheridan was again loaned out, this time to St. Johnstone for the rest of the season.[19] On 17 February 2010, Sheridan scored two goals in St. Johnstone's 5–1 win against Hibernian.[20] On 30 March 2010 he scored the opening goal for St Johnstone in a 4–1 win over Rangers.[21]

CSKA Sofia

Sheridan signed a three-year contract with Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia on 13 August 2010.[22] Sheridan made his debut in the 2–2 draw against League of Wales side The New Saints; CSKA won 5–2 on aggregate.[23] He scored his first goal for the club in their 3–1 away win against Sliven.[24] On 25 September, Sheridan scored twice in a 2–0 win against Montana.[25] Changes of management, however, made it difficult for Sheridan to settle in Bulgaria.[26] He was loaned to St. Johnstone for the 2011–12 season and, after CSKA experienced financial problems, Sheridan agreed to leave the club in August 2012.[27]

St. Johnstone (loan)

On 7 June 2011, Sheridan appeared in a reserve match for American side Seattle Sounders FC.[28] Sheridan started the game and scored in the 7th minute of a 2–0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.[29] Following his spell with Seattle, Sheridan went on trial with their major rivals Portland Timbers, appearing for their reserve team.[30][31] On 8 July, Sheridan joined SPL club Hibernian on trial,[26] but instead decided to join St. Johnstone on a loan deal until January 2012.[32] He made his second St. Johnstone debut on 23 July against Aberdeen.[33] Sheridan scored four goals in 15 appearances before he was prevented from playing by a hamstring injury.[34] St. Johnstone and CSKA Sofia agreed to extend the loan deal in January 2012, that will last until the end of the season.[35]

Kilmarnock

After being released by CSKA Sofia, Sheridan signed a two-year contract with Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock on 6 September 2012.[36] Sheridan made his debut in a 2–1 loss against Hibernian on 15 September 2012 and seven days later on 22 September 2012, he scored his first goal when he opened the scoring in a 3–1 win over St. Mirren.[37] The following week, he scored a hat trick at Tynecastle in 3–1 victory over Hearts. After the match, team-mate Manuel Pascali compared Sheridan comparison to former Kilmarnock striker Conor Sammon[38] On 17 October 2012, Sheridan scored against his former club Celtic in a 2–0 win at Parkhead.[39] Sheridan continued his goalscoring form into the second half of the season, but then suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out for several weeks.[40] During Sheridan's injury absence Kilmarnock signed Kris Boyd, and even after recovering from injury, Sheridan struggled to regain his first team place.[41] Instead, he would come on as a substitute without scoring, often playing out of position.

APOEL

On 20 June 2013, Sheridan signed a one-year contract, with the option of a further season with APOEL from Cyprus.[42] He made his official debut on 17 August 2013 against Apollon Limassol in the Cypriot Super Cup final, in a match which APOEL won 1–0 and lifted the trophy.[43][44] He scored his first official goal for APOEL on 7 December 2013, in his team's 2–0 away win against Ethnikos Achna for the Cypriot First Division.[45] On 8 January 2014, he scored the only goal in APOEL's 1–0 home victory against AEL Limassol for that season's Cypriot Cup.[46] On 5 February 2014, he gave his team the three important points after scoring the winning goal against Anorthosis in APOEL's 2–1 away win.[47] On 29 March 2014, after an amazing solo effort he scored the second goal of the match against Apollon Limassol, in APOEL's 3–0 home win for the Cypriot First Division play-offs.[48] On 21 May 2014, Sheridan scored APOEL's second goal in the Cypriot Cup final against Ermis Aradippou and helped his team to lift the trophy after a 2–0 win.[49][50] On 31 May 2014, Sheridan gave APOEL their 23rd Cypriot First Division title after scoring the only goal in the title decider match against AEL Limassol.[51][52]

On 30 July 2014, Sheridan scored the equalizer against HJK Helsinki at Sonera Stadium, in APOEL's 2–2 first leg draw for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.[53] One week later, he scored again in the return leg against HJK Helsinki, opening the scoring in APOEL's 2–0 home victory and advancement to the play-off round of the 2014–15 UEFA Champions League.[54] On 26 August 2014, he scored the fourth goal in APOEL's 4–0 thriumph over Aalborg BK for the UEFA Champions League play-off round, helping his team to reach the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[55] Sheridan appeared in every group stage match in APOEL's 2014–15 UEFA Champions League campaign.[56]

