2025 Arrivals and Departures

[De Town]

I would say Harry Halwax is more likely to be sitting on the bench. He is the worst around.

I'm not a fan by any means but the manager seems to like him and he's generally been ok of late. Missed the game last week but by all accounts, UCD could have scored plenty more goals only for Halwax. He's liable to throw in a rick here and there but sure who isn't in the first division.

[The Bowler]

I'm not a fan by any means but the manager seems to like him and he's generally been ok of late. Missed the game last week but by all accounts, UCD could have scored plenty more goals only for Halwax. He's liable to throw in a rick here and there but sure who isn't in the first division.
Each as bad as the other, take your pick

[joey B]

Joey O’Brien confirmed as manager of Shelbourne on a permanent basis..

[outspoken]

I would say Harry Halwax is more likely to be sitting on the bench. He is the worst around.

MASSIVELY improved in recent months. Still has the ability for a clanger every so often but every keeper in the division does. Over the past few months he's probably been one of the better keeps in the division

[outspoken]

Looks lik we've signed Kian Moore from UCD, who's been warming their bench for the last few months. I guess he's moving from one bench to another for the rest of the season.

Let's hope that is the case and Halwax isn't going somewhere as we already had a second choice keeper so it's a strange one

[outspoken]

Aaron Bolger signs for Galway Utd

https://galwayunitedfc.ie/aaron-bolger-signs-for-galway-united/

Strange singing. Might be the sort of player Caulfield can get something out of though

[outspoken]

David Odumosu is our new goalkeeper. Previously at Drogs and Pats (and Cliftonville). Is he any good?


Excellent in his early days at Drogheda, did a bit of ***** acting then transfer wise, I'd suggest he got bad advice from somewhere, and Drogs booted him out. Never worked out at Pats but seemed very popular up north. Probably not a bad signing given your position

[2 Year Contract]

Strange singing. Might be the sort of player Caulfield can get something out of though

I think Bolger could do well at Galway. His best attributes are off the ball, his work rate and tackling. Not very good on the ball but he’s not exactly going to be tasked with being a Pirlo type player under Caulfield so the off the ball aspects will serve him well in that very hard working Galway side

[De Town]

Let's hope that is the case and Halwax isn't going somewhere as we already had a second choice keeper so it's a strange one

Wouldn't be shocked if McCarthy is heading elsewhere. Has barely played at all in a few seasons here. I'd say you'd get sick of that after a while too.

[MoydowMonty]

I would say Harry Halwax is more likely to be sitting on the bench. He is the worst around.

I was his biggest critic a few months ago and thought he should have been dropped after the Dundalk 2-1. But I'll hold my hands up and say he hasn't done a whole lot wrong in the last 3 months. No massive clangers in that time or points dropped because of him.

So I'm surprised at this signing too, dunno what we get out of it, he hasn't played himself in 3 months. Presume he got dropped for a reason. Can't believe I'm saying it but I'd leave Halwax as #1 still.

[nr637]

Cobh Ramblers have signed Scottish midfielder Rhys Gourdie for the rest of the 2025 season. Spent the last few years in the USA competing at the elite level of the University Soccer system. Has been training with the club for a couple of weeks and goes straight into the squad for the home game against Athlone.

[Another Bohemia]

Cobh Ramblers have signed Scottish midfielder Rhys Gourdie for the rest of the 2025 season. Spent the last few years in the USA competing at the elite level of the University Soccer system. Has been training with the club for a couple of weeks and goes straight into the squad for the home game against Athlone.


Thats an interesting signing. Its always hard to know the quality of US football especially at college level so if this move works out it could open up an interesting avenue for clubs to follow. Last player I remember following that pathway was Steven Beatie and he had a good career in the league. Granted he did undergo a position change from striker to RB

[2 Year Contract]

Stephen Mallon has left Sligo and signed for Glenavon

[TVFBLOCKF]

Strange singing. Might be the sort of player Caulfield can get something out of though

Not that strange at all, exactly the type of player Caulfield loves and a likely replacement for McCormack.

