Keith Treacy

Keith Patrick Treacy (born 13 September 1988) is an Irish footballer who is a former Republic of Ireland international who last played for St Patrick's Athletic.

He spent his youth at Belvedere and began his professional career at Blackburn Rovers.

Treacy has also played for Stockport County, Sheffield United, Preston North End, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Drogheda United and St Patrick's Athletic.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Treacy started playing football with Belvedere for the youth team, before signing his first professional contract in 2005, keeping him until 2008.

On 23 November 2006, Treacy joined Stockport County on a one-month loan deal.

He made his Stockport County debut, in a 1–1 draw against Macclesfield Town on 25 November 2006.

After ending his loan spell at Stockport County, making four appearances, Treacy signed a new contract with the club on 12 June 2007, keeping him until 2011.

After signing a new contract with the club, Treacy was promoted to the Blackburn Rovers’ first team ahead of the 2007–08 season.

It wasn't until on 31 October 2007 when he made his debut for the club in a League Cup tie against Portsmouth as a substitute, as Blackburn Rovers won 2–1.

He went on to make two appearances at the end of the 2007–08 season.

Two months on 5 January 2008, Treacy made his first start against Coventry City in the FA Cup third round in a 4–1 defeat back on 5 January 2008, before being substituted off and replaced by striker Matt Derbyshire.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, Treacy was called up to the first team under the new management of Paul Ince.

He then made his league debut for Blackburn Rovers in the opening game of the season, in a 3–2 win over Everton on 16 August 2008.

Treacy found his playing time in the league, mostly coming from the substitute bench.

At times, he was given starts in a number of matches for the side.

Treacy went on to make twelve appearances throughout the 2008–09 season.

Reflecting on his performance, local newspaper Lancashire Telegraph commented about the player, saying: "Next season will be an important season for the young Irishman after a disappointing campaign this time round. A hot prospect as he came through Rovers’ youth ranks, has never really transformed that into first team ability. A direct and powerful runner, who has again showed his potential, but will need to deliver in earnest next season."

In July 2009, Treacy joined Sheffield United on a six-month loan deal, making his début for the club in a 0–0 draw with Middlesbrough on the first day of the 2009–2010 season.

He soon followed his debut up with two assists for the Blades against Watford the following week and a stunning long range goal three days later in a midweek match against Leicester City.

Since joining the club, Treacy started the season as a regular in the Blades side despite facing an injury that almost saw him sidelined for six months.

By November, he had dropped out of the team and terminated his loan stay early to return to Blackburn in mid-December

Upon returning to his parent club, Treacy was soon placed on the transfer list in the January transfer window.

Treacy later talked about his time at Blackburn Rovers, stating that only Manager Paul Ince have confidence in him and that under the management of Sam Allardyce lead Treacy considered quitting football.

A few weeks after the 2009–10 season, he had a successful operation on his hernia.

Treacy signed a 2 1⁄2-year contract with an option of a further year with Preston North End on 1 February 2010.

Following his move to the club, he defended his move to Blackburn's arch-rivals, Preston North End, was only for to play football.

Treacy made his Preston North End debut, coming on as a 56th-minute substitute, in a 4–1 loss against Barnsley on 2 February 2010.

After missing two matches due to injury, he returned to the first team against Watford on 3 April 2010, coming on as a 38th-minute substitute, and set up the equalising goal, in a 1–1 draw.

This was followed up by scoring his first goal for the Lancashire outfit in a 3–1 defeat Crystal Palace on 5 April 2010, and another came against over Scunthorpe United five days later, as well as, setting up one of the goals, in a 3–2 win.

In the second half of the season at Preston North End, Treacy scored twice in seventeen appearances.

At the start of the 2010–11 season, Treacy started things well when he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 win over Bradford City.

In the local-rivalry against Burnley on 11 September 2010, Treacy scored and provided an assist for Jon Parkin, in a 4–3 loss.

He scored his second League Cup goal of the season on 22 September 2010, in a 2–1 loss against Wigan Athletic, eliminating Preston North End from the League Cup.

Treacy then scored two goals in two consecutive matches between 28 September 2010 and 2 October 2010 against Leeds United and Reading.

However in a match against Derby County on 16 October 2010, he was sent–off for a second bookable offence after giving away a penalty at the last minutes, as the club lost 3–0.

After serving a one match suspension, Treacy returned to the starting line–up against Crystal Palace on 23 October 2010, and "fired home from all of 35 yards for his sixth goal of the season", in a 4–3 win.

His goal against Crystal Palace later earned him Goal of The Season Award at Preston North End's Award Ceremony.

Since joining the club, he continued to regain his first team place throughout the 2010–11 season.

Treacy then provided seven assists in nine matches between 15 February 2011 and 19 March 2011.

During which, he scored his first goal in five months against Scunthorpe United, in a 3–0 win on 15 March 2011.