2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

[nigel-harps1954]

Ah free agents can be signed up until the 31st August as long as they are already out of work prior to the transfer window closing. My mistake. Hadn't realised Maguire had already been released.

[joey B]

Keith Ward signed for Glenavon

[culloty82]

Kevin Williams and Daire McCarthy confirmed as having left Kerry - Williams' move to Malta has been long mooted, remains to be seen what plans Galway have for McCarthy.

[nigel-harps1954]

Kevin Williams joined Dave Rogers Balzan revolution
.

[Shearer]

Rogers won't last p*ssing time over there and you'd imagine Williams will follow when/if he gets the boot.

The only concern for Kerry being that there's no guarantee he'd come back.

[2 Year Contract]

Ruairí Keating confirmed the reason for leaving Pats was not being able to settle in Dublin due to off field issues. More or less rubbishing the claims that he wasn’t wanted by 2 Pats managers, a falling out with Kenny, and after asking Pats to leave so he could go back to a more familiar home in Cork, also rubbished the pretty hilarious claim that going around twitter that Pats paid him a 6 figure sum to leave

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41448442.html

[joey B]

Jaden Umeh joined Benfica from Cork City

[ger121]

Rogers won't last p*ssing time over there and you'd imagine Williams will follow when/if he gets the boot.

The only concern for Kerry being that there's no guarantee he'd come back.

Shades of Roddy about this whole thing.

[Jack B]

Ruairí Keating confirmed the reason for leaving Pats was not being able to settle in Dublin due to off field issues. More or less rubbishing the claims that he wasn’t wanted by 2 Pats managers, a falling out with Kenny, and after asking Pats to leave so he could go back to a more familiar home in Cork, also rubbished the pretty hilarious claim that going around twitter that Pats paid him a 6 figure sum to leave

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41448442.html

David Sneyd has an interesting piece in the42 today covering some general transfer stuff from around the league. One part on this note that stood out to me though is that Keating was apparently on better money than Keena now is, with Keena also having been a free transfer. Shows both 1) that we've done well out of that deal but also 2) how mad our business in the off season has proved to be given their comparative records.

[oriel]

Some deals are odd, that guy Hayden Muller who had a modest 1.5 years with Dundalk was offloaded on a free to Eng National League side Sutton United last month, was one of the highest paid on the books, and the best part, hardly anyone knew about it !

Keena for Keating, that is really good biz.

[Shearer]

Shades of Roddy about this whole thing.
Harsh on Roddy lol

[Dermobohs]

Harsh on Roddy lol
Oh no it isint

[ger121]

Seanie could be heading home to the Rebel County

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/bohs-boss-alan-reynolds-set-33389860

[ger121]

Harsh on Roddy lol

Harsh on Rogers maybe!

[ger121]

Keith Ward signed for Glenavon

Strange move for Wardie. Are they even FT?

[joey B]

Strange move for Wardie. Are they even FT?

Don’t think so but they’re managed by a former Dundalk coach so maybe that would have something to do with it…

[sbgawa]

Seanie could be heading home to the Rebel County

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/bohs-boss-alan-reynolds-set-33389860

Don't believe Maguire was ever coming to Rovers. We couldn't afford him with no champions path in Europe next year. (Haven't given up totally).
And couldn't tale that sort of gamble on his wages

[redobit]

Keena for Keating, that is really good biz.

It must be costing Pats a fortune all things considered. Buy out a big contract and install another big contract with prob a sign on fee too.

In the context of the game today, its polar opposites about how to run your football club.

[2 Year Contract]

It must be costing Pats a fortune all things considered. Buy out a big contract and install another big contract with prob a sign on fee too.

In the context of the game today, it’s polar opposites about how to run your football club.

Pats have an expensive squad yes, but in this case as mentioned in Jack B's post above, it’s actually saved Pats money allowing Keating's request to leave for nothing and bring in Keena on a free transfer on a smaller wage than Keating was on. A move that suits all players and clubs involved really

[Jack B]

Would be fun timing for Clancy to berate the state of the game here in terms of wages only to then sign Keating and Maguire in the space of a couple of weeks.

[pateen]

Seanie could be heading home to the Rebel County

https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/bohs-boss-alan-reynolds-set-33389860

Hard to believe he's still only 30.

