Liam Donnelly (footballer)

Liam Francis Peadar Donnelly (born 7 March 1996) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock.

Liam Donnelly
Donnelly playing for Fulham U21s in 2015
Personal information
Full name Liam Francis Peadar Donnelly[1]
Date of birth (1996-03-07) 7 March 1996 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth Dungannon, Northern Ireland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back, Right-back, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Kilmarnock
Number 22
Youth career
Dungannon Swifts
2012–2014 Fulham
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2012 Dungannon Swifts 7 (0)
2012–2016 Fulham 0 (0)
2015Crawley Town (loan) 10 (0)
2016–2018 Hartlepool United 60 (3)
2018–2022 Motherwell 53 (8)
2022– Kilmarnock 42 (2)
International career
Northern Ireland U16 3 (1)
Northern Ireland U17 14 (1)
2012–2018 Northern Ireland U21 24 (5)
2014– Northern Ireland 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:57, 1 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21:30, 2 January 2023 (UTC)

Donnelly, who can also play as a defender, has previously played for Dungannon Swifts, Fulham, Crawley Town, Hartlepool United and Motherwell. He has also represented Northern Ireland internationally.

Club career edit

Fulham edit

Donnelly signed for Fulham as a youngster from IFA Premiership club Dungannon Swifts. Donnelly captained Fulham to the 2014 FA Youth Cup final.[3]

On 31 July 2015, Donnelly signed for Crawley Town on a one-month youth loan.[4] The loan was then extended until January 2016,[5] however he was recalled early by Fulham in October.[6]

Hartlepool United edit

On 19 August 2016, Donnelly signed for Hartlepool United, following his release from Fulham.[7]

Motherwell edit

On 7 June 2018, Motherwell announced the signing of Donnelly on an initial two-year contract from Hartlepool United for an undisclosed fee.[8] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–2 victory against Livingston on the final day of the season.[9]

At the beginning of the 2019–20 season, Donnelly moved from defence into midfield,[10] and went on to score four goals in three games in the Scottish League Cup group stages, against Queen of the South,[11] Greenock Morton[12] and Annan Athletic.[13] Then in the league, he scored four goals in the opening four matches, with two against Celtic[14] and penalties against Hamilton Academical[15] and Hibernian.[16] In October 2019, Donnelly was rewarded for his early season form as he signed an extension to his contract at Fir Park, to run until summer 2022.[17]

In the opening game of the 2020–21 season, Donnelly missed a penalty as Motherwell lost 1–0 away to Ross County.[18] Following that match he picked up a knee injury in training which was initially expected to keep him out for two months,[19] however he then required surgery on the injury, ruling him out until after the new year.[20]

Donnelly made his return from injury on 14 July 2021, as a substitute in a 1–0 win away to Queen's Park in a Scottish League Cup group stage match.[21] He was released by Motherwell at the end of the 2021–22 season.

Kilmarnock edit

Donnelly signed a one-year contract with Kilmarnock on 5 July 2022.[22]

International edit

Donnelly made his senior Northern Ireland debut on 4 June 2014 against Chile, coming on as a substitute in the 89th minute.[23]

On 11 September 2018, Donnelly made his 22nd appearance for Northern Ireland's under-21s in a 2–1 win away to Spain, a match in which he scored from a penalty, and in doing so became the nation's record cap holder at that level.[24] He eventually finished his time with the under-21 side with 24 caps.[25]

Donnelly was recalled to the senior squad in August 2019, ahead of a friendly against Luxembourg and a Euro 2020 qualifier against Germany.[26] He came on as a substitute against Luxembourg on 5 September, earning his second cap, five years after his first.[27][28]

