Patrick Hoban

Patrick Hoban

Personal information
Full name	Patrick James Hoban [1]
Date of birth	(1991-07-28) 28 July 1991 (age 33)
Place of birth	Loughrea, Ireland
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Derry City
Number	9
Youth career
	Mervue United
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2010	Mervue United	31	(5)
2010–2011	Bristol City	0	(0)
2010–2011	→ Clevedon Town (loan)	4	(0)
2011–2012	Mervue United	40	(14)
2013–2014	Dundalk	60	(34)
2015–2016	Oxford United	43	(3)
2016	→ Stevenage (loan)	1	(0)
2016	→ Grimsby Town (loan)	10	(0)
2016–2017	Mansfield Town	21	(4)
2018–2024	Dundalk	171	(87)
2024–	Derry City	26	(12)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:27, 3 September 2024 (UTC)

Patrick James Hoban (born 28 July 1991) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Derry City in the League of Ireland Premier Division, as a forward.

He had his greatest successes in two spells at Dundalk, where he scored a total of 150 goals, making him the club's all time record goalscorer. He finished as top scorer as they won the League of Ireland Premier Division in 2014 and 2018, and won another title in 2019.

Career

Early career

Born in Loughrea, County Galway, to an English mother, Hoban played both hurling and football as a youth. ^[2] He represented his town at hurling and Mervue United in football, who he helped to win promotion from the A Championship to the League of Ireland with a 5–2 aggregate victory over Kildare County in the 2008 play-off final. ^[3]

In July 2010, Hoban journeyed to England after being offered to train with Championship club Bristol City, managed by Steve Coppell and having just signed England international goalkeeper David James. ^[2] In November he signed a one-year contract, along fellow 19-year-old Irishman Jimmy Keohane. ^[4] He scored regularly for the Robins' reserve team but did not break into the first team, being loaned to local non-league team Clevedon Town. ^[2] He made six appearances for Clevedon, four of which came in the Southern League Division One. His only goal came in a Southern League Cup tie against Taunton Town in January 2011. ^[5] He was later released by Bristol City.

Dundalk

Hoban returned to Mervue United and then moved to League of Ireland Premier Division side Dundalk in 2013. ^[6] In his first season at Oriel Park, he scored 15 times as the Lilywhites came runners-up to St. Patrick's Athletic; this included a hat-trick on 12 July in a 3–0 home win over Bohemians. ^[7]

He was top scorer with 20 goals as they won the 2014 title, their first for 19 years. ^[8] On 24 July that year, he scored the winning goal in their 2–1 win away to Hajduk Split in the second leg of the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, but they lost 3–2 on aggregate to the Croatians. ^[9] The team also won the League of Ireland Cup with a 3–2 victory over Shamrock Rovers on 19 September, Hoban scoring their third goal to seal a first trophy in 12 years. ^[10]

Oxford United

Hoban signed with English League Two side Oxford United in November 2014, having turned down the chance to play on trial at Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock. The contract did not take effect until 1 January. ^[8] He made his professional debut on 17 January 2015 in a 3–2 home loss to Southend United, replacing Cheyenne Dunkley at half time. ^{[11] [12]} Hoban totalled 20 appearances that season for the U's, mostly starting, but scored just once to open a 2–1 comeback win over Carlisle United at the Kassam Stadium on 28 March. ^[13]

Having scored three times in 43 League appearances (26 of them as a substitute) he joined Stevenage in the same division on a month's loan on 1 February 2016. ^[14] He played his one game for them on 6 February, starting in a 1–0 home to Crawley Town and having a good opportunity to score saved by Jamie Jones. ^[15]

On 1 March 2016, Hoban joined National League side Grimsby Town on loan until the end of the season. ^[16] He played in Grimsby's 3–1 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the 2016 National League play-off final at Wembley Stadium, seeing the Mariners promoted to League Two after a six-year absence from the Football League. ^{[17] [18]} Hoban did not score in his 14 total appearances, and was not retained when his loan expired. ^[19] He was released by Oxford at the end of the season. ^[20]

