Colm Whelan

Colm Whelan
Personal information
Full name Colm Whelan
Date of birth (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Bohemians
Youth career
–2016 Thomastown United
2016–2019 Waterford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Waterford 1 (0)
2020–2022 UCD 58 (37)
2023–2024 Derry City 13 (3)
2025– Bohemians 0 (0)
International career‡
2021 Republic of Ireland U21 3 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:15, 15 January 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:15, 15 January 2025 (UTC)

Colm Whelan (born 29 June 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for League of Ireland Premier Division club Bohemians. His previous clubs are Waterford, UCD and Derry City.

Career

Youth career

A native of Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Whelan began playing with his local club Thomastown United, before moving to the academy of Waterford in 2016, where he played for the under 17 side for two seasons before making his first team debut.[2]

Waterford

On 7 October 2017, Whelan made his senior debut for Waterford in the final game of the season in a 2–1 loss away to Cobh Ramblers as his side won the 2017 League of Ireland First Division title to gain promotion.[3] The club's promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division proved to be a hindrance to Whelan's game time, as he only made 1 appearance in 2018, in a 1–0 loss away to Sligo Rovers[4] and 1 final appearance for the club in 2019, in a 3–1 win over Heart of Midlothian Colts in the Scottish Challenge Cup.[5]

UCD

Whelan signed for League of Ireland First Division club UCD ahead of the 2020 season and scored on his debut on 16 February 2020 in a 1–1 draw away to Wexford at Ferrycarrig Park.[6] Whelan had an impressive first full season at senior level, scoring 15 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions.[7] The 2021 season proved to be even more impressive, both individually and collectively, as scored 25 goals in 31 games in all competitions, culminating on 26 November 2021 with Whelan scoring the winner in a 2–1 victory over his former club Waterford in the League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Playoff Final at Richmond Park.[8] Whelan was named League of Ireland Player of the Month for November 2021.[9] On 21 December 2021, following the club's promotion, Whelan turned down offers from elsewhere within the league, to sign a new contract with UCD in order to complete his degree at the college.[10] Whelan scored 4 goals in 15 games in the first half of the 2022 season, with his performances attracting interest of several English clubs including Lincoln City, but an Anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in a 1–0 win away to Finn Harps on 13 May 2022 scuppered any move for the striker in the short term.[11]

Derry City

On 30 November 2022, Whelan signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City on a 2 year contract.[12][13] Still injured upon signing, he had to wait until 21 April 2023 for his debut, which came in a 3–1 win away to Cork City in which Whelan scored his side's third goal of the game.[14][15][16] Having also scored on his second appearance for the club in a 2–0 win at home to St Patrick's Athletic, disaster struck again on 1 May 2023, when Whelan suffered a second Anterior cruciate ligament injury in the space of 12 months in a 2–0 loss to Shamrock Rovers at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, in just his third appearance for the club.[17][18] Whelan made his return from injury on 28 June 2024, in a 5–1 win over Drogheda United.[19] On 10 November 2024, Whelan came off the bench in the 2024 FAI Cup final in a 2–0 defeat to Drogheda United at the Aviva Stadium in what turned out to be his final game for the club.[20]

Bohemians

On 13 November 2024, Whelan signed a multi-year contract with Bohemians ahead of their 2025 season.[21][22][23]

International Career

Whelan received his first call up to the Republic of Ireland U21 team in May 2021.[24] He made his debut for the side on 9 September 2021, scoring in a 1–1 draw away to Luxembourg U21.[25] On 12 November 2021, his third and final appearance for the side was his first start at international level, in a 2–0 loss at home to Italy U21.[26]

