Summer Transfers

[ger121]

I don't follow the A league but did he play well in games when fit? You'd have to think he can do a job if he gets a run of games. If being the big question I'm sure.

[desaintsno.12]

its not the best source, but a mate of mine living in Oz said he saw a few games Duff was playing in and he wasnt up to anything

[nigel-harps1954]

Funny I heard otherwise, and that he really set the league alight there when playing.

How many Irish internationals are in the league at the minute? Fahey, McPhail, Bennett, Healy, Miller and Byrne?

[Nailor]

Not a snowball's chance in Hell is Duff going to be on the type of money that Pat's friendly journo is spouting in the Star. 2.5k a week ?? No chance :)

Strong rumors Fahey could be done and dusted as a player because of a recurring knee problem.

[Sam_Heggy]

Derry sign Mark Quigley.

If fit and focused he'll be a great signing for them.

[Yossarian]

If fit and focused he'll be a great signing for them.

Hmmm. Not too sure but we may have heard this before.

[Sam_Heggy]

Hmmm. Not too sure but we may have heard this before.

Yeah, true but he's definitely an improvement on what they have already....

[outspoken]

Mark Quigley is an ego and with no real star names left at Derry he can lead the line and become their main man, that's when he's at his best. If they can get him quick quickly and give him a bit of decent service he could be an inspired singing.

[Hitman]

Derry sign Mark Quigley.

If fit and focused he'll be a great signing for them.

Will Lee Duffy have to give him his hair back?

[Charlie Darwin]

Don't Rovers have the guy that owns Pepper pumping money into them? Thought that's how they sign most their big earners? Probably the same case with Duff.
No, there's a director at Pepper in Australia who is involved in the club here and set up the sponsorship. All the players are paid directly by the club, to the best of my knowledge.

[PartySaint]

I hope shamrock rovers aren't gone back to the days of Irish clubs gambling on a European victory to sign players.

I hope they are

[SkStu]

Even at €2.5k per week this makes commercial sense for Rovers. Crowds will swell again (day trippers though) and they'll get a lot of positive attention from media and sponsorship. An 18 month contract is madness though and it is not as if he will rule the roost at this stage of his career on the pitch. Like McPhail, he's just another crocked has been who will do a semi decent job on the pitch.

Not sure I'd buy this "good for the league" line though.

[Charlie Darwin]

2.5k a week is ~350 adult tickets per home game. Doesn't seem like a sound projection to me.

Then again, the 2.5k figure is just pulled out of a Pats fan's arse (Pats fans seem to have replaced Bohs as the preferred auditors of Rovers' books) so who knows?

[Longfordian]

They might get an initial boost in terms of crowds but after a few weeks the novelty will wear off. Especially if he isn't setting the world alight.

[outspoken]

They might get an initial boost in terms of crowds but after a few weeks the novelty will wear off. Especially if he isn't setting the world alight.

Yep. When Gillespie signed we were in every paper, on every radio station and we got probably an extra 200 or so fans in for our first game with him against Athlone but after that everyone could see he was just a washed up gob

[nigel-harps1954]

Yep. When Gillespie signed we were in every paper, on every radio station and we got probably an extra 200 or so fans in for our first game with him against Athlone but after that everyone could see he was just a washed up gob

In all fairness though...Keith Gillespie was washed up long before he arrived at Longford.

[bluewhitearmy]

If Bray is imploding, as is suspected, we'll take Cherrie - badly need a decent keeper

Wan't Conor O Donnell?

[SkStu]

2.5k a week is ~350 adult tickets per home game. Doesn't seem like a sound projection to me.

Then again, the 2.5k figure is just pulled out of a Pats fan's arse (Pats fans seem to have replaced Bohs as the preferred auditors of Rovers' books) so who knows?

Increased sponsorship and merchandise sales will easily cover the shortfall plus did I not read that this was being subsidized through existing sponsors? Anyway, I hope you're right that you can't afford him. :)

[Nesta99]

Again in that bastion of gospel truth The Star newspaper it says that Duff is on 1k per week and on a 6 month contract with an option to extend. He is carrying an injury so wont be available until August supposedly. There wasnt the money in the kitty but "the board came up with the additional funds". Maybe this has been mentioned already....

[paykanti]

Isn't Fahey on a decent lump? Rumours of him not playing again due to knee problems may lighten the wage-bill.

[Ezeikial]

This Duff €2.5k a week stuff is hilarious.

Shams are as boring as you can get on the pitch, but never cease to entertain with their off-the-pitch enterainment

[Mr A]

Fenlon has denied this: http://www.the42.ie/shamrock-rovers-pat-fenlon-damien-duff-progres-niederkorn-2200927-Jul2015/

I for one remain hugely indignant about the 2.5k wage though, it's a disgrace.