[Shinkicker]

Strange move for Wardie. Are they even FT?
Glenavon are not full time. The way ward played at the end of his Bohs days up to now, it will suit him well at Glenavon

[dundalkfc10]

Glenavon are not full time. The way ward played at the end of his Bohs days up to now, it will suit him well at Glenavon

Glenavon are full time now. They even have some academy teams in full time now aswell

Ward was actually decentish for Dundalk last season in his few appearances, his legs are gone though. Top lad though, great for the dressing room

Glenavon Manager is Stephen McDonnell whos from Dundalk and Simon Kelly is his assistant. Ward would have played with both of them at some stages in his career. It's as quick to get to Glenavon than Belfast from Dundalk, it's only an hour away

[2 Year Contract]

Alan Reynolds has left his post as Ireland 21s assistant manager. A shame, that was a good bit of entertainment watching the Bohs fans fume on Twitter about it after the loss to Derry last international break

[cláirseach]

Glenavon are full time now. They even have some academy teams in full time now aswell

This is a big change from last year and they haven't announced it anywhere. Is it all players in the first team squad? Bit surprised at that.

Serious cash going in to Ballymena this year from the look of things.

[joey B]

Will Jarvis heading back to Hull City from Shels

[2 Year Contract]

Will Jarvis heading back to Hull City Friday from Shels
They’re well stocked in that area but that’s still a big loss

[2 Year Contract]

Sean Maguire back at Cork. Spare a thought for Tim Clancy’s poor little Cork that can’t compete with Premier Division clubs budgets :) Surely Maguire and Keating are on two of the highest wages the first division has ever seen. I know the personal/locational connection is there but it’s got to be a certain level of wage to even consider it

[El-Pietro]

Unbelievable! Probably nto the smartest signing evem if we are looking ahead to next season. Seani hasn't been the same the last few years, and I'm not sure how he'll fit into the team with Keating, but we have time to figure that out.
But regardless of whether its the smartest thing to do I'm ecstatic to have him back! We got Ruairi Keating and Seani Maguire back in span of a week!

[ger121]

Well those Clancy comments are ageing well.

[joey B]

That Cork/Derry game will be intresting to see how Maguire and Keating get on together against better opposition....

[ccity]

Can't see both of them starting against Derry.

[sbgawa]

We will know soon enough if maguire still has it. If he isn't knocking in goals sharpish against first division teams while playing for the top of the table team he will be an expensive overhead. On the otherhand could be an inspired signing that will top the premier league goalscorers list next season.

[Acornvilla]

Reckon Seani will spend the rest of this season getting game time/fitter and building confidence. The 1st division is very weak, himself and Keating will have the time of their lives and possibly help improve the home crowds for a bit. Will see how good he actually still is next season when they're not heavy favourites every week.

The boom is back!

[Buckett]

Aaron Connolly to Galway Utd is a done deal supposedly. Two former Premier League and international players in one transfer window, this is like peak Celtic-Tiger era carry-on

[oriel]

The goals have dried up for him after leaving PNE:

2017–2023 Preston North End 159 (22)
2023 Coventry City 7 (0)
2023–2024 Carlisle United 32 (2)

Still some signing for Cork City and he'll be a decent age of 31 in the PD next season, makes their cup game now v Derry take on a wee bit more extra spice.

[pineapple stu]

Ten of those Preston goals were in his first season too.

Agree he still looks a very good signing though

[joey B]

Aaron Connolly to Galway Utd is a done deal supposedly. Two former Premier League and international players in one transfer window, this is like peak Celtic-Tiger era carry-on

Galway won’t care if they pull it off but that would be a huge fall for Connolly ,for him to end up in the LOI at 24 is a huge failure….

[Jd2793]

something very off about connolly. would be a mad fall for him if he landed in LOI. would love to see how JC would work with him though

[Dermobohs]

something very off about connolly. would be a mad fall for him if he landed in LOI. would love to see how JC would work with him though
John will just shut him in the boot of his car, let him out Friday evenings

[ger121]

The goals have dried up for him after leaving PNE:

2017–2023 Preston North End 159 (22)
2023 Coventry City 7 (0)
2023–2024 Carlisle United 32 (2)

Still some signing for Cork City and he'll be a decent age of 31 in the PD next season, makes their cup game now v Derry take on a wee bit more extra spice.

