2023 Season, Arrivals and Departures

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Pat's used him entirely incorrectly. Pace, power and finishing and needs to be played on the shoulder of the last man. He could score ten or fifteen goals if Cork use him right.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

To be fair there was an attempt to use Tunde in such a way whenever possible as it's a no-brainer but it's hard to play on the shoulder etc if you're one of the better sides in the league and occasionally playing against sides that sit in, and then on other occasions against the likes of Dundalk, Rovers and more he simply didn't take good opportunities that came his way. He's just too limited a player for a top-end side and in our case he was also playing second fiddle to simply a better player in Doyle.

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Jack is spot on here, Owolabi's finishing just wasn’t up to the level when he got the chances. One that springs to mind is a 2-1 loss to rovers in Inchicore in the summer when he had rounded Mannus about 8 yards out with just one rovers defender on the line in the centre of the goal and he managed to shoot tamely straight at the feet of the defender as opposed to literally anywhere else which would’ve been a goal. Certainly wouldn’t be one to change the entire style of play just to accommodate and as Jack said, playing off the shoulder isn’t an option in a lot of games when teams sat in deep, a scenario which Owolabi was a lost cause in.

I think he could do well at Cork as not many sides will sit back against them you feel so he could have plenty of space to run into behind defences as he did at Harps (the hattrick against Pats in 2021 comes to mind)

Ciaran Kelly has left Bohs and signed for Bradford City on a 3 year contract. Genuinely shocked at that one, he was hopeless anytime I saw him last season

Max Murphy gone to Bray too. I won’t lose any sleep over either of them.

https://www.donegallive.ie/news/socc...t-manager.html

A good appointment. Also Opens up a channel to the Irish League we’ve dismissed in the past.

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Originally Posted by Finlay Harp

https://www.donegallive.ie/news/socc...t-manager.html

A good appointment. Also Opens up a channel to the Irish League we’ve dismissed in the past.

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Seems to have a decent track record, and Crusaders fans were disappointed to see him leave his assistant role there earlier this year.

Thought Ciaran Kelly was great during the 2021 European run but he regressed alarmingly since. Probably better for him and us he moved on but I'm surprised it's over there of all places.

Max was never cut physically for the Premier Division, when he wasn't making unforced errors he was getting absolutely bullied by full backs and wingers.

Paddy Barrett leaves Pats...

Paddy Barrett leaves Pats. Was a great player in the cup winning season and it looked a real coup getting him on a two-year deal but he unfortunately seems like he might be crocked. Got inured in pre-season last year and never seemed to recover at all, towards the end of the season he popped up on the bench a bit but was heavily strapped up and never looked likely to appear at all. Played a couple of times at the tail-end of the season but understandably didn't look at it, hopefully just rustiness more than anything else and can put it together again elsewhere (just not at our expense, obviously).

Tadhg Ryan, Junior, Jordan Doherty and James Finnerty all gone from Bohs too. Very surprised at Doherty, one of better performers last season. Whoever signs him is getting a solid player. Devine is definitely shaping his own squad anyway, it was badly needed.

only an outsider looking in but im very surprised at doherty. he had a pretty good season from what i saw of him. mistake from devine imo

bray doing more decent business. they'll be contenders if they add another 2 or 3

I’d probably take Jordan Doherty at Pats as a backup for Grivosti/Redmond/Curtis and he can also fill in at RB or defensive midfield if needed so he’d be a good squad player to have.

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

bray doing more decent business. they'll be contenders if they add another 2 or 3

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Jake Walker is a good pickup for them, he was LSL top goalscorer with Crumlin since leaving Pats during the covid break.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Paddy Barrett leaves Pats. Was a great player in the cup winning season and it looked a real coup getting him on a two-year deal but he unfortunately seems like he might be crocked. Got inured in pre-season last year and never seemed to recover at all, towards the end of the season he popped up on the bench a bit but was heavily strapped up and never looked likely to appear at all. Played a couple of times at the tail-end of the season but understandably didn't look at it, hopefully just rustiness more than anything else and can put it together again elsewhere (just not at our expense, obviously).

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Yeah , shame it all went wrong for him last season and hopefully he can get his career back on track.

