Luke Heeney
{{short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Luke Heeney
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1999|2|6}}
| birth_place = Bellewstown, County Meath, Ireland
| height =
| position = Midfielder
Right back
| currentclub = Drogheda United
| clubnumber = 21
| youthyears1 = –2015
| youthclubs1 = St Kevin's Boys
| youthyears2 = 2015–2018
| youthclubs2 = St Patrick's Athletic
| years1 = 2018 | clubs1 = St Patrick's Athletic | caps1 = 1 | goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019– | clubs2 = Drogheda United | caps2 = 152 | goals2 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2018 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U19
| nationalcaps1 = 2 | nationalgoals1 = 0
|club-update = 11:27, 7 May 2025 (UTC)
|ntupdate = 23:30, 28 January 2025 (UTC)
}}
Luke Heeney (born 6 February 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or right back for League of Ireland Premier Division club Drogheda United. He previously played for St Patrick's Athletic.
Career
=Youth career=
Bellewstown, County Meath native{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/drogheda-united-man-of-the-match-luke-heeney-cock-a-hoop-despite-being-hit-by-bird-poop/a2009848943.html|title=Drogheda United man of the match Luke Heeney cock-a-hoop despite being hit by bird poop|date=May 7, 2024|website=www.independent.ie}} Heeney began playing with St Kevin's Boys,{{Cite web|url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2025/01/17/ratoath-based-drogs-prepare-for-season-with-a-difference/|title=Ratoath-based Drogs prepare for season with a difference|date=January 17, 2025|website=Meath Chronicle}} before joining the academy of League of Ireland club St Patrick's Athletic in 2015, playing for their under-17 side for two seasons before going on to play for their under-19 side for a further two seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/player/11121259/luke_heeney/|title=Luke Heeney | Stats | History | Career Details | Images | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football - Extratime.com|website=www.extratime.com}}
=St Patrick's Athletic=
Heeney made his first team debut on 5 October 2018, replacing Jake Keegan from the bench in the 91st minute of a 1–1 draw away to Dundalk at Oriel Park in what proved to be his only senior appearance for the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/21754/league-report-dundalk-1---1-st-patricks-athletic/|title=League Report: Dundalk 1 - 1 St Patrick's Athletic|first=Niall|last=Newberry|website=extratime.com}}
=Drogheda United=
Ahead of the 2019 season, Heeney signed for his local League of Ireland First Division club Drogheda United. He made his debut in the opening game of the season on 22 February 2019, in a 4–0 win over Cobh Ramblers at United Park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/2019-league-of-ireland-first-division/drogheda-united-v-cobh-ramblers/35805/4/report/|title=League Report: Drogheda United 4 - 0 Cobh Ramblers|website=extratime.com}} On 8 June 2019, he scored the first goal of his senior career, adding his side's third goal in a 4–2 win at home to Athlone Town.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/2019-league-of-ireland-first-division/drogheda-united-v-athlone-town/35880/4/report/|title=League Report: Drogheda United 4 - 2 Athlone Town|website=extratime.com}} Heeney made just 9 appearances in 2020 due to injury, but in the final of those 9 on 27 October 2020, he scored in a 2–0 win away to Cabinteely at Stradbrook Road to secure the 2020 League of Ireland First Division title and promotion for his side.{{Cite website|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/1027/1174291-drogheda-seal-promotion-as-playoff-chase-goes-to-wire/|title=Drogheda seal promotion as play-off places are decided|first=Paul|last=Buttner|date=October 27, 2020|via=www.rte.ie}} He made 31 appearances in all competitions in his side's first season back in the top flight as they avoided the Promotion/Relegation Playoff by 2 points.{{Cite web|url=https://ie.soccerway.com/players/luke-heeney/575199/|title=Republic of Ireland - L. Heeney - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=ie.soccerway.com}} On 10 December 2021, he signed a new contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://droghedaunited.ie/luke-heeney-signs-new-deal-for-2022/|title=Luke Heeney signs new deal for 2022 – Drogheda}} In early 2022, he was involved in a car crash that saw him miss several games while he recovered from his injuries.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/droghedas-heeney-is-luke-ing-on-the-bright-side-after-crash-that-kept-him-out-of-first-dundalk-game/41587917.html|title=Drogheda's Heeney is Luke-ing on the bright side after crash that kept him out of first Dundalk game|date=April 26, 2022|website=www.independent.ie}} He made 32 appearances in all competitions during the 2023 season and on 19 December 2023, he signed a new contract with the club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/32406/heeney-commits-to-sixth-season-drogheda-united/|title=Heeney commits to sixth season with Drogheda United|first=Paul|last=Corcoran|website=extratime.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.meathchronicle.ie/2023/12/20/heeney-signs-new-deal-with-united/|title=Heeney signs new deal with United|date=December 20, 2023|website=Meath Chronicle}} On 23 September 2024, he made his 150th appearance for the club in a 0–0 draw with Galway United.