Damien Brennan
Encyclopedia
Damien Brennan 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.
, 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. 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. Brennan was now a free agent but he swiftly found a new club with Premier Division outfit Longford Town
.
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 as Longford pushed their way up the table achieving impressive 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. 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 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. 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 and scored his first Shelbourne goal a week later in a 3-1 victory against Kildare County
at Station Road
on 14 March 2008. 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 as his Shelbourne side conceded the title in the final 30 seconds during a heartbreaking last-day 1–1 draw against Limerick 37
. 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.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
who currently plays for Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
in the League of Ireland First Division
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
. Brennan is an uncompromising central defender who can also play at right-back.
Career
Brennan previously played for Belvedere, Huddersfield TownHuddersfield Town F.C.
Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. They currently play in League One...
, Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
, Kilkenny City
Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C. was an Irish football club. The club played in the First Division of the League of Ireland until 18 January 2008 when they announced that they resigned their position in the league citing “lack of finance, poor results and paltry attendances”.The club hails from Kilkenny and...
, Kildare County
Kildare County F.C.
Kildare County F.C. was an Irish football club that played in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 2002, hailed from Newbridge, County Kildare and played their home matches at Station Road. Their club colours were white and black.- 2001/2002 :...
, Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
, Dublin City
Dublin City F.C.
Dublin City Football Club was an Irish association football club that played in the League of Ireland. They were formed in 1999 after a split within Home Farm Everton and they originally played as Home Farm Fingal before changing their name for the 2001–02 season...
, Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
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
FAI Super Cup
The FAI Super Cup is a defunct football tournament which was played for 3 years between 1998 and 2000. It was played before the League of Ireland season began, usually in July. The first tournament was played in the neutral Morton Stadium and the 1999 and 2000 editions were both played for in...
.
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
Buckley Park
Buckley Park is a multi-purpose stadium on the Callan road Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. Kilkenny City purchased of land from a local farmer by the name of Mick Murphy for £16,000. The ground was originally called Tenney Park. It is currently used for football matches and was the home stadium...
club and he joined newly formed Kildare County
Kildare County F.C.
Kildare County F.C. was an Irish football club that played in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 2002, hailed from Newbridge, County Kildare and played their home matches at Station Road. Their club colours were white and black.- 2001/2002 :...
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
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
in 2004. 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
Dublin City F.C.
Dublin City Football Club was an Irish association football club that played in the League of Ireland. They were formed in 1999 after a split within Home Farm Everton and they originally played as Home Farm Fingal before changing their name for the 2001–02 season...
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. Brennan was now a free agent but he swiftly found a new club with Premier Division outfit Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
.
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 as Longford pushed their way up the table achieving impressive results. Brennan captained Longford Town on another FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
run as they reached the 2007 FAI Cup Final
FAI Cup 2007
The FAI Cup 2007 was the 84th staging of The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup or FAI Cup. It was the first FAI Cup to be sponsored by Ford....
where they were eventually beaten 1–0 by Cork City at the RDS
Royal Dublin Society
The Royal Dublin Society was founded on 25 June 1731 to "to promote and develop agriculture, arts, industry, and science in Ireland". The RDS is synonymous with its main premises in Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland...
on December 2, 2007. 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 as he matured as a captain and improved his game.
Brennan departed Longford after the 2007 FAI Cup Final to join First Division Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
in December 2007. He was immediately made captain of Shelbourne and he made his Shelbourne debut in a 0–0 draw against Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
at Tolka Park
Tolka Park
Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne...
on March 7, 2008 and scored his first Shelbourne goal a week later in a 3-1 victory against Kildare County
Kildare County F.C.
Kildare County F.C. was an Irish football club that played in the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 2002, hailed from Newbridge, County Kildare and played their home matches at Station Road. Their club colours were white and black.- 2001/2002 :...
at Station Road
Station Road, Newbridge
Station Road is a football park located in Newbridge, County Kildare. It is home to Leinster Senior League outfit Newbridge Town F.C.. It was also the home of now defunct Eircom League Division One side Kildare County F.C.....
on 14 March 2008. 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 as his Shelbourne side conceded the title in the final 30 seconds during a heartbreaking last-day 1–1 draw against Limerick 37
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...
. 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
Sporting Fingal F.C.
Sporting Fingal Football Club was a professional football club based in Fingal, County Dublin, Ireland. The club competed in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland from 2008 to 2011. Former Shamrock Rovers manager, Liam Buckley was the club's manager while former Arsenal player, John Devine...
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.