Brendan Clarke
Encyclopedia
Brendan ClarkeBrendan Clarke (born 17 September 1985 in Dublin is an Irish
football
player who currently plays for Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland
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. He is one of a handful of local players to have played for St. Pats. Clarke had an extended spell in the first team at the end of the 2004 season as regular 'keeper Chris Adamson
's form dropped.
In 2007, Clarke was sent on a season long loan to Waterford United
but was recalled before the season got underway. At the end of the 2007 season Clarke played in the 4 of the last 5 league games. Keeping 3 clean sheets out of 4 ensuring the Saints secured UEFA Cup
football in 2008. He only missed the last game of the season due to an injury during the warm up.
He had a very successful loan spell at Sporting Fingal F.C.
during the 2nd half of the 2008 season. He played 14 games for Fingal, keeping 7 clean sheets.
When coming back to the Saints for the 2009 season, Clarke was told by then boss, John McDonnell
, that he'd be his number 1 goalkeeper for the season. McDonnell then left the club and was replaced by Jeff Kenna
as manager. Kenna let goalkeeper Barry Ryan
go to Galway United and replaced him with Galway keeper Gary Rogers
. Kenna favoured Rogers from day one and installed Rogers as his number 1 keeper. When Jeff Kenna
resigned, new manager Pete Mahon
came in and immediately put Clarke into the team. Clarke played in the final 10 games of the 2009 season and put in some fine performances. He kept 4 clean sheets in the 10 games including clean sheets against the Saints relegation rivals Bray Wanderers twice and Dundalk
, and also keeping a clean sheet in the vital last game of the season against Shamrock Rovers.
, where he'd had a very successful loan spell in 2008.
in The Brandywell. He followed this up by keeping 5 clean sheets in his first 6 games. He has gone on a great run and has currently kept 9 consecutive clean sheets, setting a new League of Ireland
record for consecutive clean sheets. This has helped Rovers move to the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division.
at schools international level and was selected as part of the Republic of Ireland
Under 23 squad to play Northern Ireland in 2008.
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,...
football
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...
player who currently plays for Sligo Rovers 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...
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St. Patrick's Athletic
Clarke is a goalkeeper and played schoolboy football for local side Cherry Orchard F.C.Cherry Orchard F.C.
Cherry Orchard Football Club is an Irish football club founded in 1957 known locally as "the Orchard." The club is one of the biggest producers of talent in Ireland. They are linked with Manchester City. Their main rival is Crumlin United, for whom Robbie Keane played at schoolboy level. The club...
. He is one of a handful of local players to have played for St. Pats. Clarke had an extended spell in the first team at the end of the 2004 season as regular 'keeper Chris Adamson
Chris Adamson
Christopher "Chris" Adamson is an English football goalkeeper who was a player and coach for Hereford United but was released in May 2010. Adamson is currently training with Boston United and played 80 minutes of their 3-1 friendly win over Belper Town on 31 July 2010...
's form dropped.
In 2007, Clarke was sent on a season long loan to Waterford United
Waterford United
Waterford United is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports...
but was recalled before the season got underway. At the end of the 2007 season Clarke played in the 4 of the last 5 league games. Keeping 3 clean sheets out of 4 ensuring the Saints secured UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
football in 2008. He only missed the last game of the season due to an injury during the warm up.
He had a very successful loan spell at Sporting Fingal F.C.
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...
during the 2nd half of the 2008 season. He played 14 games for Fingal, keeping 7 clean sheets.
When coming back to the Saints for the 2009 season, Clarke was told by then boss, John McDonnell
John McDonnell (footballer)
John McDonnell is an Irish football former manager and player and current assistant manager of the Faroe Islands national football team....
, that he'd be his number 1 goalkeeper for the season. McDonnell then left the club and was replaced by Jeff Kenna
Jeff Kenna
Jeffrey Jude Kenna is an Irish football manager and former player who played the largest part of his career as a defender with Southampton and Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. He has managed Galway United and St Patrick's Athletic...
as manager. Kenna let goalkeeper Barry Ryan
Barry Ryan (footballer)
Barry Ryan is an Irish football goalkeeper currently playing for Limerick in the League of Ireland First Division.He made his League of Ireland debut for UCD away to Sligo Rovers on the 15th of February 1997...
go to Galway United and replaced him with Galway keeper Gary Rogers
Gary Rogers
Gary Rogers is an Irish footballer playing with in the League of Ireland.-Shelbourne:Rogers played with non-league side St Francis F.C. when he was younger and was spotted by Dermot Keely and was brought to the Shelbourne youth team. While with the youth team, he had a trial at Stockport County...
. Kenna favoured Rogers from day one and installed Rogers as his number 1 keeper. When Jeff Kenna
Jeff Kenna
Jeffrey Jude Kenna is an Irish football manager and former player who played the largest part of his career as a defender with Southampton and Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. He has managed Galway United and St Patrick's Athletic...
resigned, new manager Pete Mahon
Pete Mahon
Pete Mahon , is an Irish football manager who is currently the manager of St. Patrick's Athletic .His son, Alan Mahon , played all his career for UCD....
came in and immediately put Clarke into the team. Clarke played in the final 10 games of the 2009 season and put in some fine performances. He kept 4 clean sheets in the 10 games including clean sheets against the Saints relegation rivals Bray Wanderers twice and Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
, and also keeping a clean sheet in the vital last game of the season against Shamrock Rovers.
Sporting Fingal
Following the 2009 season Clarke signed a 2 year full time contract with Sporting Fingal F.C.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...
, where he'd had a very successful loan spell in 2008.
Sligo Rovers
After Sporting Fingal ceased trading Clarke's contract was cancelled and he signed for Sligo Rovers on a 1 year full time contract on the 15th of February 2011. Clarke impressed immediately by saving a penalty on his debut in the 1-0 win over Derry City F.C.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 The Brandywell. He followed this up by keeping 5 clean sheets in his first 6 games. He has gone on a great run and has currently kept 9 consecutive clean sheets, setting a new 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...
record for consecutive clean sheets. This has helped Rovers move to the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division.
International Career
He has represented the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
at schools international level and was selected as part of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
Under 23 squad to play Northern Ireland in 2008.
Club
Correct as of 7 November 2011.| Season | |Club | |League | League | |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... |
League Cup | |Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... | |Setanta Cup Setanta Sports Cup The Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland... | |Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| 2011 2011 League of Ireland The Premier Division consists of ten teams. Each team plays every other team four times, twice at home and twice away, for a total of 36 matches.-Teams:... |
Sligo Rovers Sligo Rovers F.C. Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at... |
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... |
31 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
Honours
- FAI CupFAI CupThe 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...
: 1- Sligo RoversSligo Rovers F.C.Sligo Rovers Football Club is a professional Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1928 and have been in the League of Ireland since 1934. The club is a co-operative venture, owned by the people of Sligo. Sligo Rovers have played at...
- 20112011 FAI CupThe 2011 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2011 FAI Ford Cup, is the 88th season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland...
- Sligo Rovers