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loveisthedrog.ie/p/theres-a-glass-and-a-half-in-luke|title=There's a Glass and a Half in Luke Heeney: Drogheda's Milk Tray man on full time football and his newest high profile fan|first=Barry|last=Landy|website=www.loveisthedrog.ie}} Heeney came off the bench in the 2024 FAI Cup final on 11 November 2024, as his side defeated Derry City 2–0 at the Aviva Stadium to win the Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41513876.html|title=Drogheda United shock Derry to claim first FAI Cup since 2005|first=John|last=Fallon|date=November 10, 2024|website=Irish Examiner}} On 16 November 2024, he helped his side to a 3–1 win over Bray Wanderers at Tallaght Stadium in the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Playoff.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/drogheda-united-secure-premier-division-status-with-play-off-win-over-bray/a1325542561.html|title=Drogheda United secure Premier Division status with play-off win over Bray|date=November 16, 2024|website=Irish Independent}} On 20 December 2024, he renewed his contract with Drogheda{{Cite web|url=https://droghedaunited.ie/luke-heeney-25/|title=Luke Heeney signs new deal – Drogheda}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/drogheda-united-boss-kevin-doherty-hails-re-signing-of-so-so-good-luke-heeney/a603040685.html|title=Drogheda United boss Kevin Doherty hails re-signing of 'so, so good' Luke Heeney|date=December 30, 2024|website=www.independent.ie}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/35111/drogheda-united-have-announced-the-re-signing-of-luke-heeney-for-his-seventh-consecutive-season-at-the-club/|title=Drogheda United have announced the re-signing of Luke Heeney for his seventh consecutive season at the club|first=Extratime|last=Team|website=extratime.com}} amidst reported interest from rivals Dundalk,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/news/dundalk-sport/1676547/dundalk-fc-eye-further-additions-ahead-of-2025-season.html|title=Dundalk FC eye further additions ahead of 2025 season|first=Niall|last=Newberry|date=December 9, 2024|website=www.dundalkdemocrat.ie}} having been praised as the club's standout player in 2024 by manager Kevin Doherty.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/louth/sport/soccer/drogheda-united-boss-feels-luke-heeney-is-clubs-standout-player-in-2024/a559706258.html|title=Drogheda United boss feels Luke Heeney is club's standout player in 2024|date=September 3, 2024|website=www.independent.ie}}
International career
Heeney made 2 appearances for the Republic of Ireland U19 side in February 2018 in 2 friendlies against Romania U19, winning 1–0{{Cite web|url=https://www.besoccer.com/match/irlanda-sub-19/rumania-sub-19/2018889924/lineups|title=Lineups Republic of Ireland U19 vs Romania U19 - International Friendly U19 2018|website=www.besoccer.com}} and 2–1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.besoccer.com/match/rumania-sub-19/irlanda-sub-19/2018749353/lineups|title=Lineups Romania U19 vs Republic of Ireland U19 - International Friendly U19 2018|website=www.besoccer.com}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 5 May 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/luke-heeney/575199/|title=Republic of Ireland - L. Heeney - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|website=int.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}} !colspan=2|League Cup{{efn|Includes League of Ireland Cup}} !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| St Patrick's Athletic
|2018 |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0{{efn|Appearance(s) in the Leinster Senior Cup|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| rowspan="8"|Drogheda United
|2019 |rowspan="2"|LOI First Division |24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4{{efn|Appearances in the 2019 League of Ireland First Division Promotion Playoffs}} | 0 | 30 | 1 | |
| 2020
|9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 1 | |||
| 2021
|rowspan="5"|LOI Premier Division |30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 31 | 0 | |||
| 2022
|16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 0 | |||
| 2023
|28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0{{efn|name=statsLSC}} | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2024
|30 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|1 appearance in the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Playoff; 2 appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2025
|14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|1 appearance in the President of Ireland's Cup; 2 appearances in the Leinster Senior Cup}} | 0 | 17 | 1 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!152 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 173 | 3 | |
| colspan="3"|Career Total
!153 | 3 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 174 | 3 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
;Drogheda United
- League of Ireland First Division (1): 2020
- FAI Cup (1): 2024
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.extratime.com/player/11121259/luke_heeney/ Luke Heeney Extratime.com Profile]
{{Drogheda United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heeney, Luke}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:St. Kevin's Boys F.C. players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:Drogheda United F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Association footballers from County Meath
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers