Craig O'Reilly

Craig Michael O'Reilly (born 20 September 1987) is a Scottish former footballer.

Craig O'Reilly
Personal information
Full name Craig Michael O'Reilly
Date of birth (1987-09-20) 20 September 1987
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
0000–2003 Raith Rovers "D" form U16
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2005 Raith Rovers 11 (1)
2004 → Montrose (loan) 10 (0)
2005–2007 Dundee 15 (3)
2006–2007 → East Fife (loan) 31 (13)
2007–2008 East Fife 41 (3)
2009 Clyde 3 (0)
2009 → Montrose (loan) 8 (3)
2009–2010 Stenhousemuir 10 (0)
2010 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic
2010–2011 Berwick Rangers 21 (6)
2012 Penicuik Athletic 11 (3)
2012 Ballingry Rovers
2012–2014 Newtongrange Star
2014–2015 Kelty Hearts
2015–2016 Dalkeith Thistle
2016–2018 Tynecastle
2018–2019 Gala Fairydean Rovers
2020–2021 Newtongrange Star
International career
2005 Scotland U-19 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:00, 24 April 2021 (UTC)

He has previously played in the Scottish Football League First Division for Raith Rovers, Dundee and Clyde.

Career

O'Reilly began his career with Raith Rovers. He made his senior debut aged 16, scoring a goal in a 1–1 draw with Brechin City in May 2004, securing Raith's First Division future in the process.[1] In August 2004, he joined Montrose on a loan deal until the end of the year.[2]

O'Reilly signed for Dundee in July 2005, and was named Scottish Football League Young Player of the Month for December 2005, after scoring 3 goals in 3 games.[3] He was also called up to the Scotland under-19 squad at this time.[4] He spent the whole of the 2006–07 season on loan at East Fife, and the move was made permanent in May 2007.[5] In a Scottish League Cup tie in August 2007, O'Reilly's wonder goal saw Third Division East Fife defeat Premier League St Mirren 1–0 away from home, in a cup giant killing.[6] O'Reilly left East Fife in December 2008, after finding first team chances limited.[7]

He made the step up to the Scottish First Division in January 2009, signing a six-month contract with Clyde.[8] He made his debut in a 4–2 defeat against Partick Thistle on 3 January.[9] He joined Montrose on loan for the second time in his career, in March 2009, until the end of the season.[10] O'Reilly was released by Clyde in June 2009 along with the rest of the out of contract players, due to the club's financial position.[11] O'Reilly moved on to Stenhousemuir but failed to hold down a starting place. He joined his hometown club Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic in January 2010 while considering a move to America, but returned to the SFL with Berwick Rangers the following summer.[12][13]

A cruciate ligament injury picked up whilst jogging in March 2011 ended O'Reilly's career at Berwick but he returned to the Junior game with Penicuik Athletic in January 2012.[14][15] He then had a short spell at Ballingry Rovers before signing for Newtongrange Star in October 2012.[16][17]

O'Reilly joined Kelty Hearts in June 2014.[18] He later had a spell at hometown club Dalkeith Thistle before moving on to East of Scotland League side Tynecastle in June 2016.[19][20]

O'Reilly joined Gala Fairdean Rovers in 2018[21] and returned to Newtongrange Star in 2020,[22]

O'Reilly announced his retirement from football on 17 April 2021.[23]

See also

References
  1. "Raith 1–1 Brechin C". BBC Sport. 8 May 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  2. "O'Reilly moves to Montrose". BBC Sport. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  3. "O'Reilly given young player award". BBC Sport. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  4. "UNDER 19s TO FACE DANES". Scottish Football Association. 26 August 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  5. "East Fife make O'Reilly permanent". BBC Sport. 31 May 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  6. "St Mirren 0–1 East Fife". BBC Sport. 28 August 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  7. "Strike pair make New Bayview exit". BBC Sport. 26 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  8. "O'Reilly joins the Bully Wee". Clyde F.C. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  9. "Clyde 2–4 Partick Thistle". BBC Sport. 3 January 2009. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  10. "Craig joins the Gable Endies". Clyde F.C. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
  11. "Players Released". Clyde F.C. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
  12. "Rangers kick off friendlies with defeat at Blyth". Berwick Advertiser. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  13. "O'Reilly on a roll". Scottish Professional Football League. 17 September 2010. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  14. "O'Reilly out for season". Scottish Professional Football League. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  15. Dempster, Martin (13 January 2012). "Striker pushing for Penicuik start after return from injury". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  16. "Rovers have eyes on Super League already". Central Fife Times. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  17. Steven Tait [@Nitten_Star] (23 October 2012). "Newtongrange Star sign Craig O'Reilly" (Tweet). Retrieved 10 August 2014 – via Twitter.
  18. "Kelty Hearts clinch survival and four new signings". Dunfermline Press. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  19. "Jags sign new striker". Dalkeith Thistle Community Football Club. Dalkeith Thistle FC. 4 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  20. "Jags striker leaves the club". Dalkeith Thistle Community Football Club. Dalkeith Thistle FC. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  21. "GFRwelcome". Retrieved 29 June 2020 – via Twitter.
  22. "** Signing News **". Retrieved 29 June 2020 – via Twitter.
  23. "Enjoy your retirement from a brilliant career". Retrieved 24 April 2021 – via Twitter.
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