Gavan Holohan

Gavan Holohan

Personal information
Date of birth	(1991-12-15) 15 December 1991 (age 32) [1]
Place of birth	Kilkenny, Ireland
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) [1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Crawley Town
Number	8
Youth career
0000–2008	Kilkenny City
2008–2012	Hull City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2013	Alfreton Town	0	(0)
2013–2014	Drogheda United	31	(6)
2014–2016	Cork City	38	(3)
2016–2017	Galway United	27	(6)
2017–2018	Waterford	30	(5)
2019–2022	Hartlepool United	94	(20)
2022–2024	Grimsby Town	88	(11)
2024–	Crawley Town	0	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:01, 9 July 2024 (UTC)

Gavan Holohan (born 15 December 1991) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Crawley Town.

Beginning his career as a youngster with Hull City, Holohan returned to his native Ireland where he featured for League of Ireland sides Drogheda United, Cork City, Galway United and Waterford. He joined Hartlepool United in 2019 and in 2021 he was part of their side that won promotion back to the Football League. He repeated the success the following season with Grimsby Town.

History

Hull City

Holohan came through the ranks with Kilkenny City in his native Ireland and was picked up by Hull City in 2008. He went on to spend the next four years with the Tigers but failed to make an appearance, only making the bench once for an FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic. ^[2]

Alfreton Town

Holohan was signed by Alfreton Town in 2012 following his release from Hull. He also trialled with Carlisle United and Hibernian. ^[3]

Drogheda United

After being released by Alfreton, Holohan signed for League of Ireland side Drogheda United. Holohan enjoyed a successful campaign in the 2014 season, scoring 8 goals in 32 games and winning the supporters' player of the year award. He helped Drogheda progress to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup by scoring 3 goals in 3 games but was one of three Drogheda players sent off in their exit against the eventual champions Derry City. ^[4]

Cork City

In November 2014, Holohan left to sign for Cork City. ^[5] During his two years at Cork, Holohan won the FAI Cup in 2016 and scored in the President of Ireland's Cup final to help his side win 2–0. ^[6]

Galway United

Holohan later joined Galway United and scored his first career hat trick in a 4–1 win over his former side Drogheda United. ^[7]

Waterford

After suffering relegation with Galway United, Holohan signed for Waterford following their promotion to the top flight. ^[8] He helped the club finish fourth and while this would have qualified the club for the Europa League first qualifying round, Waterford were ruled by UEFA to have not passed the "three-year rule" as the club were reformed in 2016. ^[9]

Hartlepool United

Holohan signed with English National League club Hartlepool United on a short-term contract in 2019. ^[10] Having had to wait for international clearance before being able to play, Holohan eventually broke into the first team and scored his first goal in English football in a 1–1 draw against Aldershot Town in April 2019, an equaliser which ultimately relegated his opponents. ^[11] Holohan impressed in the seven games that he played and did enough to earn an extended contract. ^[12]

In the 2019–20 season, Holohan scored nine goals and contributed seven assists. ^[13] Holohan then signed a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season due to this good form. ^[14]

Holohan scored his 10th goal of the 2020–21 season in a 2–0 win against Notts County. ^[15] This goal was also his fourth consecutive goal after scoring against Stockport County, Dagenham & Redbridge, Boreham Wood, and Notts County respectively. ^{[16] [17] [18] [15]} He was awarded the League's Player of the Month award for April 2021. ^[19] Holohan started in the 2021 National League play-off final as Hartlepool were promoted back to the Football League. ^[20]

In August 2021, Holohan scored Hartlepool's first goal back in the Football League in a 1–0 victory over Crawley Town. ^[21] In a 2–1 win over rivals Carlisle United, Holohan scored his final goal for Hartlepool. ^[22] This would subsequently be voted as League Two goal of the month for August. ^[23] Holohan struggled for game time during the 2021–22 season and departed after making 108 appearances and scoring 23 times. ^[24]

Grimsby Town

On 22 March 2022, Holohan signed a two-year deal with National League side Grimsby Town. ^[25] On 23 May 2022, with Grimsby trailing 1-0 to Notts County in the National League play-offs in the final minute of added on time, Holohan scored an equaliser to send the game to extra time, with Grimsby going on to win the game 2-1 and advancing to the semi-finals. ^[26]

Holohan played in the 2022 National League play-off final as Grimsby beat Solihull Moors 2–1 at the London Stadium to return to the Football League. ^[27] During an FA Cup fourth round tie at Championship side Luton Town, Holohan scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw. ^[28]

On 1 March 2023, he scored two penalties in a 2–1 victory at Premier League side Southampton in the fifth round of the FA Cup, securing Grimsby's first quarter-final appearance since 1939. ^[29]

Holohan was released at the end of the 2023–24 season. ^[30]

Crawley Town

Holohan joined Crawley on a free transfer in July 2024 after his release from Grimsby Town joining former teammate Toby Mullarkey, also from Grimsby, who joined on the same day. ^[31]

