Mark Timlin (footballer)

Mark Timlin
Timlin with Derry City in 2017
Personal information
Full name Mark Timlin
Date of birth (1994-11-17) 17 November 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Buncrana, County Donegal, Ireland[1]
Position(s) Winger
Youth career
Buncrana Hearts
2011–2014 Ipswich Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Derry City 46 (11)
2016 St Patrick's Athletic 26 (7)
2017 Derry City 13 (0)
2017–2022 Finn Harps 73 (4)
International career
2015 Republic of Ireland under-21 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 January 2023

Mark Timlin (born 17 November 1994) is an Irish former professional footballer that played for League of Ireland clubs Derry City, St Patrick's Athletic and Finn Harps.

Career

Early career

Timlin started his career with his local club Buncrana Hearts and at Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana[2][3] before going on trial with English club Ipswich Town in July 2011, and impressed enough to secure a contract offer from the Tractor Boys.

Derry City

After 3 seasons with Ipswich reserves scoring 10 goals in 35 games, Timlin's contract came to an end and he made the move back home and went on trial with League of Ireland side Derry City. He impressed Derry boss Roddy Collins enough that he was signed within the week, just prior to the 2014 League of Ireland season. He missed the start of the season through injury but fought his way into the starting eleven following his comeback from injury and kept his place for the majority of the season, even under new manager Peter Hutton as Roddy Collins was sacked not long into the season. He started 18 league games over the season, scoring once, in a 4–2 win over Bohemians. Timlin featured in all four of Derry's Europa League games, scoring in a 4–0 home win over Welsh side Aberystwyth Town in the first qualifying round as his side advanced to face Shakhtyor Soligorsk of Belarus who knocked them out of the competition. He remained an unused substitute in the 2014 FAI Cup Final as Derry lost 2–0 to St Patrick's Athletic.[4]

Timlin became one of City's main men in the 2015 League of Ireland season as they had a poor season, finishing seventh in the league after bad form saw them sack manager Peter Hutton and replace him with his assistant Paul Hegarty, as they were dragged into a relegation battle in the last third of the season. He scored many important goals in their relegation fight and finished the season as Derry's top goalscorer with 10 goals in the league from 28 appearances as well as one goal in the FAI Cup vs Edenderry Town and one in the League Cup against Sligo Rovers. He was also sent off twice against Sligo in the league. After his impressive from for Derry, Timlin attracted many clubs, including rivals St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers. New Derry manager Kenny Shiels was also trying his utmost to keep Timlin at the club but was admitted it looked unlikely as he was looking to move onto the next step of his career.[5][6]

St Patrick's Athletic

Timlin signed for Dublin club St Patrick's Athletic on 21 November 2015 for the upcoming 2016 season.[7] He made his debut for Pats on the opening day of the 2016 League of Ireland season, soling off the bench as Pats we're shocked by a surprise 3–1 defeat to Galway United.[8] Timlin's first goal for the Saints came in a 3–0 win over Dublin rivals Bohemians when he headed in an Ian Bermingham cross to open the scoring after 5 minutes at Richmond Park.[9] Timlin finished up the season with 10 goals in 37 games in all competitions, earning his first senior medal by winning the 2016 League of Ireland Cup after a 4–1 win over Limerick in the Final.[10] He also appeared in all four of the Saints UEFA Europa League games as they beat Luxembourg side Jeunesse Esch[11][12] before being knocked out by Dinamo Minsk of Belarus.[13][14]

Return to Derry

On 30 November 2016, Timlin returned to Derry City under manager Kenny Shiels on a one-year contract with the option of a second year.[15]

Finn Harps

Timlin signed for Finn Harps on 28 July 2017 and in no time became Finn Harps solution which led them back to the first division after a 1-year absence and a return to Donegal again.[16] On 17 January 2023, Timlin announced his retirement from football citing persistent injuries as a deciding factor.[17]

International career

Timlin was called up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad for a friendly with the Republic of Ireland Amateur squad on 21 February 2015.[18]

Honours

St Patrick's Athletic

Career statistics

Professional appearances – correct as of 17 January 2023.[19]

Club Division Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Derry City LOI Premier Division 2014 18 1 3 0 1 0 4[a] 1 – 25 2
2015 28 10 3 1 2 1 – – 33 12
St Patrick's Athletic LOI Premier Division 2016 26 7 3 2 4 1 4[a] 0 0 0 37 10
Derry City LOI Premier Division 2017 13 0 – 1 0 0[a] 0 – 14 0
Derry City Total 59 11 6 1 4 1 4 1 – 72 14
Finn Harps LOI Premier Division 2017 10 1 2 0 – – – 12 1
LOI First Division 2018 20 2 2 0 2 0 – 3[b] 1 27 3
LOI Premier Division 2019 14 0 1 0 0 0 – 1[c] 0 16 0
2020 0 0 0 0 – – – 0 0
2021 4 0 0 0 – – – 4 0
2022 25 1 1 0 – – – 26 1
Finn Harps Total 73 4 6 0 2 0 – 4 1 85 5
Career Total 158 22 15 3 10 2 8 1 4 1 194 29
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearances in League of Ireland Promotion Playoffs
  3. ^ Appearances in League of Ireland Promotion Playoffs

References

  1. ^ "DERRY CITY: Mark Timlin continues City's proud Buncrana connection".
  2. ^ "Buncrana crank up for All-Ireland final". Inishowen News. 20 March 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Mark Timlin". FAI Schools. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  4. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2014 FAI CUP Final - Derry City -v- St. Patrick's Athletic". extratime.ie.
  5. ^ admin (10 November 2015). "Derry's Mark Timlin set for move to Dublin - Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport". www.highlandradio.com.
  6. ^ "Mark Timlin poised to leave Derry City - Goal.com". www.goal.com.
  7. ^ "Club News : Mark Timlin Agrees Terms With St Pat's". stpatsfc.com.
  8. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Galway United". extratime.ie.
  9. ^ "Extratime.ie - Live Updates - 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division - St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Bohemians". extratime.ie.
  10. ^ "Limerick (1) - St Patrick's Athletic (4)". stpatsfc.com.
  11. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic (1) - Jeunesse Esch (0)". stpatsfc.com.
  12. ^ "Jeunesse Esch (2) - St Patrick's Athletic (1)". stpatsfc.com.
  13. ^ "Dinamo Minsk (1) - St Patrick's Athletic (1)". stpatsfc.com.
  14. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic (0) - Dinamo Minsk (1)". stpatsfc.com.
  15. ^ "Timlin returns to City". 30 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Finn Harps complete signing of Mark Timlin". www.finnharps.com.
  17. ^ "Mark Timlin retires from football and is 'excited to see what the future holds'".
  18. ^ "DERRY CITY STAR MARK TIMLIN CALLED INTO REPUBLIC OF IRELAND U21 SQUAD". 12 February 2015.
  19. ^ "Republic of Ireland - M. Timlin - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.