Career statistics edit

As of match played 20 May 2023
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dungannon Swifts 2011–12[29] IFA Premiership 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
Fulham 2012–13[30] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2013–14[31] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014–15[32] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2015–16[33] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Crawley Town (loan) 2015–16[33] League Two 10 0 0 0 1 0 1[a] 0 12 0
Hartlepool United 2016–17[34] League Two 32 0 0 0 0 0 1[b] 0 33 0
2017–18[35] National League 28 3 1 0 0 0 1[c] 0 30 3
Total 60 3 1 0 0 0 2 0 63 3
Motherwell 2018–19[36] Scottish Premiership 7 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 11 1
2019–20[37] Scottish Premiership 22 7 3 0 4 4 0 0 29 11
2020–21[38] Scottish Premiership 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2021–22[39] Scottish Premiership 23 0 3 1 4 0 0 0 30 1
Total 53 8 6 1 12 4 0 0 71 13
Kilmarnock 2022–23[40] Scottish Premiership 22 2 1 0 4 1 0 0 27 3
Career total 152 13 8 1 17 5 3 0 180 19
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in the Football League Trophy
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in the FA Trophy

References edit

  1. ^ "Premier League Clubs submit Squad Lists" (PDF). Premier League. 4 February 2014. p. 35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Liam Donnelly profile". Fulham F.C. 5 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  3. ^ Chelsea seal Youth Cup glory after thriller at the Bridge, The Football Association, 6 May 2014
  4. ^ "Liam Donnelly: Crawley Town sign Fulham defender on loan". BBC Sport. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  5. ^ "Liam Extends Crawley Loan". Fulham F.C. 27 August 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  6. ^ "Liam Donnelly: Fulham recall defender from Crawley Town loan". BBC Sport. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Former Fulham Defender Liam Donnelly Signs For Hartlepool United". Hartlepool United F.C. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Liam Donnelly is signing number two". motherwellfc.co.uk. Motherwell F.C. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Turnbull double downs Livingston in thriller". BBC Sport.
  10. ^ Archer, Kenny (4 September 2019). "Liam Donnelly delighted to be back with Northern Ireland". The Irish News. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  11. ^ Goldthorp, Craig (13 July 2019). "Queen of the South 0–3 Motherwell: Steelmen win Betfred opener". Motherwell Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  12. ^ McDougall, Mark (19 July 2019). "Motherwell smash Morton as Dundee United ease past Cowdenbeath in Betfred Cup". Daily Record. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  13. ^ Cameron, Neil (28 July 2019). "Motherwell 4, Annan Athletic 0: Stephen Robinson's new team looking good". Evening Times. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  14. ^ English, Tom (10 August 2019). "Motherwell 2–5 Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  15. ^ Mullen, Scott (24 August 2019). "Hamilton Academical 1–3 Motherwell". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  16. ^ Sutherland, Jonathan (31 August 2019). "Motherwell 3–0 Hibernian". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  17. ^ "Liam Donnelly: Motherwell 'revelation' earns contract extension". BBC Sport. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  18. ^ Campbell, Andy (4 August 2020). "Ross County 1–0 Motherwell". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  19. ^ "LIAM DONNELLY SIDELINED WITH KNEE INJURY". motherwellfc.co.uk. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  20. ^ McGilvray, Andy (11 September 2020). "Motherwell dealt further Liam Donnelly injury blow". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  21. ^ "QUEEN'S PARK 0-1 MOTHERWELL". motherwellfc.co.uk. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Liam Donnelly: Kilmarnock sign Northern Ireland midfielder after Motherwell exit". BBC Sport. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Late goals seal Chile win over Northern Ireland". BBC Sport. 5 June 2014. Retrieved 4 July 2014.
  24. ^ "Spain U21 1–2 Northern Ireland U21". BBC Sport. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  25. ^ "Captain Donnelly leaves Under-21s after record 24 appearances". Northern Irish Football Association. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  26. ^ "Liam Donnelly: Midfielder ready to grab Northern Ireland chance 'with both hands'". BBC Sport. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  27. ^ Sterling, Mark (5 September 2019). "Northern Ireland 1–0 Luxembourg". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  28. ^ Hanna, Gareth (6 September 2019). "How Shayne Lavery and Liam Donnelly's Northern Ireland cameos provided optimism for big international futures". Belfasttelegraph. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  29. ^ Liam Donnelly at Soccerway. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  30. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  31. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  32. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  34. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  35. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  36. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  37. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 July 2019.
  38. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  39. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Games played by Liam Donnelly in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

External links edit