Mansfield Town

Following his release from Oxford, Hoban stayed in League Two and joined Mansfield Town in June 2016. ^[21] He made his debut on 6 August as they began the season with a 3–2 win at Newport County, playing the final six minutes in place of Matt Green, and on 1 October he scored his first goal for the Stags, opening a 1–1 draw at Crewe Alexandra by heading Kevan Hurst's cross. ^[22]

On 10 January 2017, Hoban scored both goals in the final six minutes as Mansfield defeated Oldham Athletic in the third round of the EFL Trophy at Field Mill. ^[23] He was released at the end of the 2016–17 season. ^[24]

Return to Dundalk

On 24 November 2017 Hoban rejoined Dundalk. ^[25] The following 11 February he played in the FAI President's Cup, a 4–2 home loss to Cork City, filling in for the last 23 minutes in place of Krisztián Adorján. ^[26] On 19 July, in the Europa League first qualifying round second leg, he scored in a 2–1 (3–1 aggregate) win over Estonia's Levadia Tallinn. ^[27]

Hoban was voted League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month in June 2018 after scoring five goals in four games that month, including three in a 4–0 home win over Limerick on 8 June. ^{[28] [29]} On 5 October, he scored a late equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with St Patrick's Athletic to win Dundalk's 13th league title. ^[30] He finished the season as top scorer with 29 goals but left the last league game injured, causing concern over whether he would play the FAI Cup Final against Cork City. ^[31]

On 9 February, Hoban scored as Dundalk defeated Cork 2–1 at Turners Cross to win the 2019 President of Ireland's Cup. ^[32] He was sent off on 3 May in a 2–2 home draw with Derry City, after having scored twice. ^[33] Dundalk retained their league title, ^[34] and Hoban was the second highest scorer with 13 goals, one behind Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe of Derry. ^[35] Dundalk also won the League Cup, with Hoban scoring four times in a 6–1 win over Bohemians in the semi-final on 19 August. ^[36] Additionally, he scored the last goal of a 6–0 win (7–1 aggregate) over Northern Irish champions Linfield in the Champions Cup on 11 November. ^[37] On 16 October 2019, Hoban signed a contract for two more seasons at Dundalk. ^[38]

On 6 March 2020, Hoban scored twice in a 4–0 win at Finn Harps to reach 100 Irish top-flight goals, the 44th player to reach that landmark. ^[39] His 100th goal in all competitions for Dundalk came on 31 July, in a 1–1 home draw with St Patrick's. ^[40] In the 2020 Europa League third qualifying round, he scored in the penalty shoot-out against Sheriff Tiraspol helping Dundalk qualify for the playoffs. Dundalk went on to qualify for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage and he scored the opening goal but lost 4–3 against Rapid Vienna in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League group stage. ^[41] In the 2021–22 Europa Conference League 3rd round qualifiers He scored 1 goal against Vitesse Arnhem, but lost 2–1. ^[42]

On 10 January 2024, Dundalk announced that they had agreed a fee for Hoban with Derry City, meaning he would be departing after 294 appearances and a record 150 goals over his two spells with the club. ^[43]

Derry City

It was announced on 10 January 2024 that Hoban had signed a two-year contract with League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City for an initial fee of €30,000. ^{[44] [45]}

Career statistics

As of match played on 30 August 2024 ^[46]