[Nesta99]

Nothing denied really. Just that focus is elsewhere for now. As for 'huge negativity around the league at the moment' which a Rovers European run would lift...? Apart from rumblings at Bray, the normal football stuff of a manager not working out at Sligo; surely there is much more positive than negative happening. Is the negativity around the league that Shamrock Rovers are not dominating? Grounds are improving, slowly, but with the Bohs developments, Markets Field, 3 clubs pushing average attendances above 3000 and others stable even with on field troubles. Good geographical spread of Premier league teams. It may be in some sort of context of other seasons but where is huge negativity? Group stage of the Champions League - now that would give the league a lift and a big shot in the arm :p

[patrickccfc]

https://mobile.twitter.com/CorkCityFC/status/618169199077289984

Beattie to sign for us?

Edit: http://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2015/07/06/beattie-signs-for-city/

[Ezeikial]

https://mobile.twitter.com/CorkCityFC/status/618169199077289984

Beattie to sign for us?

Surely Cork have enough players of moderate ability. Beattie is unlikely to add any extra class or guile to what is already there

[Charlie Darwin]

Increased sponsorship and merchandise sales will easily cover the shortfall plus did I not read that this was being subsidized through existing sponsors? Anyway, I hope you're right that you can't afford him. :)
What merchandise sales? And, as I said, before everything you've read about his supposed pay and whatever else is made up. If Rovers sign Duff, the money will come from members' funds in all likelihood.


Isn't Fahey on a decent lump? Rumours of him not playing again due to knee problems may lighten the wage-bill.
Fahey, like Duff, is on whatever you want to believe he's on.


Nothing denied really. Just that focus is elsewhere for now. As for 'huge negativity around the league at the moment' which a Rovers European run would lift...?
To be fair, one of the other papers had a better quote where he said some good results from any of the clubs would lift the league. He's not suggesting it would take a run from Rovers for people to take notice. Not sure what he means by the negativity either, all I can think of is Bray and maybe Limerick.

[dong]

I actually saw Duff play when I was visiting a mate in Sydney. Game was on tv and he played a blinder. Definitely set one up and won a peno. Can't remember who Melbourne were playing but he was a cut above everybody else.

[Nesta99]

To be fair, one of the other papers had a better quote where he said some good results from any of the clubs would lift the league. He's not suggesting it would take a run from Rovers for people to take notice. Not sure what he means by the negativity either, all I can think of is Bray and maybe Limerick.

Fair enough! Maybe he was generalising about LoI teams going on a decent run. At the moment UCD are the shining light which is a surprise to many and makes a mockery of the form guide. This weeks will say a lot abut the league considering that all bar Dundalk got reasonable draws. Dont think Limerick can be considered a negative story, somone will get relegated but over a thousand people at a Lims game is far from negative. Bray is a mess currently but as a Watford supporter in English club following, they were promoted with 4 managers in one season. Unless Fenlon knows something we dont its still a relatively quiet season in off field affairs. I do think that Fenlon thinks that the league needs Rovers doing the business to maximise credibility! In his ideal world Bohs and Rovers slugging it out would be of greater positive impact on the leagues rep than Dundalk and Cork etc.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Surely Cork have enough players of moderate ability. Beattie is unlikely to add any extra class or guile to what is already there

He's a workhorse so Caulfield will love him. Our best player this season I thought all the same.

[El-Pietro]

Billy Dennehy did not travel to Iceland, and is "being allowed to explore his options". We'll be lucky to finish 4th without him, clearly our best player.

[patrickccfc]

Billy Dennehy did not travel to Iceland, and is "being allowed to explore his options". We'll be lucky to finish 4th without him, clearly our best player.

just heard this now and its very disappointing. Easily our best player and will have a huge impact for the rest of the season. If, as Caulfield says, it has nothing to do with the bust up with Sully, then I'd love to hear what the reasons for this are

[Jofspring]

Billy Dennehy did not travel to Iceland, and is "being allowed to explore his options". We'll be lucky to finish 4th without him, clearly our best player.

Send him up the road to us.

[Real ale Madrid]

Easily our best player


clearly our best player.

God I must be missing something - one of our few threats alright - but any pace he had is gone and goes missing in the big games.

Not ideal but if he wants to explore other options on the eve of the biggest game financially for the club in about a decade then its hard to be sad that he is leaving.

[El-Pietro]

God I must be missing something - one of our few threats alright - but any pace he had is gone and goes missing in the big games.

Not ideal but if he wants to explore other options on the eve of the biggest game financially for the club in about a decade then its hard to be sad that he is leaving.
he goes missing in the big games but still scores and gets assists almost every game. He has what 9 league goals? 15 assists? Got the assist from a free again the other night?

[Nesta99]

Billy Dennehy did not travel to Iceland, and is "being allowed to explore his options". We'll be lucky to finish 4th without him, clearly our best player.

Not very professional of him assuming it was his choice. If he has a move lined up to g back to England it should still be expected that he travel. If its a fall out with players or manager will it effect little brother I wonder. Not that i'd want the wheels to come off for our closest challengers or anything!

[sulywaterfordfc]

Anthony O Donnell has gone back to Cobh.

Evan Galvin has signed for the Blues.