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 April 2015
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Celtic 2006–07[57] Scottish Premier League 101000000020
2007–08[58] Scottish Premier League 100000000010
2008–09[59] Scottish Premier League 12400103[lower-alpha 1]000164
Total 14410103000194
Motherwell (loan) 2008–09[59] Scottish Premier League 132200000—152
Plymouth Argyle (loan) 2009–10[60] Championship 1301000—140
St Johnstone (loan) 2009–10[60] Scottish Premier League 1661010—186
CSKA Sofia 2009–10[61] A PFG 16432—7[lower-alpha 2]1—267
2012–13[61] A PFG 3000—1[lower-alpha 2]0—40
Total 19432—81—307
St Johnstone (loan) 2011–12[62] Scottish Premier League 2842120—325
Kilmarnock 2012–13[63] Scottish Premier League 2693100—2910
APOEL 2013–14[61] Cypriot First Division 26574—5[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0399
2014–15[61] Cypriot First Division 19351—10[lower-alpha 1]31[lower-alpha 3]0357
Total 458125—153207416
Career total 17437259402642023150
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Appearances in Cypriot Super Cup

International career

Sheridan has been capped 10 times for the Republic of Ireland under-21 team.

On 25 May 2010, Sheridan won his first cap for the Republic of Ireland in a 2–1 win against Paraguay at the RDS Arena.[64]

