2020 season arrivals and departures

[blueblood]

Any news on the Nigerian lad who got all the retweet to get a trial for Cork City

[Olé Olé]

Striker Luke Moore (34 in Feb) rumoured to be trialling with Shamrock Rovers. Perhaps he is the hatstand Rovers have been seeking?
Hasn't played since 2015 with Toronto?

[Nesta99]

The Belgium link is interesting, with Dundalk's recent European pedigree you'd like to think Irish players would have been noticed further afield than SPL & lower leagues in England

That's caught a few peoples attention especially from outside LoI Irish fans. Could be a combination of things but the way the u21 (and other underage Irish sides) are currently performing + the way they are trying to play with significant signs of progress. Idah, Parrot, Connolly, as examples, getting 1st team football as kids in a top league and making an impact (so far so good) - and most importantly lads have come through the Irish game at some point if not LoI and it may not an aberration to the past formula of randomly talented Irish lads with the granny rule to make a side. So despite the FAI BS, Paddy isnt looking all lump and lope or produced entirely abroad. Add to that the performances of LoI in Europe, even with the blips in progress and clubs from more technical leagues than Scotland and (lower tiers in) England are going to try sniff out a bargain.

Could be good for clubs' finances, great for the international teams, but another drain of quality from the league. It's one player so I'll try to not lose the run of myself but I think if it was suggested 15 or 20 years ago that any Dundalk/LoI player out of contract or not, were potentially on the radar of continental clubs, I'd probably sway toward it being a positive overall. All academic as McGrath chose a league that I dont think he will thrive in, Paisley over Mechelen - not for any money!!

What is looking positive for the league at the moment is the number of trialists looking to get a contract here as a viable option.

[oriel]

Kevin O'Connor signed for Waterford this am.

Jamie McGrath almost certainly to St Mirren.

[Bunny Kelly]

Hopefully it is good to see Waterford spending some money, I'll go with naive optimism that Power is sticking with Waterford as opposed to them being financially screwed in 6 months

[Park_Lane]

Striker Luke Moore (34 in Feb) rumoured to be trialling with Shamrock Rovers. Perhaps he is the hatstand Rovers have been seeking?

definitely training with us, hasn't had a club since 2016 according to his wiki!

[El-Pietro]

That'd be my worry if I was a Cork fan, they seem to have put faith in Bossin rather than Ryan (or Clarkie on loan if that was to be believed) when he has absolutely minimal first team experience. Could well turn out to be a good call obviously but for the time being seems a massive risk.

Tadgh Ryan was fine, he wasn't as good as people seem to think. He made some spectacuklar saves but made plenty of mistakes at the same time. His reputation was largely built on saves in a friendly game against Preston and the fact that he was a change from Mark McNulty who had a poor season. I don't think he was a significant improvement on Nults.

[D24Saint]

http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8610

Signed Billy King ex Hearts , reads as a decent signing.

[colonelwest]

Starting off 2020's #greatestleagueintheworld entries strongly, Dundalk fans have found out about an American lad, Jesus "Chino" Perez, that's in on trial for preseason after one of our female fans swiped left on him on Tinder and he said he's with the club in his Tinder bio. Absolutely classic.
:D

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ENtGwd9WwAASo91?format=jpg&name=large

[Dalymountrower]

http://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=8610

Signed Billy King ex Hearts , reads as a decent signing.

King of Hearts ..eh.. think we have a compendium of games related League of Ireland 11 to occupy us for the rest of the off season, Nine Men`s ( Ian) Morriss, Buckogammon...I`ll get my Coat ( Court Piece)

[Asterix]

Starting off 2020's #greatestleagueintheworld entries strongly, Dundalk fans have found out about an American lad, Jesus "Chino" Perez, that's in on trial for preseason after one of our female fans swiped left on him on Tinder and he said he's with the club in his Tinder bio. Absolutely classic.
:D

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ENtGwd9WwAASo91?format=jpg&name=large


Just got picked by New York City FC in the MLS draft.

[Longfordian]

Playing for Dundalk is clearly much more attractive to the Tinder ladies.

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps have signed Shane McEleney from Larne.