So far we've released close to ten players and signing 4/5 from what I've heard.

Signing 29 players in preseason was completely pointless.

[Real ale Madrid]

he goes missing in the big games but still scores and gets assists almost every game. He has what 9 league goals? 15 assists? Got the assist from a free again the other night?

You wouldn't say he was our best player Thursday night anyway - hardly touched the ball. He has 8 league goals (3 pens) - I'm not knocking his record by the way but in no way is he head and shoulders above others in the team. Granted his set piece delivery will need to be replaced.

[Charlie Darwin]

Send him back our way if you like. Croly should never have let him leave in the first place.

[El-Pietro]

You wouldn't say he was our best player Thursday night anyway - hardly touched the ball. He has 8 league goals (3 pens) - I'm not knocking his record by the way but in no way is he head and shoulders above others in the team. Granted his set piece delivery will need to be replaced.
hardly touched the ball and created our best chance - that led to a goal. get ready for a lot of 0-0 draws.

[Ezeikial]

Speaking on Monday afternoon, Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny was reluctant to comment on speculation linking the club with a move for St Patrick’s Athletic striker Ciaran Kilduff.

The 26-year-old has endured a frustrating season at Richmond Park, scoring three times and making just nine starts for the Saints. His last appearance came in the 1–0 defeat to Bray Wanderers in May.

The former Shamrock Rovers and Cork City striker wasn’t part of the Pat’s squad for their Europa League game with Skonto Riga in Latvia last week, intensifying talk about a move to Oriel Park.

Kenny is a known admirer of Kilduff, and the player is keen on a move to the champions, but the fact that he is under contract with Liam Buckley’s side until the end of the season is a stumbling block. Dundalk would have to pay a fee to get him released from his current deal.

Reports over the weekend suggested that Kilduff was on his way to bottom of the table Limerick on a loan deal but that has yet to materialise.

“I can’t really comment on it,” said Kenny. “He is a player we have been linked with but he’s currently with another club so we’ll just have to wait and see on that.”

Kenny has been searching for a striker for some time but he said he wasn’t unduly worried if he didn’t add to his squad.
“We’re not getting hung up on it and we won’t be looking at it as a negative,” he said. “If we can improve, then we will but we’re flying at the minute and we have good options.”

One of the options being considered by Kenny is utilising John Mountney as a centre forward. The Mayo man came off the bench to lead the line in the recent wins over Sligo, Limerick and Drogheda and Kenny said he had the tools required to play in that position.

“We’ve tried John there in a couple of training games and he can definitely play up front. He’s very quick, very strong and has a great shot off either foot in and around the box.”

Kenny also said that he had no injury concerns ahead of the trip to Galway on Tuesday night. A win would put the champions nine points clear at the top of the table.

“We have shown a determination to win games and we need to keep doing that,” said Kenny.
“You see Shamrock Rovers with Keith Fahey, Stephen McPhail and now Damien Duff and Cork City with all their former internationals, they have very strong squads, so for us to retain the title we need to keep clearing some huge hurdles.”


https://medium.com/@McLaughlinGavin/kenny-coy-on-kilduff-speculation-adbd59149204

[Real ale Madrid]

hardly touched the ball and created our best chance - that led to a goal. get ready for a lot of 0-0 draws.

You are carrying on as if he is Messi now- again I'm not disputing his record. He has a great delivery and good dead ball but his general play and application leave a lot to be desired. It will be interesting to see if results dis-improve as you say they will.

[SkStu]

What merchandise sales?

you don't think he will enable Rovers to sell more jerseys?

[Nesta99]

Get some micro brewery to do a Duff beer, he can borrow Hooperman's cape and sell the stuff while he is injured on a commission to pay his wage.

[Charlie Darwin]

you don't think he will enable Rovers to sell more jerseys?
Probably, but shirt sales are negligible in this league. He'd want to be increasing sales tenfold for it even to be a consideration. The only revenue streams that matter in the league are ticket sales and sponsorship, and I'm not sure any player would have a huge effect on the latter either. I'm prepared to be proven wrong though.

[Longfordian]

Dean Kelly is signing for us from Bohs according to The Mirror. This would apparently then clear the way for us to sell Gary Shaw to Shamrock Rovers or one of the other interested teams. The Mirror says another top 3 LOI team and at least one Championship club are interested.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Are you having a laugh about Shaw going to England or joining a top 3 team?

[Bunny Kelly]

Why would Bohs best forward join Longford?

[Longfordian]

Are you having a laugh about Shaw going to England or joining a top 3 team?

No that's what the paper says. There's been a fair bit of talk about clubs being in for him.

[L.T.F.C.]

Why would Bohs best forward join Longford?
Also, is he any addition?

[Longfordian]

Kelly is ok as Premier Division strikers go from what I've seen of him over the years. If we keep Shaw then Kelly, Shaw and O'Sullivan will give us options up front with Kaleem Simon as a prospect to be developed. If we're swapping Kelly for Shaw I'm not sure it's much of an upgrade.