Conor Keeley
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Conor Keeley
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1997|12|13}}
| birth_place = Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland
| height =
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Drogheda United
| clubnumber = 22
| youthyears1 = 2001–2007
| youthclubs1 = St Kevin's Boys
| youthyears2 = 2007–2009
| youthclubs2 = Dunboyne
| youthyears3 = 2009–2016
| youthclubs3 = Shelbourne
| years1 = 2015–2016 | clubs1 = Shelbourne | caps1 = 10 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2017–2020 | clubs2 = Cabinteely | caps2 = 73 | goals2 = 9
| years3 = 2021–2023 | clubs3 = Ballymena United | caps3 = 61 | goals3 = 8
| years4 = 2023 | clubs4 = Drogheda United | caps4 = 33 | goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2024 | clubs5 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps5 = 19 | goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2025– | clubs6 = Drogheda United | caps6 = 2 | goals6 = 0
|club-update = 12:52, 26 February 2025 (UTC)
|ntupdate = 22:55, 15 December 2023 (UTC)
}}
Conor Keeley (born 13 December 1997) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defender for League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United. His previous clubs are Shelbourne, Cabinteely, Ballymena United and St Patrick's Athletic.
Career
=Youth career=
A native of Dunboyne, County Meath, Keeley began playing with top Dublin academy St Kevin's Boys, where he played from under-5s level to under 10's, before returning to his local side Dunboyne AFC for two years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/21097/irish-colleges-and-universities-star-conor-keeley-to-represent-my-country-against-one-of-the-best-university-teams-in-the-world-is-fantastic/|title=Irish Colleges and Universities star Conor Keeley: 'To represent my country against one of the best university teams in the world is fantastic'|first=Brendan|last=Graham|website=extratime.com}} He then moved on to the academy of League of Ireland club Shelbourne, where he won an under-13 SFAI Cup medal in his first season with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2021/01/14/dunboyne-man-keeley-targets-success-with-ballymena/|title=Dunboyne man Keeley targets success with Ballymena|date=January 14, 2021|website=Meath Chronicle}}
=Shelbourne=
Keeley made his senior debut for Shelbourne on 17 October 2015, in a 2–0 win over Cobh Ramblers in the final game of the season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.extratime.com/articles/15360/league-report-shelbourne-2---0-cobh-ramblers/|title=League Report: Shelbourne 2 - 0 Cobh Ramblers|website=extratime.com}} The 2016 season saw him struggle for appearances, making just 12 in all competitions resulting in him departing the club in search of more first team opportunities.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/im-now-in-a-better-place-after-hard-times-says-ballymena-united-ace-conor-keeley/41615873.html|title=I'm now in a better place after hard times, says Ballymena United ace Conor Keeley|date=May 5, 2022|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}}
=Cabinteely=
Keeley signed for fellow League of Ireland First Division side Cabinteely ahead of the 2017 season and on 25 March 2017, he scored his first goal in senior football, in a 4–1 win over Cobh Ramblers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.extratime.com/articles/18611/league-report-cabinteely-4---1-cobh-ramblers/|title=League Report: Cabinteely 4 - 1 Cobh Ramblers|website=extratime.com}} On 26 May 2017, he scored against his old side Shelbourne in a 4–1 win at Tolka Park.{{Cite web|url=http://www.extratime.com/articles/19026/league-report-shelbourne-1---4-cabinteely-fc/|title=League Report: Shelbourne 1 - 4 Cabinteely FC|website=extratime.com}} The 2019 season saw Keeley help the club to a 4th place playoff, qualifying them for the Promotion Playoffs, in which they defeated Longford Town on penalties in the first stage, which Keeley stated was the best moment of his career up to that point.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/cabinteelys-dramatic-penalties-win-over-20647412|title=Dramatic win over Longford Town was best moment of Conor Keeley's career|date=October 18, 2019|website=Irish Mirror}} He signed a new one-year contract with the club in January 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/24286/boost-for-cabinteely-as-conor-keeley-re-signs-for-2020/|title=Boost for Cabinteely as Conor Keeley re-signs for 2020|first=Paul|last=Corcoran|website=extratime.com}} He departed the club at the end of the 2020 season, following 81 appearances and 9 goals in all competitions during his 4 seasons with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/26022/conor-keeley-set-to-leave-cabinteely/|title=Conor Keeley set to leave Cabinteely|first=Andrew|last=Dempsey|website=extratime.com}}
=Ballymena United=
On 12 January 2021, Keeley signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with NIFL Premiership club Ballymena United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/55640826|title=Ballymena sign central defender Keeley|date=January 12, 2021|website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ballymenaguardian.co.uk/football/2021/01/13/gallery/conor-keeley-signs-for-ballymena-united-12702/|title=Conor Keeley signs for Ballymena United|first=Shaun|last=Oneill|website=www.ballymenaguardian.co.uk}} He scored his first goals for the club on 2–1 March 2021, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win at home to Linfield.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nifootballleague.com/premiership/2020-2021/fixtures/2021-03-23-ballymena-united-v-linfield/|title=KEELEY AT THE DOUBLE FOR SKY BLUES|website=NI Football League}} On 10 December 2021, he scored in a 2–1 win at home to Larne.