Brandon Kavanagh

For the British pianist and YouTuber, see Brendan Kavanagh.

Brandon Kavanagh

Personal information
Full name	Brandon Kavanagh
Date of birth	(2000-09-21) 21 September 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height	1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	St Patrick's Athletic
Number	14
Youth career
	Crumlin United
	St Francis
–2016	St Joseph's Boys
2016	Bray Wanderers
2016–2017	Bohemians
2018–2020	Shamrock Rovers
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2021	Shamrock Rovers	40	(1)
2020	→ Shamrock Rovers II	16	(9)
2021	→ Bray Wanderers (loan)	27	(6)
2022–2023	Derry City	60	(6)
2024–	St Patrick's Athletic	34	(6)
International career‡
2016–2017	Republic of Ireland U17	7	(0)
2019	Republic of Ireland U19	4	(0)
2019	Republic of Ireland U21	2	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:17, 2 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:12, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

Brandon Kavanagh (born 21 September 2000) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for League of Ireland Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic. His previous clubs are Shamrock Rovers, Bray Wanderers and Derry City.

Career

Youth career

A native of Crumlin, Dublin, Kavanagh began playing with local side Crumlin United, before moving on to St Francis, St Joseph's Boys, Bray Wanderers, Bohemians and finally Shamrock Rovers. ^[1] While at St Joseph's Boys, he was part of a formidable side that included fellow future professional footballers Joe Redmond, Aaron Bolger, Jonathan Afolabi, Andy Lyons, Promise Omochere, Ryan Burke and Max Murphy among others. ^{[2] [3]}

Shamrock Rovers

Kavanagh made his senior debut for Shamrock Rovers on 7 February 2018 in a 2–1 Leinster Senior Cup win over St Mochta's at Tallaght Stadium, in which he opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute. ^[4] On 16 April 2018, he made his league debut for the club, replacing Sean Kavanagh from the bench in the 73rd minute of a 1–0 defeat away to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds. ^[5] He made 19 appearances in all competitions in his first season at senior level with the club. ^[6] On 18 October 2019, Kavanagh scored his first career League of Ireland Premier Division goal, netting in a 3–0 win away to UCD, which saw the home side's relegation confirmed. ^[7] He made 24 appearances in all competitions in the 2019 season ^[6] and was also part of the matchday squad for the 2019 FAI Cup Final which his side won on penalties against Dundalk at the Aviva Stadium. ^[8] With first team involvement limited in 2020, Kavanagh mainly featured for the club's reserve side Shamrock Rovers II in the League of Ireland First Division, scoring 9 goals in 16 appearances which saw him named in the PFAI First Division Team of the Year. ^[9] In December 2020, he was linked with a move to Premier League side Crystal Palace. ^[10]

Bray Wanderers loan

On 19 January 2021, he joined League of Ireland First Division side Bray Wanderers on a season long loan. ^[11] Kavanagh's 7 goals in 31 games in all competitions over the season, saw him named in the PFAI First Division Team of the Year for the second year running. ^[12]

Derry City

On 7 December 2021, it was announced that Derry City had signed Kavanagh from Shamrock Rovers for an undisclosed fee, signing a 3-year contract with the club. ^{[13] [14] [15]} He made his first career appearance in European competition on 14 July 2022, in a 2–0 loss away to Riga in the UEFA Europa Conference League. ^[16] On 13 November 2022, Kavanagh came off the bench in the 2022 FAI Cup Final, in a 4–0 win over Shelbourne at the Aviva Stadium, a record Cup Final scoreline margin. ^[17] His first season with the club saw him score 2 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions. ^[6] His second season with Derry saw him feature in 5 of the 6 games in their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, playing at home and away against HB of Faroe Islands, at home to KuPS of Finland and home and away to Tobol of Kazakhstan, against whom he scored in the penalty shootout in the second leg at Tallaght Stadium, as his side were defeated 6–5 on penalties. ^[18] He scored 6 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions in 2023. ^[6] In November 2023, it was reported that Derry City had agreed a fee for Kavanagh with recent FAI Cup winners St Patrick's Athletic. ^{[19] [20]}

St Patrick's Athletic

On 21 November 2023, it was announced that Kavanagh had signed a multi-year contract with his boyhood club St Patrick's Athletic for an undisclosed fee. ^{[21] [22]} He made his debut for the club on 3 February 2024, scoring the final goal of the game in a 3–1 win away to UCD in the Leinster Senior Cup. ^[23] His first league goal for the club came on 19 April 2024, when he scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Waterford at Richmond Park. ^[24] On 13 June 2024, he came off the bench in the 90th minute before heading home the winning goal in the 96th minute of a 2–1 win at home to rivals Shamrock Rovers. ^[25] On 4 August 2024, Kavanagh came off the bench in the 60th minute at home to Sligo Rovers and 5 minutes later scored an equaliser from 30 yards before scoring again in the 10th minute of injury time from the penalty spot to secure a 3–2 win for his side. ^[26]

International career

Kavanagh was named as part of the squad for the Republic of Ireland U17 team's 2017 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Croatia. ^[27] He was also part of the squad for the Republic of Ireland U19 side's 2019 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Armenia. ^[28]

On 6 February 2019, he scored the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win for the Republic of Ireland U21 side over the Republic of Ireland Amateur squad. ^[29] In March 2019 he was called into the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time for a competitive fixture. ^[30] He made his competitive debut at U21 level on 24 March 2019, in a 3–0 win over Luxembourg U21 at Tallaght Stadium. ^[31]