Club	Division	Season	League		National Cup		League Cup		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mervue United	LOI First Division	2009	4	3	0	0	0	0	—		—		4	3
		2010	12	1	1	0	0	0	—		—		13	1
	Total		16	4	1	0	0	0	—		—		17	4
Bristol City	EFL Championship	2010–11	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Clevedon Town (loan)	Southern League	2010–11	4	0	0	0	—		—		2	1	6	1
Mervue United	LOI First Division	2011	13	5	0	0	0	0	—		—		13	5
		2012	27	9	3	3	1	0	—		—		31	12
	Total		40	14	3	3	1	0	—		—		38	17
Dundalk	LOI Premier Division	2013	28	14	4	3	0	0	—		1 [lower-alpha 1]	1	33	18
		2014	32	20	2	1	1	1	3 [lower-alpha 2]	1	6 [lower-alpha 3]	1	44	24
	Total		60	34	6	4	1	1	3	1	7	2	77	42
Oxford United	EFL League Two	2014–15	20	1	0	0	—		—		—		20	1
		2015–16	23	2	4	2	2	0	—		4 [lower-alpha 4]	1	33	5
	Total		43	3	4	2	2	0	—		4	1	53	6
Stevenage (loan)	EFL League Two	2015–16	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
Grimsby Town (loan)	National League	2015–16	12	0	—		—		—		2 [lower-alpha 5]	0	14	0
Mansfield Town	EFL League Two	2016–17	21	4	0	0	0	0	—		3 [lower-alpha 4]	2	24	6
Dundalk	LOI Premier Division	2018	36	29	4	2	0	0	4 [lower-alpha 2]	1	1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	45	32
		2019	34	13	3	0	2	4	6 [lower-alpha 7]	1	3 [lower-alpha 8]	2	48	20
		2020	15	10	1	0	—		7 [lower-alpha 9]	1	—		23	11
		2021	27	12	4	7	—		3 [lower-alpha 10]	1	1 [lower-alpha 6]	0	35	20
		2022	25	9	1	1	—		—		—		26	10
		2023	34	14	2	0	—		4 [lower-alpha 10]	1	0 [lower-alpha 1]	0	40	15
	Total		171	87	15	10	2	4	24	5	5	2	217	108
Derry City	LOI Premier Division	2024	26	12	2	0	—		2 [lower-alpha 11]	1	—		30	13
Career total			390	158	31	19	6	5	28	7	21	7	476	196

1. Appearance in Leinster Senior Cup
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. 1 appearance in Leinster Senior Cup, 5 appearances & 1 goal in Setanta Sports Cup
4. Appearances in EFL Trophy
5. Appearances in FA Trophy
6. Appearance in President's Cup
7. 4 appearances & 1 goal in UEFA Champions League, 2 appearances in UEFA Europa League
8. 2 appearances, 1 goal in Champions Cup & 1 appearance, 1 goal in President's Cup
9. 1 appearance in UEFA Champions League, 6 appearances in UEFA Europa League
10. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
11. Appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Dundalk

• League of Ireland Premier Division: 2014, ^[8] 2018, ^[30] 2019 ^[34]
• League of Ireland Cup: 2014, ^[10] 2019 ^[47]
• FAI Cup: 2018, ^[48] 2020
• President's Cup: 2019, ^[32] 2021 ^[49]
• Champions Cup: 2019 ^[37]

Grimsby Town

• National League play-offs: 2016 ^[18]

Individual

• Dundalk all time record goalscorer: 150 goals

• League of Ireland Premier Division top scorer: 2014, ^[8] 2018, ^[31] 2020

• League of Ireland Premier Division Player of the Month: July 2013, October 2014, June 2018, ^[29] June 2023 ^[50]

