Darragh Burns

Darragh Burns

Personal information
Full name	Darragh Francis O'Brien Burns [1]
Date of birth	(2002-08-06) 6 August 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth	Stamullen, Republic of Ireland
Height	5 ft 9+1⁄4 in (1.76 m) [2]
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	Shamrock Rovers (on loan from Milton Keynes Dons)
Number	21
Youth career
	Swords Manor
	Shelbourne
–2018	St Kevin's Boys
2018–2020	St Patrick's Athletic
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2019–2022	St Patrick's Athletic	54	(8)
2022–	Milton Keynes Dons	14	(0)
2024–	→ Shamrock Rovers (loan)	16	(4)
International career‡
2018–2019	Northern Ireland U17	9	(2)
2018	Republic of Ireland U17	2	(1)
2019	Northern Ireland U19	1	(0)
2022	Republic of Ireland U20	1	(0)
2023	Republic of Ireland U21	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:54, 24 July 2024 (GMT) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 01:19, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

Darragh Francis O'Brien Burns ^[1] (born 6 August 2002 ^[2] ) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Shamrock Rovers, on loan from EFL League Two club Milton Keynes Dons.

Club career

Youth career

Raised in Stamullen, County Meath, Burns began playing with Swords Manor, before moving on to Shelbourne and then on to top Dublin academy St Kevin's Boys, a club renowned for producing several Republic of Ireland senior internationals. ^[3] In April 2017, while at Under-15 level, he scored the winning goal in the Final of the Ravenna European Cup played in Ravenna, Italy. ^[4] During the tournament his side won all eight games against clubs from all over Europe to win the tournament, with Burns also having scored several goals en route to the final. ^[5]

In 2018, Burns signed for St Patrick's Athletic, where he initially represented the club's Under-17 side. ^{[6] [7]} On 30 October 2019, Burns was part of the side that won the League of Ireland U17 Division, setting up the opening goal for Ben McCormack as his side defeated Bohemians 4–0 in the final at Richmond Park. ^[8] On 22 December 2020, in his final game at underage level, Burns scored the winning goal in the League of Ireland U19 Division Final, scoring a 120th-minute penalty to beat Bohemians 2–1 after extra time at the UCD Bowl to secure a UEFA Youth League spot for the club. ^[9]

St Patrick's Athletic

2019 season

Burns made his debut in senior football on 13 July 2019 aged 16, coming off the bench in a friendly against reigning UEFA Europa League champions Chelsea in the 59th minute. ^[10] His first involvement in the game was to nutmeg France international Tiémoué Bakayoko before drawing a foul and a booking from Denmark international Andreas Christensen. ^{[11] [12]} Burns' first involvement with the first team in a competitive game came on 16 August 2019 when he was an unused substitute in a 2–1 win over Sligo Rovers in the league. ^[13] His competitive debut in senior football on 15 September 2021, replacing Chris Forrester in the 62nd minute of a 1–0 win away to Cabinteely in the Leinster Senior Cup Quarter Final at Stradbrook Road. ^[14] His first start came on 2 November in the Semi Final of the same competition, a 3–1 win away to Sheriff YC after extra time. ^[15] Two weeks later Burns missed the 4–0 win over Athlone Town in the Final as he was on international duty but the win went down as his first medal at senior level. ^[16]

2020 season

On 23 January 2020, Burns signed a two-year deal with St Patrick's Athletic, his first professional contract. ^[17] Ahead of the season Burns' received the number 35 as his first squad number. On 3 August 2020, he made his League of Ireland Premier Division debut, replacing Jordan Gibson from the bench in the 75th minute of a 2–0 loss at home to Derry City. ^[18] He made a total of six appearances over the season, all from the bench as his side missed out on a European place on the final day of the season. ^[19]

2021 season

Burns changed to the number 17 shirt ahead of the 2021 season. His first goal in senior football came on 9 April 2021, when he scored the second goal to help secure a 2–0 home win over Derry City for his side. ^[20] On 20 April, he scored the only goal of the game in the second minute to beat Waterford at Richmond Park. ^[21] It was announced on 6 July 2021 that Burns had signed a contract extension with the club. ^[22] He scored the winning goal in a 3–2 win over Longford Town on 3 September 2021, curly his shot into the top corner in the 87th minute before Longford got a late consolation goal. ^[23] Burns scored two goals in a 3–0 win over Wexford in the FAI Cup Quarter Final on 17 September 2021. ^{[24] [25]} Burns produced a Man of the Match display in a 3–1 win over Dundalk FAI Cup Semi Final, setting up Matty Smith's goal to put Pat's in front before dinking Peter Cherrie in goals in the 86th minute to secure a place in the 2021 FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium. ^{[26] [27] [28]} On 12 November 2021, his headed equaliser in his side's 2–2 draw at home to Finn Harps secured a 2nd-place finish for the club, their best since their 2013 league win, to secure UEFA Europa Conference League football for the following season. ^[29] After the game, he was awarded both the club's Young Player of the Year Award and the Goal of the Season Award for 2021, as voted by their supporters. ^{[30] [31]} On 28 November 2021 Burns played the full 120 minutes in the 2021 FAI Cup Final, beating rivals Bohemians 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in front of a record FAI Cup Final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium. ^[32]