Career statistics

As of match played on 1 November 2024 ^[32]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup [lower-alpha 1]		League Cup [lower-alpha 2]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shamrock Rovers	2018	LOI Premier Division	16	0	1	0	1	0	0 [lower-alpha 3]	0	1 [lower-alpha 4]	1	19	1
	2019		22	1	1	0	1	0	0 [lower-alpha 3]	0	0 [lower-alpha 4]	0	24	1
	2020		2	0	1	0	—		0 [lower-alpha 3]	0	—		3	0
	Total		40	1	3	0	2	0	0	0	1	1	46	2
Shamrock Rovers II	2020	LOI First Division	16	9	—		—		—		—		16	9
Bray Wanderers (loan)	2021	LOI First Division	27	6	1	0	—		—		3 [lower-alpha 5]	1	31	7
Derry City	2022	LOI Premier Division	31	1	5	1	—		1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	—		37	2
	2023		29	5	2	1	—		5 [lower-alpha 6]	0	0 [lower-alpha 7]	0	36	6
	Total		60	6	7	2	—		6	0	0	0	73	8
St Patrick's Athletic	2024	LOI Premier Division	34	6	1	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 8]	0	2 [lower-alpha 9]	1	40	7
	2025		0	0	0	0	—		0 [lower-alpha 8]	0	0 [lower-alpha 4]	0	0	0
	Total		34	6	1	0	—		3	0	2	1	40	7
Total			177	28	12	2	2	0	9	0	6	3	206	33

1. Includes FAI Cup
2. Includes League of Ireland Cup
3. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa League
4. Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup
5. Appearances in the 2021 League of Ireland First Division Playoffs
6. Appearance(s) in the UEFA Europa Conference League
7. Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
8. Apprarance(s) in the UEFA Conference League
9. 1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup & 1 appearance, 1 goal in the Leinster Senior Cup

Honours

Club

Shamrock Rovers

• League of Ireland Premier Division (1): 2020
• FAI Cup (1): 2019

Derry City

• FAI Cup (1): 2022
• President of Ireland's Cup (1): 2023

St Patrick's Athletic

• Leinster Senior Cup (1): 2023–24

Individual

• PFAI First Division Team of the Year (2): 2020, 2021

References

1. "FAI Cup final the stuff of childhood dreams for Brandon Kavanagh". Independent.ie. November 11, 2022.
2. Cooney, Gavin (November 12, 2023). "The teenage friends whose battle may decide the FAI Cup final". The 42.
3. Reporter, Gazette (January 7, 2016). "Joey's sweep up Irish titles". Dublin Gazette Newspapers - Dublin News, Sport and Lifestyle.
4. "Leinster Senior Cup Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 1 St Mochtas". extratime.com.
5. "Shamrock Rovers fall to another defeat as Bray claim valuable home win". Independent.ie. April 16, 2018.
6. "Republic of Ireland - B. Kavanagh - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
7. Buttner, Paul (October 18, 2019). "UCD relegated as Shamrock Rovers stroll to victory" – via www.rte.ie.
8. "Shamrock Rovers lift FAI Cup after shootout win | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
9. Blake, Ben (December 2, 2020). "Last year's winner Byrne up for PFAI Player of the Year with Lopes and Grant". The 42.
10. "Shamrock Rovers starlet Brandon Kavanagh on Crystal Palace radar". Independent.ie. December 16, 2020.
11. Duffy, Michael (January 19, 2021). "Brandon Kavanagh joins on loan from Shamrock Rovers". Bray Wanderers FC.
12. Kinsella, Colm. "Treaty United player makes PFA Ireland First Division Team of the Year". www.limerickleader.ie.
13. "Welcome Brandon Kavanagh". December 7, 2021.
14. "Derry City sign Brandon Kavanagh from Shamrock Rovers on long term deal".
15. "Derry City sign Brandon Kavanagh from Shamrock Rovers after clubs agree fee". Dublin Live. December 7, 2021.
16. "Derry City exit Europe after 2-0 Riga defeat". BBC Sport. July 14, 2022.
17. "Derry outclass Shelbourne to deny Duff his fairytale Cup final ending". The Irish Times.
18. Fallon, John (August 17, 2023). "Heartbreak for Derry City as Tobol go through on penalties". Irish Examiner.
19. "Derry City midfielder Brandon Kavanagh set to join FAI Cup winners St Patrick's Athletic". Independent.ie. November 17, 2023.
20. "Derry City agree fee with St Patrick's Athletic for Brandon Kavanagh".
21. "Kavanagh Joins Saints On Multi-Year Deal". www.stpatsfc.com.
22. "St Pat's complete signing of Brandon Kavanagh from Derry City". Independent.ie. November 21, 2023.
23. Merriman, Rory. "Leinster Senior Cup Report: UCD 1 -3 St Patrick's Athletic". extratime.com.
24. Buttner, Paul (April 19, 2024). "Kavanagh pounces as St Pat's draw with Waterford" – via www.rte.ie.
25. Dempsey, Andrew (June 13, 2024). "Pat's fight back to stun Hoops in Inchicore" – via www.rte.ie.
26. "Brandon Kavanagh scores late winner as St Pat's come from behind to sink Sligo". Irish Independent. August 4, 2024.
27. "O'Brien names squad for EURO U17 Finals | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
28. "Ireland U19: Introducing the 2019 Squad | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
29. "Ireland U21: Kavanagh strike seals Amateur win | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
30. "Hoops teen Brandon Kavanagh called into Ireland U21s". March 19, 2019 – via www.rte.ie.
31. "Republic of Ireland 3 - 0 Luxembourg | 2021 - U21 Mens Friendlies | 2026497 | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
32. "Republic of Ireland - B. Kavanagh - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.

External links

• Brandon Kavanagh Extratime.com Profile