Honours

Celtic
CSKA Sofia
APOEL

References

  1. ↑ "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Quiet Bhoy in with a shout: Sheridan is determined to prove he is more than a Celtic standby". Daily Mail. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Ex-Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan escapes ban for speeding". Daily Record. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jardine, Peter (27 October 2008). "Sheridan will break more than a Gaelic mould if he keeps his place". Daily Mail. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Cillian Sheridan interview: Well on his way to the top". The Scotsman. 7 March 2009. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Mcdermott, Scott (8 March 2009). "Mark McGhee: I can see loan-star Cillian Sheridan becoming a sensation". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
  7. ↑ "Sheridan shows value of Celtic system". The Times. Retrieved 27 February 2007.
  8. ↑ Sheridan nets new deal at Celtic, BBC Sport, 27 January 2007
  9. ↑ "Man Utd 3–0 Celtic". BBC Sport (BBC). 21 October 2008.
  10. ↑ "Celtic 1–1 Manchester United". BBC Sport (BBC). 5 November 2008.
  11. ↑ "Celtic 4–2 Hibernian". BBC Sport (BBC). 25 October 2008.
  12. ↑ "McGhee hopeful over loan-signing Cillian Sheridan". STV Sport. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Andy (7 February 2009). "Motherwell 1-1 St Mirren". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  14. ↑ "Motherwell 1-0 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=46153&season_id=138
  16. ↑ "Inverness CT 1-2 Motherwell". BBC Sport. 28 February 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "Argyle wrap up Sheridan loan deal". BBC Sport. 14 August 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
  18. ↑ http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=46153&season_id=139
  19. ↑ "St Johnstone take Celtic's Cillian Sheridan on loan". BBC Sport (BBC). 14 January 2010.
  20. ↑ "St Johnstone 5 – 1 Hibernian". BBC Sport (BBC). 17 February 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  21. ↑ "St Johnstone 4 – 1 Rangers: Stunning rout in Perth stalls title stroll". The Scotsman. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
  22. ↑ "Celtic's Cillian Sheridan signs for CSKA Sofia". BBC Sport. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  23. ↑ "TNS 2–2 CSKA Sofia (agg 2–5)". BBC Sport. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  24. ↑ "Sliven 1–3 CSKA Sofia". Soccerway. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  25. ↑ "Cillian Sheridan scores twice as CSKA Sofia win 2–0". GreenScene. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 McGuire, Annie (8 July 2011). "Cillian Sheridan delighted to join Hibs on trial". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  27. ↑ "Striker Cillian Sheridan leaves Bulgarian club CSKA Sofia". BBC Sport (BBC). 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  28. ↑ "Cillian Sheridan on trial with Sounders FC". Seattle Times. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  29. ↑ "Reserve Match: Sounders FC vs Whitecaps FC". Seattle Sounders FC Website. 8 June 2011.
  30. ↑ "EX-CELTIC STRIKER SHERIDAN HAS PORTLAND TIMBERS TRIAL EXTENDED". Tribal Football. 24 June 2011.
  31. ↑ "Ex-Celtic striker Sheridan has Portland Timbers trial extended". Yahoo! Sport. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  32. ↑ "Cillian Sheridan fails to agree deal with Hibernian". BBC Sport (BBC). 18 July 2011. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  33. ↑ "Aberdeen v St. Johnstone". BBC Sport (BBC). 23 July 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  34. ↑ "St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas wants Cillian Sheridan to stay on". BBC Sport (BBC). 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  35. ↑ "CSKA Sofia's Cillian Sheridan set to extend loan at St Johnstone". BBC Sport (BBC). 8 January 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  36. ↑ "Cillian Sheridan wins contract with Kilmarnock". BBC Sport (BBC). 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  37. ↑ "Kilmarnock striker Cillian Sheridan scores first goal for club as they defeat St Mirren". Daily Record. 22 September 2012.
  38. ↑ "Manuel Pascali backs Kilmarnock new boy Cillian Sheridan to be new Conor Sammon". Daily Record. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  39. ↑ Forsyth, Roddy (27 October 2012). "Celtic 0 Kilmarnock 2: match report". Telegraph. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  40. ↑ "Kilmarnock: Top scorer Cillian Sheridan faces six-week lay-off". BBC Sport. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  41. ↑ "Cillian Sheridan Leaves For Apoel Nicosia". Afc1903.co.uk. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Στην Πρώτη ο Sheridan" [Sheridan at the first training] (in Greek). APOEL FC. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  43. ↑ ΑΠΟΕΛ - Απόλλωνας 1-0 (τελικό) (in Greek). CFA. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  44. ↑ "APOEL FC 1-0 APOLLON". APOEL FC. 17 August 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  45. ↑ "Ethnikos Achna vs. APOEL 0-2". Soccerway. 7 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  46. ↑ "APOEL vs. AEL 1–0". soccerway. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  47. ↑ "Anorthosis vs. APOEL 1-2". Soccerway. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  48. ↑ "APOEL vs. Apollon 3-0". Soccerway. 29 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  49. ↑ ΕΡΜΗΣ ΑΡΑΔΙΠΠΟΥ 0-2 ΑΠΟΕΛ (in Greek). APOEL FC. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  50. ↑ "APOEL vs. Ermis 2-0". Soccerway. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  51. ↑ "Sheridan strike hands APOEL Cypriot title". UEFA. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  52. ↑ "AEL vs. APOEL 0-1". Soccerway. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
  53. ↑ "APOEL comeback halts ten-man HJK". UEFA. 30 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  54. ↑ "APOEL in play-offs after comfortable HJK success". UEFA. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  55. ↑ "APOEL ease past AaB and into group stage". UEFA. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  56. ↑ "APOEL FC Squad". UEFA. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  57. ↑ "Matches played by Cillian Sheridan in 2006/07". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  58. ↑ "Matches played by Cillian Sheridan in 2007/08". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 "Matches played by Cillian Sheridan in 2008/09". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 "Matches played by Cillian Sheridan in 2009/10". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 "Soccerway profile". Soccerway. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  62. ↑ "Matches played by Cillian Sheridan in 2011/12". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  63. ↑ "Matches played by Cillian Sheridan in 2012/13". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  64. ↑ "Republic of Ireland 2–1 Paraguay". BBC Sport. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 27 May 2010.
  65. ↑ http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6684941.stm
  66. ↑ "Bulgarian Cup: CSKA Sofia 1 Slavia Sofia 0". Uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  67. ↑ "The Emerald Exiles Cillian Sheridan". Theemeraldexiles.com. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  68. ↑ http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2014/05/21/cyprus/cup/apoel-nicosia/ermis-fc-aradippou/1668957/
  69. ↑ "Ειδήσεις - Το ΑΠΟΕΛ κατέκτησε το Κύπελλο Coca - Cola (APOEL won the Copa Coca - Cola)". Cfa.com.cy. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  70. ↑ "Cypriot Super Cup boost for APOEL". UEFA.com. 18 August 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2014.

External links