2022 season

Burns was subject to interest from Scottish Premiership sides Hibernian and Celtic during the January transfer window, with Pat's rejecting a bid from Hibs due to it not reaching their valuation for Burns. ^{[33] [34]} On 11 February 2022, Burns was in the starting XI for the 2022 President of Ireland's Cup against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, as his side lost 5–4 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. ^[35] On 18 February 2022, Burns scored his side's first goal in a 3–0 win over rivals Shelbourne at Tolka Park, curling a 25-yard effort into the top corner to help his side to an opening game of the season victory. ^{[36] [37]} On 1 April 2022, he scored a 77th-minute equaliser to earn a point for his side in a 1–1 draw with Drogheda United at Richmond Park. ^[38] On 6 May, Burns opened the scoring in a 4–0 win away to Drogheda United with a looping header from a Billy King cross flying into the top corner after four minutes, while he also assisted Kyle Robinson's first league goal for the club in the same game. ^[39] On 14 May, he earned his side a point when he scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw away to Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds. ^[40]

Milton Keynes Dons

2022–23 season

On 4 July 2022, Burns signed for EFL League One club Milton Keynes Dons on a permanent deal for a fee in the region of €180,000. ^{[41] [42]} His first goals for the club came on 15 July 2022 when he scored a brace and assisted another goal in a 6–0 friendly win over Norwich City. ^[43] Burns made his league debut on 30 July 2022 as an 82nd-minute substitute in a 1–0 defeat away to Cambridge United. ^[44] On 23 August 2022, Burns scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 2–0 EFL Cup second round away win over Watford, after also assisting the opening goal of the game for Matthew Dennis. ^[45] On 5 November 2022, Burns scored his first FA Cup goal, when he put his side 3–0 up in an eventual 6–0 win at home to Taunton Town. ^[46] On 22 November 2022, he opened the scoring with an overhead kick in a 3–1 win over Newport County. ^[47] He followed that up four days later by again opening the scoring, this time in a 3–2 loss to Portsmouth in an FA Cup Second Round tie at Fratton Park. ^[48] He scored 4 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions over the season as his side were relegated to EFL League Two, with Burns' last appearance of the season coming in February 2023. ^[49]

2023–24 season

On 21 November 2023, Burns made his first competitive appearance of the season, starting and scoring in a 3–2 win over Northampton Town in the EFL Trophy. ^[50]

Shamrock Rovers loan

After making just two EFL Trophy appearances and no league appearances in the season, Burns was loaned out to Shamrock Rovers in search of game time on 2 January 2024. ^{[51] [52]} On 4 March 2024, Burns scored his first goal for the club in a 2–2 draw against Derry City. ^[53]

International career

Northern Ireland

Born in Dublin, Burns was eligible to represent both Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland at international level, whom he qualified to play for through his Belfast born father. ^[54] Burns initially represented Northern Ireland U17 following unsuccessful requests to the FAI from his coaches at St Patrick's Athletic to call him up for the Republic of Ireland. ^[55] His form with Northern Ireland led to an international callup from the Republic of Ireland U17 team who he made his debut for in a 1–1 draw with Turkey U17 in a friendly at Tallaght Stadium on 18 September 2018. ^[56] 2 days later he scored against the same opposition in a 4–1 win. ^[57] After not being called up by the Republic of Ireland for their next squad, Burns returned to Northern Ireland and scored his first goals for the country on 30 October 2018 by scoring 2 penalties in a 6–0 win away to San Marino. ^[58] In November 2019 he scored the winning penalty for Northern Ireland U19 against Northern Ireland U19 in a preparation tournament for the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. ^{[59] [60]} Following Burns being capped by Northern Ireland in a competitive game it left him with only one change of international allegiance left with FIFA. ^[55]