[pineapple stu]

Warrenpoint sign Ryan Swan. Presumably looking to get some decent game time and target a return to LoI in the summer, like Maxi Kougoun and others

[PartySaint]

Harps have signed Shane McEleney from Larne.

Pats made that mistake before, Bucko got the brothers mixed up.

[nigel-harps1954]

Pats made that mistake before, Bucko got the brothers mixed up.

I do suspect that our comings and goings so far sugest Ollie is targeting a different style of football this season.

There's no doubting Shanes ability on the ball, even if hes suspect at times elsewhere.

[nigel-harps1954]

Finn Harps confirmed business so far:

In:

Ryan Connolly (Ballyglass - Mayo League)
Dave Webster (St Pats)
Aidy Delap (Derry City - loan)
Shane McEleney (Larne)

Out:

Harry Ascroft (Dandenong Thunder - Aus)
Ciaran Gallagher (retired - joined coaching staff)
Peter Burke (released)
Niall Logue (Emigrated)
Nathan Boyle (Emigrated)
Josh Smith (Galway Untied)
Mikey Place (Galway United)
Daniel O'Reilly (Shelbourne)
Michael Gallagher (UCD)
Raf Cretaro (retired)
Colm Deasy (Warrenpoint Town)
Keith Cowan (Glentoran)
Caolan McAleer (Dungannon)

[Martinho II]

Harps have signed Shane McEleney from Larne.

good while since Shane was in loi must be nearly a decade!

[nigel-harps1954]

good while since Shane was in loi must be nearly a decade!

2016 he played with St Pats.

[Jack B]

The Shane McEleney/Darren Dennehy centre back partnership was one of the low points in our history.

[trevy]

Michael O'Connor joins Waterford on loan again from Linfield. His contract with Linfield is up in the summer so might be able to get him for full season depending on how things go.

[Briuk]

Shels departures:
Delaney
JRWilson
Prendergast
Marku
Noone
CByrne
English
Moorhouse

Who are that Cetiner and Ray OSullivan who played on the friendly?

[Enruoblehs]

They played with our Under 19 LOI Team last season, as did Charles Mutawee - also on Saturday's team.

[Bunny Kelly]

Is there anywhere with a collated list of transfers or players re-signed? I don't really want to read through 20 pages of rumours to see who has actually signed up & where. Extratime just have signings but no departures, any other port of call?

[nigel-harps1954]

Used to be updated on here, but hasn't been done in a few years. Be happy to update as much as I can find here later on today.

[2 Year Contract]

Is there anywhere with a collated list of transfers or players re-signed? I don't really want to read through 20 pages of rumours to see who has actually signed up & where. Extratime just have signings but no departures, any other port of call?

Not sure if this is 100% up to date but has most as far as I can see

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2019–20_League_of_Ireland_transfers

[Bunny Kelly]

God bless Wiki

[outspoken]

Better again > https://defootballscope.blogspot.com/2020/01/premier-division-transfer-tracker.html?m=1

[Bunny Kelly]

God bless the internet, the info is always out there, somewhere

[nigel-harps1954]

Harps have signed Karl O'Sullivan from Limerick.

Also Mark Russell has re-signed with us for 2020 which is a big one. Slow start from him after his move from Falkirk but he proved a massive player for us towards the end of the season

[sheao]

Former Cork City, Waterford and Finn Harps defender John Kavanagh gone to Cobh Ramblers. Great signing for Ramblers, especially if he stays injury free

http://cobhramblers.ie/john-kavanagh-signs-for-cobh/


Pierce Phillips also a decent signing for them and meant to be few lads from Limerick in training with them.

[Mr A]

Pierce Phillips also a decent signing for them and meant to be few lads from Limerick in training with them.

Initially read this as Prince Phillip and was thinking it was only a good signing if they could play him in a remotely controlled wheelchair.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/NINTCHDBPICT000549789929.jpg

[Dalymountrower]

Bohs have signed Ciaran Kelly, centre half from Pats, what`s he like?

[Jack B]

Bohs have signed Ciaran Kelly, centre half from Pats, what`s he like?