Career statistics

As of match played on 10 November 2024[27]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] League Cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Waterford 2017 LOI First Division 1 0 0 0 0 0 — 0[c] 0 1 0
2018 LOI Premier Division 0 0 0 0 1 0 — 0[c] 0 1 0
2019 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1[d] 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 1 0 3 0
UCD 2020 LOI First Division 19 15 1 0 — — 1[e] 0 21 15
2021 24 18 3 3 — — 4[f] 4 31 25
2022 LOI Premier Division 15 4 0 0 — — 0[g] 0 15 4
Total 58 37 4 3 — — 5 4 67 44
Derry City 2023 LOI Premier Division 3 2 0 0 — 0[h] 0 0[i] 0 3 2
2024 10 1 3 0 — 2[j] 0 — 15 1
Total 13 3 3 0 — 2 0 0 0 18 3
Bohemians 2025 LOI Premier Division 0 0 0 0 — — 0[k] 0 0 0
Career total 62 40 7 3 1 0 2 0 6 4 78 47
  1. ^ Includes FAI Cup
  2. ^ Includes League of Ireland Cup
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in the Munster Senior Cup
  4. ^ Appearance(s) in the Scottish Challenge Cup
  5. ^ Appearance in the 2020 League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Playoffs
  6. ^ Appearances in the 2021 League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Playoffs
  7. ^ Appearances in the 2022 League of Ireland Promotion/Relegation Playoff
  8. ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League
  9. ^ Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
  10. ^ Appearance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
  11. ^ Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

Club

Waterford
Derry City

Individual

References

  1. ^ https://int.soccerway.com/players/colm-whelan/498292/
  2. ^ "Colm Whelan | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com". www.extratime.com.
  3. ^ Duffy, Emma (October 7, 2017). "Consolation for Cobh as they ensure champions Waterford finish on losing note". The 42.
  4. ^ FC, Waterford (May 9, 2018). "REPORT: Sligo Rovers 1-0 Waterford FC".
  5. ^ FC, Waterford (September 6, 2019). "REPORT: Waterford FC 3-1 Hearts Colts".
  6. ^ McNulty, Chris (February 22, 2020). "Gallagher debuts as UCD rocked by late Wexford equaliser". Donegal Daily.
  7. ^ https://ie.soccerway.com/players/colm-whelan/498292/
  8. ^ Fennessy, Paul (November 26, 2021). "Joy for UCD as they beat beleagured Waterford to seal Premier Division status". The 42.
  9. ^ "UCD's Colm Whelan 'honoured' to be November's player of the month after his club gains promotion". Irish Independent. December 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "Ireland U-21 star Colm Whelan remaining on board with UCD". Irish Independent. December 8, 2021.
  11. ^ "UCD striker Colm Whelan puts summer move on hold after suffering cruciate ligament injury". Irish Independent. May 17, 2022.
  12. ^ "Derry City confirm signing of UCD striker Colm Whelan". Irish Independent. November 30, 2022.
  13. ^ "Derry complete signing of UCD's Colm Whelan". November 30, 2022 – via www.rte.ie.
  14. ^ "Ruaidhrí Higgins delighted to see Colm Whelan mark long-awaited return with a goal". The Irish News. April 23, 2023.
  15. ^ "Collie Whelan makes instant impact on Derry City debut at Turner's Cross". Derry Journal. April 21, 2023.
  16. ^ McGuire, Ken (April 22, 2023). "Watch: Kilkenny's Colm Whelan makes Derry debut, scores cracker in 3-1 win over Cork City".
  17. ^ "Derry City forward Colm Whelan out for season with second ACL injury". Irish Independent. June 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "Colm Whelan: Candystripes striker ruled out for rest of season". BBC Sport. June 7, 2023.
  19. ^ "'It's been an awful time for him for the last couple of years' – Derry City relief as Colm Whelan ends 14-month injury absence". Irish Independent. June 30, 2024.
  20. ^ Branigan, Peter (November 10, 2024). "Drogheda outsmart Derry to land second FAI Cup" – via www.rte.ie.
  21. ^ "Bohemians sign Colm Whelan from Derry City". www.leagueofireland.ie.
  22. ^ Doyle, by Garry (November 13, 2024). "Striker joins Bohs on a multi-year deal". Irish Mirror.
  23. ^ O'Keeffe, Shane (November 14, 2024). "Colm Whelan Joins Bohemians on Multi-Year Deal: "I'm Really Looking Forward to Getting Started"". KCLR 96FM.
  24. ^ Cribbin, Robert (May 25, 2021). "Kilkenny's Colm Whelan earns first call up to Republic of Ireland Under 21 squad". www.kilkennypeople.ie.
  25. ^ "Ireland U-21s held in Luxembourg after late penalty". September 7, 2021 – via www.rte.ie.
  26. ^ Donnelly, by David (November 12, 2021). "UCD's Colm Whelan handed first start for crunch U21 Euro qualifier with Italy". Dublin Live.
  27. ^ "Republic of Ireland - C. Whelan - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.