Seems he was played on the right wing in over half his games for Carlisle last season.

I still think he has something about him and will do well at Cork.

[nigel-harps1954]

Galway won’t care if they pull it off but that would be a huge fall for Connolly ,for him to end up in the LOI at 24 is a huge failure….

To be fair, 4 months at home, enjoying a bit of football, near family and friends, and getting a couple of grand a week from the Comers could be the best thing he does for his career. Going back over fresh in January could be the boost he needs.

[pineapple stu]

The same was said about Jack Byrne too though.

[Jack B]

Well those Clancy comments are ageing well.

I like Clancy but it is pretty funny. Reminds me of when he told a small gathering of Pats fans at a pre-season event that Adam O'Reilly mugged us off by taking a crazy deal off Derry and acted like we couldn't possibly compete with them, only for us in the same window make Jake Mulraney one of the best-paid players in the entire league, beating Derry to his signing in the process.

Will be interesting to see how Maguire gets on anyway, it's a great signing on paper. Believe he's had a lot of hamstring issues which has probably accelerated his career falling off as the seasons went by but it's not like he'll be playing at the same level over here. Not often you see a side having two marquee strikers either, Clancy has played a 3-5-2 previously so he may end up trying to fit Maguire and Keating into the same team by trialing that out.

[rebel]

City got a cut from Jake O' Brien's transfer to Everton; 300 thousand I read.
That may have financed the Maguire and Keating contracts. I just hope City are not spending money recklessly as we know what that led to before.
Those signings are more with an eye to next season though. City are already practically promoted.

[nigel-harps1954]

The same was said about Jack Byrne too though.

Let's hope, for Connollys sake, he doesn't suffer the same injury problems.

[2 Year Contract]

I like Clancy but it is pretty funny. Reminds me of when he told a small gathering of Pats fans at a pre-season event that Adam O'Reilly mugged us off by taking a crazy deal off Derry and acted like we couldn't possibly compete with them, only for us in the same window make Jake Mulraney one of the best-paid players in the entire league, beating Derry to his signing in the process.

Will be interesting to see how Maguire gets on anyway, it's a great signing on paper. Believe he's had a lot of hamstring issues which has probably accelerated his career falling off as the seasons went by but it's not like he'll be playing at the same level over here. Not often you see a side having two marquee strikers either, Clancy has played a 3-5-2 previously so he may end up trying to fit Maguire and Keating into the same team by trialing that out.

That 3-5-2 Clancy played in the second half of the 2022 season coincided with his best spell at the club. Barry Cotter was unbelievable in that system and got his move to England off the back of it. The only downside to it is, you really do need proper athleticism in your fullbacks like Cotter has, as well as an engine in midfield to cover the attacking fullbacks (Adam O'Reilly), but once both had gone the whole thing went down the pan in the first half of 2023 and sticking with that system for too long was a contributing factor to Clancy’s demise at the club

[outspoken]

Would Connolly fit in to Galway's style of play?

[Acornvilla]

If he's fit and still fast, hit the ball and let him run a bit. I think style of play is less relevant when you're bringing in someone who could be a premier league footballer. He probably seems small but would still be an absolute unit by LOI standards if he's committed.

You have to be an incredible athlete to play at any of the levels he has, and that's very hard work day in day out to sustain. I think that commitment is as much the reason people don't stay at the highest levels they can for long, it's very hard and boring at times. He won't be at his best if he's here obviously, but not his best would still be very good.

I hope being around family is just what he needs.

[Another Bohemia]

That 3-5-2 Clancy played in the second half of the 2022 season coincided with his best spell at the club. Barry Cotter was unbelievable in that system and got his move to England off the back of it. The only downside to it is, you really do need proper athleticism in your fullbacks like Cotter has, as well as an engine in midfield to cover the attacking fullbacks (Adam O'Reilly), but once both had gone the whole thing went down the pan in the first half of 2023 and sticking with that system for too long was a contributing factor to Clancy’s demise at the club

The fullback issue with this system is what messes up shams as well. They're fantastic when Clarke and Faruggia are fit but as soon as the annual injuries hit them they go on a bad run.