Darren Brennan (born 13 November 1996) is an Irish hurler who plays for Kilkenny Intermediate Championship club St Lachtain's and at inter-county level with the Kilkenny senior hurling team. He usually lines out as a goalkeeper.
Brennan joined the St Lachtain's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He experienced championship success in the under-21 grade before eventually joining the club's top adult team.
Brennan first played for Kilkenny as a member of the minor team during the 2013 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 4 May 2013 when he lined out in goal in Kilkenny's 7âÂÂ16 to 1âÂÂ09 defeat of Kildare. On 7 July 2013, Brennan won a Leinster Championship medal after again lining out in goal in Kilkenny's 1âÂÂ18 to 0âÂÂ08 defeat of Laois in the final.
Brennan was again eligible for the minor grade in 2014. He won a second successive Leinster Championship medal on 6 July 2014 following Kilkenny's 2âÂÂ19 to 2âÂÂ10 defeat of Dublin. On 7 September 2014, Brennan lined out in goal when Kilkenny faced Limerick in the All-Ireland final. He ended the game with a winners' medal following the 2âÂÂ17 to 0âÂÂ19 victory.
Brennan subsequently progressed onto the Kilkenny under-21 team during the 2015 Leinster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 2 June 2015 when he lined out in goal in Kilkenny's 4âÂÂ12 to 2âÂÂ16 defeat of Dublin in the quarter-final. On 8 July 2015, Brennan was again in goal when Kilkenny suffered a 4âÂÂ17 to 1âÂÂ09 defeat by Wexford in the Leinster final.
On 5 July 2017, Brennan won a Leinster Championship medal with the under-21 team after lining out in goal in Kilkenny's 0âÂÂ30 to 1âÂÂ15 defeat of Wexford in the final. On 9 September, he was again in goal for Kilkenny's 0âÂÂ17 to 0âÂÂ11 defeat by Limerick in the All-Ireland final. Brennan ended the season by being named on the Bord Gáis Energy Team of the Year.
Brennan was drafted onto the Kilkenny senior team at the start of the 2017 season. He remained as a non-playing substitute during the National League and Championship campaigns.
On 25 February 2018, Brennan made his first appearance for the Kilkenny senior team when he lined out in goal in a 2âÂÂ22 to 2âÂÂ21 defeat of Tipperary in the National League. On 8 April 2018, he was an unused substitute when Kilkenny defeated Tipperary by 2âÂÂ23 to 2âÂÂ17 to win the National League title. Brennan was selected on the bench when Kilkenny faced Galway in the Leinster final on 1 July 2018. He remained as an unused substitute for the 0-18 apiece draw. He remained on the bench for the replay a week later, which Kilkenny lost by 1âÂÂ28 to 3-15.
On 11 May 2019, Brennan made his Leinster Championship debut in Kilkenny's 2âÂÂ23 to 1âÂÂ21 defeat of Dublin. On 30 June 2019, he was an unused substitute when Kilkenny suffered a 1âÂÂ23 to 0âÂÂ23 defeat by Wexford in the Leinster final.