Darragh Lenihan
Lenihan playing for Blackburn Rovers in 2016
Personal information
Full name Darragh Patrick Lenihan[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-16) 16 March 1994 (age 29)[2]
Place of birth Dunboyne, Ireland
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Middlesbrough
Number 26
Youth career
Belvedere
2011–2012 Blackburn Rovers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2022 Blackburn Rovers 233 (9)
2014–2015 → Burton Albion (loan) 17 (1)
2022– Middlesbrough 49 (1)
International career‡
2010–2011 Republic of Ireland U17 2 (0)
2012–2013 Republic of Ireland U19 1 (0)
2014–2016 Republic of Ireland U21 15 (0)
2018– Republic of Ireland 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:42, 24 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:01, 16 June 2023 (UTC)

Darragh Patrick Lenihan (born 16 March 1994) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Middlesbrough.

Career

Blackburn Rovers

In the summer of 2011 Lenihan signed for Blackburn Rovers from Belvedere.[3] Two years later, he signed a contract with the club and then again in May 2014.[4][5]

Loan to Burton Albion

In October 2014 he signed for Burton Albion on a months loan.[6] Lenihan made his league debut on 25 October coming off the bench against Stevenage.[7]

On 24 November 2014, Lenihan's loan spell with Burton Albion was extended until 3 January 2015.[8] Lenihan's loan spell with Burton Albion was extended twice for another month on 5 January 2015[9] and on 9 February 2015.[10]

He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Portsmouth on 17 January 2015.[11] After five months at Burton Albion, Lenihan was recalled by Blackburn on 4 March 2015.[12]

Return to Blackburn Rovers

In April 2015, Lenihan made his debut for Rovers against Millwall coming off the bench in the first half to replace Matthew Kilgallon.[13] After making his debut, Lenihan said in his post-match interview that it was a great experience playing at Ewood Park and that hard work and patience had helped to earn him a first team place.[14] The following game he made his full debut starting against Huddersfield Town.[15]

After Blackburn were relegated to League One in 2016–17, he helped the club secure an immediate return to the Championship, although he was injured for most of 2017–18. He subsequently became first choice at centre back and regularly captained the side in the 2020-21 season. On 17 June 2022, Lenihan was confirmed to be leaving the club at the end of his contract on 30 June.[16]

Middlesbrough

On 24 June 2022, Lenihan agreed to join Middlesbrough on a four-year contract upon the expiration of his Blackburn Rovers contract.[17] Lenihan scored his first goal for the club on 19 September 2023, in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.[18]

International career

After appearing twice for the Republic of Ireland U17 level, Lenihan was called up by Republic of Ireland U19 in September 2012.[19] Lenihan made his only Ireland U19 debut on 8 September 2012, in a 1–1 draw against Latvia U19.[20]

Lenihan was called up by Republic of Ireland U21 for the first time in May 2014.[21] Lenihan made his Ireland U21 debut, playing 90 minutes and as captain, in a 1–1 draw against Qatar U23.[22]

On 2 June 2018, Lenihan made his debut for the Ireland senior team in a 2–1 win over the USA in Dublin, he was credited with the assist for Ireland’s opening goal scored by Graham Burke after a Lenihan volley which was on target.[23] Lenihan became the first person from County Meath to represent the Republic of Ireland at senior level.[24] Lenihan made his competitive debut for Ireland nearly four years after his last cap, starting in a 1–1 UEFA Nations League draw against Ukraine.[25]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Blackburn Rovers 2013–14[26] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2014–15[27] Championship 3 0 0 0 0 0 — 3 0
2015–16[28] Championship 23 0 3 0 1 0 — 27 0
2016–17[29] Championship 40 0 2 0 2 0 — 44 0
2017–18[30] League One 14 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 1
2018–19[31] Championship 34 2 2 1 2 0 — 38 3
2019–20[32] Championship 37 3 1 0 1 0 — 39 3
2020–21[33] Championship 41 0 1 0 2 0 — 44 0
2021–22[34] Championship 41 3 1 0 1 0 — 43 3
Total 233 9 10 1 9 0 0 0 252 10
Burton Albion (loan) 2014–15[27] League Two 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 1
Middlesbrough 2022–23[35] Championship 41 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 43 0
2023–24[36] Championship 8 1 0 0 2 0 — 10 1
Total 49 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 53 1
Career total 299 11 10 1 11 0 2 0 322 12
  1. ^ Appearance in Championship play-offs

International

As of match played 16 June 2022
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2018 2 0
2022 1 0
2023 1 0
Total 4 0

Honours

Blackburn Rovers

References

  1. ^ "Notification of shirt numbers: Blackburn Rovers" (PDF). English Football League. p. 8. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Darragh Lenihan". 11v11. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Darragh Lenihan". rovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Done deals". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 1 July 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. ^ "New deals for future stars". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 1 July 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Darragh Lenihan has today joined Burton Albion on an initial month-long loan deal". rovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Match Report". burtonalbionfc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  8. ^ "ALBION EXTEND LENIHAN LOAN". Burton Albion F.C. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Darragh Lenihan: Blackburn midfielder extends Burton loan". BBC Sport. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Lenihan extends Burton stay". Sky Sports. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  11. ^ "Portsmouth 1–1 Burton Albion". BBC Sport. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  12. ^ "DARRAGH LENIHAN HAS BEEN RECALLED BY HIS PARENT CLUB BLACKBURN ROVERS". Burton Albion F.C. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  13. ^ "Report: Rovers 2 Millwall 0". rovers.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Patience and hard work pays off for Lenihan". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 24 April 2015. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Latest: Huddersfield Town v Rovers". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  16. ^ "Darragh to depart". www.rovers.co.uk. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  17. ^ "Darragh Lenihan Signs Up For The Boro". www.mfc.co.uk. 24 June 2022.
  18. ^ https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/12960526/sheffield-wednesday-1-1-middlesbrough-both-sides-remain-winless-after-draws
  19. ^ "Seven get the call". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  20. ^ "Debut for Darragh". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 10 September 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  21. ^ "Two get Under-21 call". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 14 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  22. ^ "Lenihan's Irish hopes". Blackburn Rovers F.C. 24 May 2014. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  23. ^ "Republic of Ireland 2–1 USA". BBC Sport. 2 June 2018.
  24. ^ "Lenihan basks in glow of historic appearance". Meath Chronicle. 3 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  25. ^ Leahy, Ed (14 June 2022). "Ireland secure hard-fought point against Ukraine". RTÉ.ie.
  26. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  27. ^ a b "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  29. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  30. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  31. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  32. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  33. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ "Games played by Darragh Lenihan in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  37. ^ Anderson, John, ed. (2018). Football Yearbook 2018–2019. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 54–55. ISBN 978-1-4722-6106-9.

External links

Middlesbrough F.C. – current squad
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