Declan O'Brien
Forward- Nickname: Fabio O'Brien
- Height 5' 11"
- Age 43 years, 10 months
- Place of Birth Dublin
- Nationality Republic of Ireland
- Stats based on games populated in our system. They can be viewed below
Declan’s Biography
Known simply as 'Fabio', Declan was signed for Drogheda United by Harry McHue from Dublin non-league side Verona in 2002 and quickly became a favourite among the home support. He won an FAI Cup winners medal in 2005 scoring in the final as Drogheda beat Cork City 2-0. He also helped the club to the 2007 league title and made almost 200 league appearances in the six years that he was at United Park, scored 76 league goals.
In January of 2009 he moved to arch rivals Dundalk but moved on again in July, signing on loan for St Patrick's Athletic where he played a key role in their Europa League adventures. In a run that took the Inchicore club to the 4th qualifying round, Fabio scored four times before Steaua Bucharest knocked them out at the RDS in Dublin.
In December 2009 Fabio moved to Malta where he signed for Valletta. He scored regularly for them before moving back to the LoI in July 2010, signing for Brendan Place at Athlone Town. He made eight league appearances for Athlone, sometimes operating in midfield, and scored four goals.
In January 2011, Fabio moved to Monaghan United and made his first appearance for the Mons on 1st April, scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw with Cork City at Turner's Cross. Fabio made 24 league appearances and scored 11 league goals as Monaghan won promotion to the Premier Division.
In January 2012 Drogheda United announced that Fabio had returned to the scene of his greatest triumphs and signed for the new season under manager Mick Cooke. It proved to be a successful year for both player and club as Fabio scored 13 goals in 27 games and Drogheda finished second in the league. They also won the League Cup, defeating Shamrock Rovers in the final.
In 2013 Fabio's goals were needed to prevent Drogheda slipping towards the relegation play-offs and he scored 15 goals in league 29 games as Drogheda eventually finished seventh. He also played against Malmo FF in the Europa League and in three Cup finals, though the Drogs lost all of the Setanta, EA and FAI Cup deciders. Fabio re-signed at Drogheda for 2014, this time under new manager Robbie Horgan.
He played in thirty-one league games during the 2014 season, scoring ten goals, which was a good return as sixteen of those appearances came from the bench. Drogheda endured a difficult season and finished ninth under Damian Richardson, who came in after Robbie Horgan had been sacked and Darius Kierans had been in temporary charge of the team.
Fabio moved north in November 2014 and signed for Glenavon on an 18 month contract which started in January 2015. He scored nine times in 32 appearances for Glenavon and left the club at the end of the 2015/16 season.
In January of 2009 he moved to arch rivals Dundalk but moved on again in July, signing on loan for St Patrick's Athletic where he played a key role in their Europa League adventures. In a run that took the Inchicore club to the 4th qualifying round, Fabio scored four times before Steaua Bucharest knocked them out at the RDS in Dublin.
In December 2009 Fabio moved to Malta where he signed for Valletta. He scored regularly for them before moving back to the LoI in July 2010, signing for Brendan Place at Athlone Town. He made eight league appearances for Athlone, sometimes operating in midfield, and scored four goals.
In January 2011, Fabio moved to Monaghan United and made his first appearance for the Mons on 1st April, scoring both goals in a 2-2 draw with Cork City at Turner's Cross. Fabio made 24 league appearances and scored 11 league goals as Monaghan won promotion to the Premier Division.
In January 2012 Drogheda United announced that Fabio had returned to the scene of his greatest triumphs and signed for the new season under manager Mick Cooke. It proved to be a successful year for both player and club as Fabio scored 13 goals in 27 games and Drogheda finished second in the league. They also won the League Cup, defeating Shamrock Rovers in the final.
In 2013 Fabio's goals were needed to prevent Drogheda slipping towards the relegation play-offs and he scored 15 goals in league 29 games as Drogheda eventually finished seventh. He also played against Malmo FF in the Europa League and in three Cup finals, though the Drogs lost all of the Setanta, EA and FAI Cup deciders. Fabio re-signed at Drogheda for 2014, this time under new manager Robbie Horgan.
He played in thirty-one league games during the 2014 season, scoring ten goals, which was a good return as sixteen of those appearances came from the bench. Drogheda endured a difficult season and finished ninth under Damian Richardson, who came in after Robbie Horgan had been sacked and Darius Kierans had been in temporary charge of the team.
Fabio moved north in November 2014 and signed for Glenavon on an 18 month contract which started in January 2015. He scored nine times in 32 appearances for Glenavon and left the club at the end of the 2015/16 season.