References

1. "The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015" (PDF). The Football League. 16 May 2015. p. 79. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
2. Crowe, Dermot (27 October 2013). "Forward steps on path to goal". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
3. "Kildare County 0-3 Mervue United (Mervue win 5-2)". RTÉ. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
4. "Robins snap up Irish duo". Sky Sports. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
5. "First Team: Fixtures & Results – 2010/2011 Season". Clevedon Town AFC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
6. "PATRICK HOBAN". Dundalk. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
7. "Patrick Hoban's hat-trick leaves Bohemians in more hot water". The Irish Times. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
8. "Patrick Hoban: Oxford United sign League of Ireland star". BBC Sport . 21 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
9. "Dundalk's Europa League quest ended by Hajduk Split". The Irish Times. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
10. McDonnell, Daniel (20 September 2014). "Dundalk end 12-year wait for silverware with victory over Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sports Cup final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
11. Pritchard, David (17 January 2015). "Oxford United striker Patrick Hoban set for bench role against Southend". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
12. Pritchard, David (17 January 2015). "Oxford Utd 2 (O'Dowda 13, Long 45+1), Southend Utd 3 (Worrall 24, Pigott 48, Corr 83)". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
13. "Oxford United 2–1 Carlisle United". BBC Sport. 28 March 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
14. "Hoban Joins Stevenage On Loan". Oxford United F.C. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
15. "Stevenage 0–1 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 6 February 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
16. "Grimsby Town sign Oxford striker on season-long loan deal". BBC Sport. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
17. "Forest Green 1–3 Grimsby". BBC Sport. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
18. "Grimsby secure promotion back to Football League at Wembley". Sky Sports. 15 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
19. "Grimsby Town Retained List". Grimsby Telegraph. 24 May 2016. Archived from the original on 25 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
20. "Oxford United announce retained list". Oxford Mail. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
21. "Pat Hoban: Former Oxford United striker joins Mansfield Town". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
22. "Crewe Alexandra 1–1 Mansfield Town". 1 October 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
23. Chambers, Matthew (10 January 2017). "Latics dumped out by Mansfield". Oldham Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
24. "Matt Green: Mansfield striker among 11 released by Stags". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
25. "Former top scorer Patrick Hoban rejoins Dundalk for 2018". RTÉ. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
26. Reilly, Caoimhín (11 February 2018). "Cork City score four after the break to leave Dundalk FC reeling in President's Cup final". Dundalk Democrat. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
27. Rogers, James (20 July 2018). "Dundalk set up trip to Cyprus at Oriel Park". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
28. "Patrick Hoban's hat-trick inspires Dundalk to top of the table". The Irish Times. 8 June 2018.
29. "Free-scoring Patrick Hoban named June Player of the Month". Irish Examiner. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
30. Mackey, Liam (5 October 2018). "Late Hoban goal see Dundalk claim league title". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
31. "Injury concern for Dundalk as Patrick Hoban limps off injured during draw with Bohemians". The Irish Independent. 26 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
32. "Dundalk earns first President's Cup win since 2015 with Cork City defeat". Irish Examiner. 9 February 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
33. "Never say die Derry City fight back from 2-0 down to grab a brilliant point at the home of the champions". Derry Now. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
34. "Dundalk defeat Shamrock Rovers to claim title". RTÉ. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
35. Collins, Simon (26 October 2019). "Golden boot winner Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe undecided on Derry City future". Derry Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
36. "Hoban bags four as Dundalk hit Bohemians for six at Oriel Park". The Irish Times. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
37. "Champions Cup: Dundalk 6-0 Linfield (7-1 on aggregate)". BBC Sport. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
38. "Dundalk tie Hoban down to new two-year deal". RTÉ. 16 October 2019. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
39. Rogers, James (14 March 2020). "100 not out with more in his sights". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
40. "Stephen Kenny watches on as Benson comes back to haunt Dundalk". The 42. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
41. "Rapid Vienna 4–3 Dundalk". BBC Sport. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
42. "Patrick McEleney steals the show as Dundalk grab a draw at Vitesse". 5 August 2021.
43. "Dundalk reach an agreement with Derry City for the transfer of club's record goal-scorer Patrick Hoban, 32". Independent.ie. 10 January 2024.
44. "Pat Hoban is a Candystripe". www.derrycityfc.net. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
45. "'There was no point of me staying' – Pat Hoban on move from Dundalk to Derry". Independent.ie. 10 January 2024.
46. "Republic of Ireland – P. Hoban". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
47. Keenan, Shaun (16 September 2019). "Dundalk condemn crowd trouble following League Cup final victory". Derry Daily. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
48. "Patrick McEleney puts the seal on Dundalk's double delight". Irish Examiner. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
49. McDonnell, Daniel (12 March 2021). "Ten-man Dundalk hold their penalty nerve to taste President's Cup joy". The Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
50. "Patrick Hoban of Dundalk FC has been named the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Ireland Player of the Month for June". Irish Independent. 12 July 2023.

External links

• Pat Hoban at Soccerbase
• Patrick Hoban at Soccerway