He's ok, a good few Pats fans were unhappy that S'OD seemed happy to let him go but I can understand it personally (outside of the fact we've no depth at all now). Good potential and would be effective for a side that would use centre halves like say Harps (no offence Harps fans) but as of right now he's an quite average LOI player ability wise on the whole. Has the physicality there but made more mistakes as the season went on last year and needs improving on the ball. I think Bohs will be a good environment for him though and I wouldn't be surprised to see Long and Croly get him up to standard quickly enough, probably a better place for a player like him to kick on at the moment than Pats unfortunately.

[Bunny Kelly]

4th choice centre back at Bohs? Strange move on his behalf as prob at stage of his career he prob could do with playing. He is better than anything Waterford & Cork have so you’d have thought he’d have options

[trevy]

Robbie McCourt signs for Waterford. He was with Bohs last couple of seasons.

[Dalymountrower]

Robbie McCourt signs for Waterford. He was with Bohs last couple of seasons.

Robbie has plenty of ability, but not as much as he thinks he has. His work ethic is what really let him down when he was with us. Hope he does well with you.

[Martinho II]

Robbie has plenty of ability, but not as much as he thinks he has. His work ethic is what really let him down when he was with us. Hope he does well with you.

Robbie had a brief spell with Tolka Rovers after he left Bohs..

[PartySaint]

Bohs have signed Ciaran Kelly, centre half from Pats, what`s he like?

Has a lot of potential, he's an athlete. Will do well at Bohs

[joey B]

Colm Horgan signs for Derry city,surprised by that one only considering what the Cork fans were saying about him last season,change might do him good though....

[disgruntled]

Colm Horgan signs for Derry city,surprised by that one only considering what the Cork fans were saying about him last season,change might do him good though....

A very average player & that's being kind to him.

[oriel]

I've noticed a trend from Cork fans on here last few months, almost any player that has left 'no real loss' , 'never showed potential' etc.

Garry Buckley being one recent previous example.

[vinnie]

I've noticed a trend from Cork fans on here last few months, almost any player that has left 'no real loss' , 'never showed potential' etc.

Garry Buckley being one recent previous example.

Very Average player :eek:

[joey B]

I've noticed a trend from Cork fans on here last few months, almost any player that has left 'no real loss' , 'never showed potential' etc.

Garry Buckley being one recent previous example.

In fairness to Cork fans their feelings on Horgan were the same for most of last season...

[nr637]

Have you seen the current signings so far at Cork City, you'd be forgiven for thinking they are assembling a squad to compete in the 'Premier Youths League' this year!

'You can't win anything with kids'

:shame:

[nigel-harps1954]

I've noticed a trend from Cork fans on here last few months, almost any player that has left 'no real loss' , 'never showed potential' etc.

Garry Buckley being one recent previous example.


Well, considering the few seasons they had before it, it's hardly a surprise that they're not disappointed to lose most of a side that only narrowly missed out on a play-off in the end.

[disgruntled]

I've noticed a trend from Cork fans on here last few months, almost any player that has left 'no real loss' , 'never showed potential' etc.

Garry Buckley being one recent previous example.

You obviously didn't have to watch Buckley all last season.
The only players we would have liked to hold onto were McCarthy & McCormick.


Very Average player :eek:

Plenty of ability but frustrating to work with.
Loses concentration & then panics.

[Bunny Kelly]

The current cork squad, would they be favourites in the first division? Morrisey & maybe O’Connor are the only players proven at Prem Div level (under the age of 35). Maybe could pull some signings out of the bag or these kids are amazing but at this stage I can’t believe just how weak they look

[Pablo Escobar]

The current cork squad, would they be favourites in the first division? Morrisey & maybe O’Connor are the only players proven at Prem Div level (under the age of 35). Maybe could pull some signings out of the bag or these kids are amazing but at this stage I can’t believe just how weak they look

It's hard to say where we are. We have some players coming in under the radar and a lot of unknowns.

Our big hope this season is that Alec Byrne steps up to be one of the top players in the league. He was excellent at the end of last season and was the sole reason we beat Dundalk at home. O'Brien-Whitmarsh looks a talent too. We'll likely see a few surprises and probably more disappointments, but these things tend to come in cycles anyway. We'll build from here.

[2 Year Contract]

Our big hope this season is that Alec Byrne steps up to be one of the top players in the league.

So basically you’re saying you have no hope at all?