Adam O'Reilly released by Preston ............ bring him home !!!

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

bray doing more decent business. they'll be contenders if they add another 2 or 3

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Contenders for the playoffs I assume you mean.

For the title? Not a chance.

Signing half of the Wexford team that wasn't even good enough to get a playoff place this year in a weak Division and adding a few aul lads that are well-past their best like 34 year old Dane Massey isn't going to help them to challenge for the title, neither is signing Dave Webster who will be 33 in April and is just returning from an ACL injury.

They need to sign a lot more proven hungry players if they're gonna get near to challenging for the title.

Now that they're right on Dublin's doorstep, Ryan will surely be unable to fail as miserably as he did last season, they will surely at least get a play-off spot next year.

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Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow

Adam O'Reilly released by Preston ............ bring him home !!!

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I don’t think he has been released!? The article I seen was from an unofficial Preston news website which said he was allowed to find himself a new club. Assuming Preston are allowing him leave on a free transfer in the winter provided there’s interest in the player.

He’s shown he’s definitely good enough for premier division football nonetheless. Be great to see him back in the LOI next year, far better off then going down the leagues in England imo.

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Originally Posted by sulywaterfordfc

I don’t think he has been released!? The article I seen was from an unofficial Preston news website which said he was allowed to find himself a new club. Assuming Preston are allowing him leave on a free transfer in the winter provided there’s interest in the player.

He’s shown he’s definitely good enough for premier division football nonetheless. Be great to see him back in the LOI next year, far better off then going down the leagues in England imo.

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Yeah not officially released just yet but may as well be. The article contains quotes from the Preston manager who’s said they’ll let him go if he has an offer he wants to pursue, which to be fair shouldn’t be an issue for him. You’d imagine any of the top 4 here would take him and possibly a few league 1 clubs given how well he did this year and how much interest the clubs in that league have in the LOI

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Originally Posted by Olander

Contenders for the playoffs I assume you mean.

For the title? Not a chance.

Signing half of the Wexford team that wasn't even good enough to get a playoff place this year in a weak Division and adding a few aul lads that are well-past their best like 34 year old Dane Massey isn't going to help them to challenge for the title, neither is signing Dave Webster who will be 33 in April and is just returning from an ACL injury.

They need to sign a lot more proven hungry players if they're gonna get near to challenging for the title.

Now that they're right on Dublin's doorstep, Ryan will surely be unable to fail as miserably as he did last season, they will surely at least get a play-off spot next year.

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they'll challenge once they can add 2 or 3 starters to those signed already . ryan is still the best manager in the league and caulifeld will fall desperately short once again. galway signed brendan clarke and mccormack ffs. its the first division, massey and webster will be good, the drop is big.

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Yeah not officially released just yet but may as well be. The article contains quotes from the Preston manager who’s said they’ll let him go if he has an offer he wants to pursue, which to be fair shouldn’t be an issue for him. You’d imagine any of the top 4 here would take him and possibly a few league 1 clubs given how well he did this year and how much interest the clubs in that league have in the LOI

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Wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up at Rovers. Very good young player and if he continues his development with another good year or two or Ireland could see him being picked up by English club.

Griffin and Cantwell were officially announced by the Blues as re-signed. More to come by all accounts.

Two key re-signings. Cantwell is an excellent defender probably one of the best if not the best in the division. Great to hold on to Griffin, only turning 23 but I think next season will be his sixth year with the first team. Think it might be his eighth year since he first joined the club. Delighted to see as he played 17/19s for the club also. Great to see two former youth players at the club doing well in the first team ??

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

they'll challenge once they can add 2 or 3 starters to those signed already . ryan is still the best manager in the league and caulifeld will fall desperately short once again. galway signed brendan clarke and mccormack ffs. its the first division, massey and webster will be good, the drop is big.

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Caulfield may very well fail again, but we won't finish behind Bray Wanderers.

Ryan finished outside the top 5 in a 9 team Division, so I'm not sure how that makes him a brilliant manager. He's quite possibly the most overrated person in Irish football currently. When he actually achieves something, you can come out with mad statements like that.

They're nowhere near challengers at present. You would need to add 5-6 players of a much better quality for that to happen. Don't see it myself. Play-offs at best for them.

Would agree they won't challenge for title. Maybe best of rest after the big two. If they can keep Massey and Webster fit they've a solid base to build off.

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Originally Posted by RealJohn91

Tadhg Ryan, Junior, Jordan Doherty and James Finnerty all gone from Bohs too. Very surprised at Doherty, one of better performers last season. Whoever signs him is getting a solid player. Devine is definitely shaping his own squad anyway, it was badly needed.

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As long as he shapes a good squad. Bohs have announced far more released players than signed (new) players. Need to see some real quality announced soon to boost team moral and fan confidence.

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Originally Posted by outspoken

Would agree they won't challenge for title. Maybe best of rest after the big two. If they can keep Massey and Webster fit they've a solid base to build off.

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It'll probably be March or April before Webster kicks a ball. Very risky signing that one, but he'll be a brilliant addition to the dressing room at least.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

It'll probably be March or April before Webster kicks a ball. Very risky signing that one, but he'll be a brilliant addition to the dressing room at least.

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Wasn't aware of that, always hard when you're playing catch up.

Galway and Bray are both going to be in the 1st Division in 2024 , at least in Galway's case because of the manager.

Ben Curtis to Drogheda...

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Originally Posted by Shinkicker

As long as he shapes a good squad. Bohs have announced far more released players than signed (new) players. Need to see some real quality announced soon to boost team moral and fan confidence.

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Outside of Doherty and Kelly no quality player was let go. I'd be more worried if we re-signed any of the others released because they were that bad the season just gone. I'm just surprised we didn't see Rory Feelys name on the list

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Jack is spot on here, Owolabi's finishing just wasn’t up to the level when he got the chances. One that springs to mind is a 2-1 loss to rovers in Inchicore in the summer when he had rounded Mannus about 8 yards out with just one rovers defender on the line in the centre of the goal and he managed to shoot tamely straight at the feet of the defender as opposed to literally anywhere else which would’ve been a goal. Certainly wouldn’t be one to change the entire style of play just to accommodate and as Jack said, playing off the shoulder isn’t an option in a lot of games when teams sat in deep, a scenario which Owolabi was a lost cause in.

I think he could do well at Cork as not many sides will sit back against them you feel so he could have plenty of space to run into behind defences as he did at Harps (the hattrick against Pats in 2021 comes to mind)

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Seems a fair summary now in hindsight on Tunde, and I do remember that actual move when he rounded Rovers GK and fluffed his lines, probably just lack of confidence, still say its a good move for him to Cork City.

Surely Doherty might be following Kelly over to the UK.

Back to the US I hear.

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Originally Posted by Dermobohs

Back to the US I hear.

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Ah ok. Did not expect him to be staying in the league.

Danny Rogers signs new contract with Pats , yet to be convinced by this lad

Pats confirm that Ben McCormack among others are in contract for next season. That more or less rules out any chance of him playing for Dundalk next season you'd imagine

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9277

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Pats confirm that Ben McCormack among others are in contract for next season. That more or less rules out any chance of him playing for Dundalk next season you'd imagine

https://www.stpatsfc.com/news.php?id=9277

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Any word on Billy King ?

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Originally Posted by Glen Of Aherlow

Any word on Billy King ?

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Haven’t heard anything at all on King this off season. From the above list the only senior players from last seasons squad that are missing are King, Coughlan, Cotter and O'Reilly (not including Barrett who’s been released and the other few that have signed elsewhere)

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Haven’t heard anything at all on King this off season. From the above list the only senior players from last seasons squad that are missing are King, Coughlan, Cotter and O'Reilly (not including Barrett who’s been released and the other few that have signed elsewhere)

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I imagine Coughlan will go , hopefully we can get Cotter back ( O'Reilly would be great too but unlikely ) . Be a shame to see Biily go , he's always given 100 % for us.

Jordan Adeyemo signs for Wexford....

This is getting a bit out of hand now.

First Division musical chairs.

Wexford players signing for Ian Ryan at Bray (Wexford manager last season)

Longford players signing for James Keddy at Wexford (Longford assistant manager last season)

Shelbourne academy players signing for Stephen Henderson at Longford (former Shelbourne head of youth development)