[2 Year Contract]

Just seeing now that Sean Robertson was released by rovers last week having played a total of 7 minutes since signing. A weird signing to say the least

[outspoken]

Not that strange at all, exactly the type of player Caulfield loves and a likely replacement for McCormack.


Yeah I suppose I just meant strange as in he was in and out of the Longford team when relegated in 2021, went to Cork and I think possibly relegated there too, moved to Pats and again was in and out (costly red card in UECL play off in turkey) and after a spell without a club is signing for another PD team. But you're right, he's the sort of player JC could get the most out of. I thought Aodh Dervin's best football was when JC played him on the right wing, got the most out of his energy.

[MoydowMonty]

A transfer of sorts, new owners at Athlone at last

https://athlonetownafc.ie/a-message-from-nick-giannotti/

Time will tell what way that goes. But there's at least a couple of names gone from the club that I think fams were fed up of

[Buckett]

Are they completely gone? Article said something along the lines of they are stepping away from the day to day stuff

[MoydowMonty]

Are they completely gone? Article said something along the lines of they are stepping away from the day to day stuff


Their Twitter post says they've departed the club. But doesn't say it on their website strangely

[outspoken]

Their Twitter post says they've departed the club. But doesn't say it on their website strangely


Yep, article on website and the socials posts differ, that is strange

[joey B]

Dara McGuinness has left Harps and has interest from 2 or 3 Premier Division clubs according to Kevin McHugh ….

[brendy_éire]

Pat Hoban still stuck on the bench.
List of potential clubs is now: Galway, Cork, Coleraine, Glentoran.

He really is wasted at the Brandywell.

[Kiki Balboa]

Dara McGuinness has left Harps and has interest from 2 or 3 Premier Division clubs according to Kevin McHugh ….

Is that not a bit strange? Why let him go for free?

[nigel-harps1954]

Is that not a bit strange? Why let him go for free?

End of loan according to McHugh.

[Kiki Balboa]

End of loan according to McHugh.

Ah, wasn't aware he was only on loan.

[cláirseach]

That's understandable as there was no mention at the time of it being a loan.

Good player. Will be interesting to see him in the Premier. Hope he finds the right spot. Maybe Sligo?

[Shearer]

End of loan according to McHugh.
McHugh telling porkies me thinks, why he is doing so is puzzling.

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/january/27/dara-mcguinness-completes-finn-harps-move/

[nigel-harps1954]

McHugh telling porkies me thinks, why he is doing so is puzzling.

https://www.stokecityfc.com/news/2025/january/27/dara-mcguinness-completes-finn-harps-move/

Its not porkies. It was a loan agreement.

[pineapple stu]

Wiki doesn't agree, FWIW

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024%E2%80%9325_Stoke_City_F.C._season#Out

[TVFBLOCKF]

No mention of a loan anywhere, Nigel.

Stoke City announcing the transfer here:

Stoke City FC - Dara McGuinness completes Finn Harps move https://share.google/bg5y7JHuGUJK1KlUs

[Neish]

No mention of a loan anywhere, Nigel.

Stoke City announcing the transfer here:

Stoke City FC - Dara McGuinness completes Finn Harps move https://share.google/bg5y7JHuGUJK1KlUs

It only mentions move (not tranfer) and actually does mention loan (although to another club ), a loan is a move too

He hasn't featured in a while but a big loss all the same, was in good goal scoring form in the first round of games

[pineapple stu]

In fairness, it says "who featured four times in a loan spell at Leek Town earlier this campaign". That hardly shows he was on loan at Harps.

[Dermobohs]

Kian best the left full who was on loan at Bohs and couldn’t get a look in after a couple of poor performances, plus injury it would seem, is now at Chelsea.
Unreal.

[joey B]

Harps confirmed 2 signings before the game on Friday,Kieran Cooney a right back and last in Notts County’s academy,also a St Kitts and Nevis international ,also signed Idir Zerrouk a winger and last played in the 5th tier in Germany..

[nigel-harps1954]

In fairness, it says "who featured four times in a loan spell at Leek Town earlier this campaign". That hardly shows he was on loan at Harps.

It's not for me to say otherwise, there may be others who are more privvy to transfer dealings at Finn Park these days, but my information is that it was a loan deal in the end due to some sort of contract issue.

