Kilkenny soccer player signs multi-year contract with well-known club
Best wishes to Thomastown's Colm Whelan
Kilkenny striker Colm Whelan's time with Derry City has come to an end, after an injury-plagued two years at the Brandywell.
The Thomastown native who joined the northern club back in November 2022, has signed for Bohemians on a multi-year deal.
Since joining Derry, Whelan has made just two starts and 18 appearances for the club overall, scoring three goals in the process.
Whelan arrived at the Brandywell from UCD two years ago in the midst of recovering from an ACL injury, and was therefore unable to make his debut for the club until three months into the 2023 season.
The 24-year-old waited four months before making his Derry City debut, which came at Cork City in April, and he made an immediate impact, scoring in a 3-1 win at Turner’s Cross.
Derry City fans were even more excited when Whelan scored again just a week later in his first Brandywell appearance, coming off the bench again to score, this time in a 2-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic.
But Whelan’s Derry City career stalled in just his third appearance a week later as he suffered a repeat of the ACL injury, as a substitute against Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell, ending his season completely. That injury kept him out for over a year, with City fans not seeing him back in action until midway through the season, as a substitute in the 5-1 Brandywell win over Drogheda United.
Whelan played a bit-part from that moment as he carefully made his way back to full fitness, making 15 appearances in all. He made his first start for the club in October against Dundalk, and was credited with the first goal as Derry City won 2-0. Whelan started just one more time, against Shelbourne in the final league game of the season, and came off the bench in Sunday’s FAI Cup final against Drogheda United at the Aviva Stadium
The Kilkenny man joins Bohemians having previously impressed for Derry, Waterford and UCD.
Welcoming Whelan to Dalymount Park, manager Alan Reynolds said: “Colly is an outstanding talent with a real eye for goal and I am delighted to have him on board as our No 9 for next season.
“Colly is a player that I had with Waterford, at Derry City and worked with for the Ireland U21s. I have a long connection with him and I know how good a player he can be.
“His link-up play is good, and he is a player who just wants to score goals, and I think he is a massive signing for the club.
“He has been back playing for four or five months now after his injury. That time back will stand to him and I feel that with a strong pre-season under his belt and a run of games, he will be a serious asset to this club.”
Whelan said: “I’m delighted to get it over the line, and I am really looking forward to getting started.
“Bohs is a good fit for me and having spoken with Rennie, he was a big sway in me coming here. I have a good relationship with him already.