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nifootballleague.com/premiership/2021-2022/fixtures/2021-12-10-ballymena-united-v-larne/|title=KEELEY AND McELROY TURN IT AROUND FOR THE SKY BLUES|website=NI Football League}} Keeley captained the side for the first time on 15 January 2022, in a 1–0 defeat away to Linfield.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ballymena-uniteds-conor-keeley-proud-22767527|title=Ballymena defender proud to wear armband after losing grandfather|first=Darren|last=Fullerton|date=January 16, 2022|website=Belfast Live}} Keeley signed a new two-year contract with the club in July 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/conor-keeley-commits-to-ballymena-united-with-new-deal-3784495|title=Conor Keeley commits to Ballymena United with new deal|date=July 27, 2022|website=Belfast News Letter}} Keeley featured in all 5 of the club's games in their 2021–22 Irish Cup run, including the Final, as his side were defeated 2–1 by Crusaders at Windsor Park via a 121st-minute goal.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61364894|title=McMurray's last-gasp stunner wins Irish Cup for Crusaders|via=www.bbc.com}} On 31 December 2022, it was announced that the club had 'reluctantly' agreed to put Keeley on the transfer list to allow him his wish to move back closer to home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/ballymena-united-reluctantly-puts-conor-keeley-on-transfer-list-after-defender-expresses-wish-to-be-closer-to-home/42254486.html|title=Ballymena United 'reluctantly' puts Conor Keeley on transfer list after defender expresses wish to be closer to home|date=December 31, 2022|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}} On 7 January 2023, he scored in what turned out to be his final appearance for the club, as they defeated Carrick Rangers on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the Irish Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/irish-league/goal-was-fitting-way-for-conor-keeley-to-bow-out-says-ballymena-boss-david-jeffrey/42270884.html|title=Goal was fitting way for Conor Keeley to bow out, says Ballymena boss David Jeffrey|date=January 9, 2023|via=www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk}} He made a total of 70 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 9 goals.{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/conor-keeley/402360/|title=Republic of Ireland - C. Keeley - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}
=Drogheda United=
He signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United for an undisclosed fee on 10 January 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://droghedaunited.ie/conor-keeley-signs-for-drogheda-united/|title=Conor Keeley signs for Drogheda United|date=January 9, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/drogheda-united-manager-kevin-doherty-delighted-to-capture-matured-defender-conor-keeley/42275581.html|title=Drogheda United manager Kevin Doherty delighted to capture 'matured' defender Conor Keeley|date=January 10, 2023|website=Independent.ie}} His first goal for the club came on 14 July 2023, in a 3–1 win away to UCD at the UCD Bowl.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41184175.html|title=Drogheda cruise to victory over UCD|first=Paul|last=Buttner|date=July 14, 2023|website=Irish Examiner}} Keeley's performances drew interest from several clubs, including EFL League Two side Notts County, whom Drogheda rejected several bids for Keeley from in August 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/drogheda-united-reject-multiple-bids-30814275|title=Drogheda United reject multiple bids for Conor Keeley from Notts County|first=Oisin|last=Doherty|date=August 29, 2023|website=Irish Mirror}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-ballymena-united-defender-linked-27615450|title=Former Ballymena United defender linked to League Two switch|first=Steven Crawford|last=by Oisin Doherty|date=August 29, 2023|website=Belfast Live}} He was voted Drogheda United Supporters Player of the Year for his performances in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/droghedaunited/status/1723335754364203338?s=46|title=Drogheda United Fans' Player of the Year 2023, Conor Keeley|date=11 November 2023}}
=St Patrick's Athletic=
On 15 December 2023, it was announced that Keeley had signed a multi-year contract with St Patrick's Athletic.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9530|title=Conor Keeley Signs For The Saints|website=www.stpatsfc.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/conor-keeley-cant-wait-for-full-time-football-as-he-signs-for-st-patricks-athletic/a2058294933.html|title=Conor Keeley 'can't wait' for full-time football as he signs for St Patrick's Athletic|date=December 15, 2023|website=Independent.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/fai-cup-winners-st-pats-31684560|title=FAI Cup winners St Pat's raid rivals for towering defender|first=Paul|last=O'Hehir|date=December 15, 2023|website=Irish Mirror}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023/1215/1422279-st-pats-snap-up-towering-defender-conor-keeley/|title=St Pat's snap up towering defender Conor Keeley|date=December 15, 2023|via=www.rte.ie}} His first goal for the club came on 22 April 2024, volleying home a Brandon Kavanagh free-kick away to Derry City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c3gqdk14gw4o|title=Derry City: Candystripes up to third after St Pat's Athletic win|date=April 22, 2024|website=BBC Sport}} On 8 October 2024, Keeley was part of the Pats side that defeated St Mochta's 2–1 in the final of the 2023–24 Leinster Senior Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/34854/st-patricks-athletic-crowned-leinster-senior-cup-winners/|title=St Patrick's Athletic crowned Leinster Senior Cup winners|first=Extratime|last=Team|website=extratime.com}} On 17 December 2024, the club announced that his contract had been cancelled by mutual consent after he struggled for game time following the appointment of former Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny in May.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/stpatsfc/status/1869059811557712041?s=46|title=x.com|website=X (formerly Twitter)}}
=Return to Drogheda United=
On 17 December 2024, Keeley returned to his former club Drogheda United ahead of their 2025 season.{{Cite web|url=https://droghedaunited.ie/conor-keeley-25/|title=Conor Keeley signs for Drogheda United – Drogheda}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/35097/conor-keeley-returns-to-drogheda-united/|title=Conor Keeley returns to Drogheda United|first=Extratime|last=Team|website=extratime.com}} He scored his first goal since returning to the club on 14 March 2025, opening the scoring in a 2–1 defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/35597/shamrock-rovers-victorious-as-drogheda-stay-top-despite-defeat/|title=Shamrock Rovers victorious as Drogheda stay top despite defeat|first=Macdara|last=Ferris|website=extratime.com}}
International career
Keeley featured for the Republic of Ireland Universities team in June 2018 in a 2–1 win over the second ranked team in the world at the time, France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/21139/conor-keeleywe-didnt-let-late-french-tackles-affect-our-performance---we-stood-up-and-showed-no-fear/|title=Conor Keeley:'We didn't let late French tackles affect our performance - we stood up and showed no fear'|first=Brendan|last=Graham|website=extratime.com}}
Personal life
Keeley is the brother of fellow professional footballer Josh Keeley, who is a goalkeeper that began his career at St Patrick's Athletic, before moving on to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/i-made-the-wrong-choices-and-hes-made-all-the-right-ones-keeley-brothers-thriving-on-both-sides-of-the-water/a1522714016.html|title='I made the wrong choices and he's made all the right ones' – Keeley brothers thriving on both sides of the water|date=March 10, 2025|website=www.independent.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2021/01/13/pro-deal-with-pats-targets-third-level-education-for-keeley/|title=Pro deal with Pat's targets third level education for Keeley|date=January 13, 2021|website=Meath Chronicle}} Their father Brendan Keeley was also a goalkeeper, who played for NIFL Premiership club Newry City among others. As a teenager Keeley also played Gaelic football and in May 2014 he scored 2–4 for St Peters Dunboyne in their 3–7 to 2–5 victory over Summerhill as they won the MFL Div 1 title.{{Cite web|url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2014/05/21/dunboyne-win-minor-title/|title=Dunboyne win minor title|date=May 21, 2014|website=Meath Chronicle}} He also represented Meath GAA at county minor level.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 21 February 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/conor-keeley/402360/|title=Republic of Ireland - C. Keeley - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=ie.soccerway.com}}
| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup{{efn|Includes FAI Cup & Irish Cup}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes League of Ireland Cup & Northern Ireland League Cup}} !colspan=2|Europe !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3"|Shelbourne
|2015 |rowspan="2"|LOI First Division |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016
|9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="5"|Cabinteely
|2017 |rowspan="4"|LOI First Division |26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2018
|15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 15 | 4 | ||
| 2019
|21 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|Appearances in the 2019 League of Ireland Promotion Playoffs}} | 0 | 26 | 2 | ||
| 2020
|11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 1 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!73 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 4 | 0 | 81 | 9 | ||
| rowspan="4"|Ballymena United
|rowspan="3"|NIFL Premiership |17 | 4 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 4 | ||||
| 2021–22
|27 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the County Antrim Shield|name=statsCAS}} | 0 | 35 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23
|17 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsCAS}} | 0 | 19 | 3 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!61 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | 70 | 9 | ||
| Drogheda United
|2023 |33 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 36 | 1 | ||||
| St Patrick's Athletic
|2024 |19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|Apprarance(s) in the UEFA Conference League|name=statsConf}} | 0 | 4{{efn|1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup & 3 appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 23 | 1 | ||
| Drogheda United
|2025 |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsConf}} | 0 | 2{{efn|1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup; 1 appearance in the Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| colspan="3"|Total
!198 | 19 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 230 | 20 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
=Club=
;St Patrick's Athletic
=Individual=
- Drogheda United Supporters Player of the Year (1): 2023
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.extratime.com/player/11118024/conor_keeley/ Conor Keeley Extratime.com Profile]
- [https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/drogheda-uniteds-conor-keeley-wary-of-max-strength-in-all-premier-fai-cup-tie/a441889724.html Drogheda United's Conor Keeley wary of Max strength in all-Premier FAI Cup tie]
{{Drogheda United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keeley, Conor}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Shelbourne F.C. players
Category:Cabinteely F.C. players
Category:Ballymena United F.C. players
Category:Drogheda United F.C. players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Association footballers from County Meath
Category:People from County Meath