[nr637]

Pat Hoban still stuck on the bench.
List of potential clubs is now: Galway, Cork, Coleraine, Glentoran.

He really is wasted at the Brandywell.

It seems Hoban, Huben or even Who Bin is not in Tiernan Lynch plans, even though he must be the most expensive squad paid player on the bench in the Premier LOI!
The list of potential clubs like Galway, Cork, Coleraine, Glentoran, could really not afford his wage demands and could only consider a loan deal in their favour.

[sbgawa]

It seems Hoban, Huben or even Who Bin is not in Tiernan Lynch plans, even though he must be the most expensive squad paid player on the bench in the Premier LOI!
The list of potential clubs like Galway, Cork, Coleraine, Glentoran, could really not afford his wage demands and could only consider a loan deal in their favour.

I'm surprised Derry arent loaning him out to Galway or Cork, he might score a few goals and take points off rivals and wouldnt be able to play agaisnt Derry so couldnt do them damage...better than paying to sit on the bench surely even if they only got half his wages covered

Conan Noonan on loan from Rovers to Waterford has scored against Pats and Bohs this season for Waterford , costing Pats 2 points with a late equalizer and Bohs 3 with the winner against them as well as playing well in other games and makinga contribution that helps us

[Buckett]

From a Galway point of view, Hoban can go and roger himself. We've given him opportunities to sign for us in the past

[TVFBLOCKF]

From a Galway point of view, Hoban can go and roger himself. We've given him opportunities to sign for us in the past

Exactly. He's being linked with us because he's from Galway but he's said in the past he doesn't want to play for us so he can do one. There is no substance to any rumours of him joining us.

[nr637]

Mr. Hoban cost 30k and is on 2-year contract.
Wages were around €1,500+ while at Dundalk and moved to Derry for similar, based on rumors and discussions within the League of Ireland community.

[Nesta99]

From a Galway point of view, Hoban can go and roger himself. We've given him opportunities to sign for us in the past

You dont sound at all resentful!

[brendy_éire]

From a Galway point of view, Hoban can go and roger himself. We've given him opportunities to sign for us in the past

We gave Mickey Duffy opportunities to sign in the past, and he turned us down.
You can't let a bruised ego stop you from signing suitable players.

[oriel]

From a Galway point of view, Hoban can go and roger himself. We've given him opportunities to sign for us in the past

Can understand fully he won't be linked with this Dundalk set up, but you can hardly blame him for not leaving Dundalk in the league / cup winning / euro seasons to join Galway.

Possibly next season if we get promoted, but would still think budget will be better spent, he seems to be running out of options.

[oriel]

We gave Mickey Duffy opportunities to sign in the past, and he turned us down.
You can't let a bruised ego stop you from signing suitable players.

Again, he was right to turn down Derry on those occasions, and absolutely right to take up the current deal he is on with Derry, when the last helicopter was flying out of Saigon / Oriel !!!

Timing

Same in all jobs, football no different.

[Shearer]

Yoyo Mahdy departs Treaty United over work commitments and personal circumstances.

Sorry to see him go but LOI is a tough commitment at the best of times and he has had a difficult time since the passing of his father.

[outspoken]

Yoyo Mahdy departs Treaty United over work commitments and personal circumstances.

Sorry to see him go but LOI is a tough commitment at the best of times and he has had a difficult time since the passing of his father.

Such a shame he's never been able to rediscover his UCD form

[pineapple stu]

Thought you were talking about Collie Whelan there for a moment.

Kind of apt that Mahdy's last match was against UCD in the end. Ninth on our all-time scorers list, and I think that's about twice as many goals as he's scored since he left us. Strange one.

[Neish]

In fairness, it says "who featured four times in a loan spell at Leek Town earlier this campaign". That hardly shows he was on loan at Harps.

Where does it mention transfer though?

[pineapple stu]

It doesn't explicitly - though that in itself may be telling - but the wiki article I linked has it under transfers rather than loans.

[cláirseach]

Where does it mention transfer though?

https://finnharps.ie/harps-sign-mcguinness-from-stoke-city/

Where does it mention loan Neish? Can you show us the bit where Harps announce a loan signing here?