Republic of Ireland

In October 2021, Burns revealed he regularly attended the Aviva Stadium as a Republic of Ireland fan ^[54] and Republic of Ireland U21 manager Jim Crawford revealed that Burns was in the process of changing his international allegiance to the country of his birth, stating "Darragh is keen to play, which is great news for myself and it's in the hands of legal at the minute. That's just standard procedure to get everything over the line, to change an association, and it can be a long process. He's done fantastic with Pat's. The sooner it happens the better. He's somebody that can go again for the next campaign. He's an exciting player to bring in, that's for sure." ^[61] On 11 March 2022, it was announced that Burns had been called up to the Republic of Ireland U20 squad following the completion of his international allegiance change with FIFA. ^[62] He made his return to a Republic of Ireland team on 22 March 2022 playing in a friendly against the Republic of Ireland Amateur side at Whitehall Stadium. ^[63] The following day, he was added to the Republic of Ireland U21 squad for the first time, ahead of their 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification match away to Sweden U21. ^{[64] [65]} Burns made his Republic of Ireland U21 debut on 16 June 2023, in a 2–2 draw with Ukraine U21 in a friendly played in Bad Blumau, Austria. ^[66]

Career statistics

As of match played on 23 July 2024 ^[19]

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
St Patrick's Athletic	2019	LOI Premier Division	0	0	0	0	0	0	0 [lower-alpha 3]	0	2 [lower-alpha 4]	0	2	0
	2020	LOI Premier Division	6	0	0	0	—		—		—		6	0
	2021	LOI Premier Division	26	4	4	3	—		—		—		30	7
	2022	LOI Premier Division	22	4	0	0	—		0 [lower-alpha 5]	0	1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	23	4
	Total		54	8	4	3	0	0	0	0	3	0	61	11
Milton Keynes Dons	2022–23	League One	14	0	2	2	3	1	—		3 [lower-alpha 7]	1	22	4
	2023–24	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 7]	1	2	1
	Total		14	0	2	2	3	1	—		5	2	24	5
Shamrock Rovers (loan)	2024	LOI Premier Division	16	4	1	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 8]	0	1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	21	4
Career total			84	12	7	5	3	1	3	0	9	2	106	20

1. Includes FAI Cup & FA Cup
2. Includes League of Ireland Cup & EFL Cup
3. Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup
5. Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
6. Appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup
7. Appearances in the EFL Trophy
8. Appearances in the UEFA Champions League

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

• FAI Cup: 2021 ^[32]
• Leinster Senior Cup: 2018–19

Shamrock Rovers

• President of Ireland's Cup: 2024

Individual

• St Patrick's Athletic Young Player of the Year: 2021 ^[30]
• St Patrick's Athletic Goal of the Season: 2021 ^[31]