Career statistics

As of 20 April 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	Division	League		National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Drogheda United	2013	LOI Premier Division	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2014	LOI Premier Division	27	5	3	3	2	0	0	0	32	8
	Total		31	5	3	3	2	0	0	0	36	8
Cork City	2015	LOI Premier Division	18	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	20	1
	2016	LOI Premier Division	20	2	2	0	2	1	3	1	27	4
	Total		38	3	3	0	3	1	3	1	47	5
Galway United	2017	LOI Premier Division	27	6	1	0	3	1	0	0	31	7
Waterford	2018	LOI Premier Division	30	5	1	1	2	0	0	0	33	6
Hartlepool United	2018–19	National League	7	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	1
	2019–20	National League	29	8	4	1	0	0	0	0	34	9
	2020–21	National League	39	9 [lower-alpha 1]	2	1	0	0	4	1	45	11
	2021–22	League Two	18	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	22	2
	Total		94	20	10	2	0	0	4	1	108	23
Grimsby Town	2021–22	National League	9	2	0	0	0	0	3	1	12	3
	2022–23	League Two	39	6	7	3	2	0	3	0	51	9
	2023–24	League Two	40	3	2	0	1	0	1	0	44	3
	Total		88	11	9	3	3	0	7	1	107	14
Career total			308	50	27	9	13	2	14	3	362	64

1. Holohan's goal against Aldershot Town on 3 October 2020 has been incorrectly attributed to Rhys Oates on Soccerway and Soccerbase.

Honours

Cork City

• FAI Cup: 2016 ^[32]

Hartlepool United

• National League play-offs: 2021 ^[33]

Grimsby Town

• National League play-offs: 2022 ^[34]

Individual

• Drogheda United Supporters' Player of the Year: 2014 ^[35]
• National League Player of the Month: April 2021 ^[19]

References

1. "Gavan Holohan". Hartlepool United F.C. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
2. "Hull 2-3 Wigan". BBC Sport. 8 January 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
3. "Alfreton Town sign Danny Emerton and Gavan Holohan". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
4. "FAI Cup Quarter-Final: Drogheda United 2-2 Derry City". BBC Sport. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
5. "Talented midfielder Gavan Holohan makes move to Cork City". rte.ie. RTÉ. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
6. "President's Cup Report: Cork City 2-0 Dundalk". extratime.ie. Extratime. 27 February 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
7. "Holohan haunts hapless Drogs". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
8. "Waterford snap up Gavan Holohan from Galway United". rte.ie. RTÉ. 18 December 2017.
9. "FAI confirm UEFA licence awarded to St Patrick's Athletic at expense of Waterford FC". Irish Independent. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
10. "Ace Ventura, international red tape & long-awaited opportunities - Gavan Holohan's Hartlepool United career so far". hartlepoolmail.co.uk. JPIMedia. 16 April 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
11. "Aldershot Town 1-1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
12. "Gavan Holohan Agrees New Pools Deal". hartlepoolunited.co.uk. Hartlepool United FC. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
13. Dominic Scurr (15 March 2020). "Hartlepool United goalscorer Gavan Holohan reflects on 1–1 draw at Sutton United and the 'weird feeling' as National League matches go ahead despite coronavirus outbreak". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
14. Dominic Scurr (13 March 2020). "Gavan Holohan signs new two year deal at Hartlepool United". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
15. "Hartlepool 2-0 Notts County". BBC Sport. 10 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
16. "Stockport County 1-1 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 27 March 2021.
17. "Hartlepool United 2-1 Dagenham & Redbridge". BBC Sport. 2 April 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
18. "Boreham Wood 2-2 Hartlepool United". BBC Sport. 5 April 2021.
19. "National League's April Monthly Award Winners Revealed!". www.thenationalleague.org.uk. 10 May 2021.
20. Pilnick, Brent (20 June 2021). "Hartlepool United returned to the English Football League as they beat Torquay United 5-4 on penalties, despite Gulls goalkeeper Lucas Covolan scoring a stoppage-time equaliser". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
21. "Hartlepool United 1-0 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 7 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
22. "Gavan Holohan - 2021/22". Soccerbase. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
23. Joe Ramage (24 September 2021). "Hartlepool United midfielder Gavan Holohan reacts after pipping rivals from Salford City and Bristol Rovers to scoop the League Two goal of the month award for Carlisle United strike". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
24. Richard Mennear (22 March 2022). "Gavan Holohan reacts after leaving Hartlepool United for Grimsby Town on two-year deal". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
25. "Mariners Secure Holohan Signing". Grimsby Town FC. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
26. "Max Crocombe's 'striker' claims laughed off by Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst". Grimsbylive. 25 May 2022.
27. "Grimsby Town player ratings as McAtee and four others star in Solihull comeback". Grimsbylive. 5 June 2022.
28. "Clifton earns Grimsby deserved replay with Luton". BBC Sport. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
29. "Southampton 1–2 Grimsby Town". BBC Sport. 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
30. "Retained and Released List 2023/24". gtfc.co.uk. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
31. "Holohan Signs for Crawley". Crawley Town F.C. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
32. Rob Wright (6 November 2016). "Recap: FAI Cup final". RTE. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
33. Pilnick, Brent (20 June 2021). "Hartlepool United 1–1 Torquay United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
34. Chris Peddy (4 June 2022). "Grimsby beat Solihull Moors to seal EFL return". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
35. "Cork City Announce Signing Of Gavan Holohan From Drogheda United". irishmirror.ie. Irish Mirror. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2020.