Patrick McEleney

Patrick McEleney
Personal information
Full namePatrick McEleney
Date of birth26 September 1992
Place of birthDerry, Northern Ireland
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionForward
Club information
Current team
Derry City
Number10
Youth career
2008–2009Sunderland
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–Derry City181(32)
National team‡
2008Northern Ireland U16?(?)
2009Republic of Ireland U17?(?)
2010Republic of Ireland U19?(?)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 October 2014.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10 September 2012

Patrick McEleney (born 26 September 1992) is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Derry City in the League of Ireland.[1]

Club Career

Sunderland

McEleney joined Sunderland from Foyle Harps on a scholarship in the summer of 2009 where he featured for the club's Under-18 and reserve teams.[2] However, his time at the Stadium of Light was brief as the player struggled with homesickness and the club agreed to release him from his contract.[3]

Derry City

Patrick signed for Stephen Kenny at Derry City on a two-year deal in December 2009.[4] He was a key member of the Derry side that won the 2010 First Division title, scoring 12 league goals in 31 appearances.

His eligibility for a match against Shelbourne in which he scored two goals was questioned because of an international call-up, however the Football Association of Ireland ruled that he was eligible to play.[5][6]

In 2011 Patrick made a further 34 league appearances as the Candystripes made their return to the Premier Division.

McEleney has featured in the UEFA Europa League with Derry City on a number of occasions, playing against Trabzonspor in 2013. In 2014 he scored in Derry's 4-0 win over Aberystwyth Town in the first qualifying round and also played against Shakhtyor Soligorsk.[7][8]

McEleney's older brother, Shane, also plays for Derry. 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.[9][10]

International career

McEleney played for the Northern Ireland Under-16 team[11] before later representing the Republic of Ireland at youth level. He has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-17 and Under-19 level.[12][13] He has since indicated that he has agreed to make himself available for Northern Ireland again after consulting with Michael O'Neill.[14]

Honours

Derry City

References

  1. ↑ "UEFA.com - Under-19 - McEleney". UEFA. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  2. ↑ "Sunderland sign star young stopper". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  3. ↑ "McEleney happy to 'stay at home'". Derry Journal. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "Derry sign up first four players". BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "BBC Sport - Football - Derry City cleared over Patrick McEleney eligibility". BBC Online. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Derry City cleared over Patrick McEleney eligibility". Bristol News. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  7. ↑ "Derry 4-0 Aberystwyth". Uefa.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  8. ↑ "Uefa Europa League - Patrick McEleney". Uefa.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Derry City's Shane McEleney handed NI U21 call-up". BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  10. ↑ "Friendly international: Hungary U21 3-2 N Ireland U21". BBC. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Finland v Northern Ireland". Irish FA. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  12. ↑ "Poland beat Ireland Under-17s in friendly at United Park". Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  13. ↑ "Ryan Connolly wins it for U19s". FAI.ie. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "'Trapattoni will never look towards our league' says Derry City midfielder Patrick McEleney". Goal.com. Retrieved 25 January 2015.