Vinny Whelan
Encyclopedia
Vinny Whelan is an Irish
goalkeeper
currently playing for St. Maurs GAA club of Rush
, Co. Dublin and Dublin Under 21's
. Whelan has previously played professional football for Welsh club Wrexham and in the League of Ireland
for Shelbourne
.
The teenage keeper never made a first team appearance for the Wrexham and was sent on loan to Welsh Premier League side Caernarfon Town
at the start of the 2007/08 season in order to gain first team experience. He made 17 league and cup appearances for Caernarfon Town. Whelan returned to Wrexham in December 2007 but he was unable to break into their first team.
Whelan parted ways with Wrexham at the end of the season before he moved back home in July 2008 to sign for Shelbourne
after a successful trial. Following two friendly appearances against Leeds United
and Millwall
in 2008, Whelan made his Shelbourne competitive debut on 13 April 2009 in a 3-0 League of Ireland Cup victory over Dundalk
at Tolka Park
. Following the end of the 2009 season Whelan parted company with Shelbourne for whom he made 3 league and cup appearances.
, Whelan was capped for the Republic of Ireland Under 18s. He made his Under 18 international debut during a 0-0 friendly with the Netherlands
on 7 February 2007.
with "the Dubs".
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,...
goalkeeper
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
currently playing for St. Maurs GAA club of Rush
Rush, Dublin
Rush is a small seaside town, with a population of 8,280, situated between the communities of Skerries and Lusk in Fingal, Ireland. There has been a large population increase since the previous census in 2002, comprising mostly people from north Dublin....
, Co. Dublin and Dublin Under 21's
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
. Whelan has previously played professional football for Welsh club Wrexham and in the League of Ireland
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...
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....
.
Football career
Whelan began his senior career with Wrexham in 2006.The teenage keeper never made a first team appearance for the Wrexham and was sent on loan to Welsh Premier League side Caernarfon Town
Caernarfon Town F.C.
Caernarfon Town F.C. is a football team, playing in the Cymru Alliance. The club ia nicknamed The Canaries because of its yellow and green strip. Caernarfon Town plays at The Oval, Caernarfon, Gwynedd.-History:...
at the start of the 2007/08 season in order to gain first team experience. He made 17 league and cup appearances for Caernarfon Town. Whelan returned to Wrexham in December 2007 but he was unable to break into their first team.
Whelan parted ways with Wrexham at the end of the season before he moved back home in July 2008 to sign 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....
after a successful trial. Following two friendly appearances against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
and Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
in 2008, Whelan made his Shelbourne competitive debut on 13 April 2009 in a 3-0 League of Ireland Cup victory over 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...
. Following the end of the 2009 season Whelan parted company with Shelbourne for whom he made 3 league and cup appearances.
International Football career
During his spell at the Racecourse GroundRacecourse Ground
The Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium AKA The Racecourse Ground is a stadium located in Wrexham, North Wales. It is the home of Wrexham F.C. and, since 2010, the Crusaders Rugby League team who play in the engage Super League...
, Whelan was capped for the Republic of Ireland Under 18s. He made his Under 18 international debut during a 0-0 friendly with the Netherlands
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
on 7 February 2007.
Gaelic Football career
Following his release by Shelbourne, Whelan concentrated on his Gaelic Football career with his local side from Rush, St. Maurs. His impressive displays saw him become the first choice keeper for the Dublin Under 21 football panel. In 2010, Whelan won the Leinster Under 21 football championship and then the All-Ireland Under 21 Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship 2010
-Quarter finals:-Semi finals:-Final:-Preliminary round:-Quarter Final:-Semi Final:-Final:-Quarter Final:-Semi Final:-Final:-Quarter Final:-Semi Final:-Final:-All-Ireland Semi Series:...
with "the Dubs".
Dublin
- All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship:
- Winner (1): 2010All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship 2010-Quarter finals:-Semi finals:-Final:-Preliminary round:-Quarter Final:-Semi Final:-Final:-Quarter Final:-Semi Final:-Final:-Quarter Final:-Semi Final:-Final:-All-Ireland Semi Series:...
- Winner (1): 2010
- Leinster Under-21 Football ChampionshipLeinster Under-21 Football ChampionshipFor information on the latest U-21 championship see: Leinster U21 Football Championship 2007The Leinster Under-21 Football Championship is the Under 21 "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Leinster in Ireland...
:- Winner (1): 2010