References

1. "EFL Squad List: Season 2023/24". EFL.com. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
2. "Darragh Burns | FootballTransfers.com". www.footballtransfers.com.
3. "'I can't wait to get going' – Darragh Burns relishing MK Dons challenge after bidding St Pat's a fond farewell". Irish Independent. 4 July 2022.
4. "15 PREMIER ARE RAVENNA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS". www.skbfc.yourclub.ie.
5. "15 PREMIER IN ITALY - MATCH REPORTS". www.skbfc.yourclub.ie.
6. "Extratime.com - Extratime.ie - Darragh Burns". www.extratime.com.
7. "Darragh Burns". www.stpatsfc.com.
8. "U17 National League Final Report: St Patrick's Athletic 4 - 0 Bohemians". ExtraTime.com.
9. Fallon, John (22 December 2020). "Darragh Burns hits the winner as Saints claim U19 League of Ireland crown". Irish Examiner.
10. "Friendly Report: St Patrick's Athletic 0-4 Chelsea". ExtraTime.com.
11. ""I nutmegged Bakayoko & then Christensen dragged me down by the neck, he bleedin chokeslammed me!" - St Patrick's Athletic FC" – via www.twitter.com.
12. "Darragh Burns first involvement... - St Patrick's Athletic FC" – via www.facebook.com.
13. "League Report: St Patrick's Athletic 2 - 1 Sligo Rovers". ExtraTime.com.
14. "Leinster Senior Cup Report: Cabinteely 0 - 1 St Patrick's Athletic". ExtraTime.com.
15. "Leinster Senior Cup Report: Sheriff YC 1 -3 St Patrick's Athletic AET". ExtraTime.com.
16. "Leinster Senior Cup Final Report: St Patrick's Athletic 4 - 0 Athlone Town". ExtraTime.com.
17. "Burns Signs 2 Year Deal". www.stpatsfc.com.
18. "League Report: St. Patrick's Athletic 0 - 2 Derry City". ExtraTime.com.
19. "Ireland - D. Burns - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". ie.soccerway.com.
20. Donnelly, Dave (9 April 2021). "Impressive Saints ease past ten-man Derry City" – via www.rte.ie.
21. Dempsey, Andrew (20 April 2021). "Darragh Burns ensures St Patrick's Athletic's keep unbeaten start to season going". Irish Examiner.
22. "Burns & McCormack Sign New Contracts". www.stpatsfc.com.
23. Macnamara, Ronan. "Stunning King goal helps Pat's prevail and keep pressure on Rovers". The42.
24. Donnelly, Dave (17 September 2021). "FAI Cup: Darragh Burns brace sees St Pat's march into last four". Irish Examiner.
25. Walsh, Daire. "Darragh Burns bags two as St Pat's march in to semi-finals". The Irish Times.
26. "Darragh Burns shines as St Pat's see off Dundalk to book place in FAI Cup final". independent.
27. "Darragh Burns: Cup final 'a long time coming' for Pat's". 22 October 2021 – via www.rte.ie.
28. "Kenny's Kids: Wing wizards Darragh Burns and Liam Kerrigan show their class". Pundit Arena. 23 October 2021.
29. "King and Burns goals earn Pat's second place". 13 November 2021.
30. "St Patrick's Athletic FC's tweet - "Burns Named Young Player Of The Year Year" - Trendsmap". www.trendsmap.com.
31. "St Patrick's Athletic FC's tweet - "Our newly crowned 2021 @PatronSaints Young Player Of The Year Darragh Burns was popular with supporters young & old on Friday. 19-year-old Burns also won the 2021 Goal Of The Season for his goal v Dundalk" - Trendsmap". www.trendsmap.com.
32. Leahy, Ed (28 November 2021). "Benson spot on as Saints beat Bohs to lift the FAI Cup" – via www.rte.ie.
33. "St Pat's winger Darragh Burns on Hibs' radar as duo set for Dundalk return". independent.
34. "Hibs eye further raid on Irish market as club plots swoop for St Pat's winger". www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com. 17 December 2021.
35. Fennessy, Paul. "Memorable return for Jack Byrne as Shamrock Rovers beat Pat's on penalties". The42.
36. Ward, Johnny (18 February 2022). "Saints sweep past Shels to open season in style" – via www.rte.ie.
37. O'Hehir, Paul (21 February 2022). "St Pat's star Darragh Burns tipped to light up the league". DublinLive.
38. Buttner, Paul (1 April 2022). "Burns stunner snatches a point for Saints" – via www.rte.ie.
39. Landy, Barry (6 May 2022). "Teenage stars Burns & Robinson to the fore as Pats heap misery on Drogheda". Irish Examiner.
40. "TheJournal.ie - Burns on fire as Pat's grab point in Sligo". www.the42.ie.
41. "MK Dons complete Burns capture". Milton Keynes Dons. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
42. "Bohemians midfielder Dawson Devoy on verge of MK Dons move". independent.ie. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
43. Team, The42. "Former St Pat's teenager bags brace and assist in MK Dons pre-season friendly". The42.
44. "Cambridge United 1-0 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. 30 July 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
45. "Watford 0-2 Milton Keynes Dons". BBC. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
46. "MK Dons 6-0 Taunton Town" – via www.bbc.com.
47. "MATCH REPORT: MK Dons 3-1 Newport County". www.newport-county.co.uk.
48. "Bishop penalty double steers Pompey past MK Dons" – via www.bbc.com.
49. Fennessy, Paul (7 May 2023). "Heartbreak for Ireland stars as Derby just miss out on play-offs". The 42.
50. "Live Commentary - MK Dons vs Northampton | 21.11.2023". Sky Sports.
51. "Shamrock Rovers confirm season-long loan deal for MK Dons winger Darragh Burns". Independent.ie. 2 January 2024.
52. Lock, Toby (2 January 2024). "Burns returns to Ireland on loan with Shamrock Rovers". Milton Keynes Citizen. National World Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
53. Ferris, Macdara. "League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 – 2 Derry City". extratime.com.
54. "Old school Burns a breath of fresh air". independent.
55. Brosnan, Maurice. "Irish Players In Middle Of International Tug Of War In Ever-Changing Landscape". Balls.ie.
56. "U17: Clinical Ireland overcome Turkey in Tallaght | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
57. "WATCH: 'Four star' Ireland see off Turkey | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
58. "San Marino-Northern Ireland | Under-17". UEFA.com.
59. "NI U19s secure dramatic penalty shootout win over Germany". IFA.
60. Fullerton, Gareth (19 November 2019). "Northern Ireland Under 19s beat Germany on penalties in mini-tournament". BelfastLive.
61. Fennessy, Paul. "'His career was like a little bit of driftwood' - Backing for West Ham's rejuvenated Irish teen".
62. "TheJournal.ie - Darragh Burns and Phil Neville's son Harvey included in one-off Irish U20s camp". www.the42.ie.
63. "REPORT | Ireland U20s 0-1 Ireland Amateurs | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
64. "Jim Crawford adds two more players to Ireland U-21 squad ahead of Sweden clash". independent.
65. "SQUAD UPDATE | Burns, Phillips and McEntee join U21s squad | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
66. "REPORT | U21 | Ireland 2-2 Ukraine | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.