2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

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Originally Posted by oriel

I'd say Hoban was on 2.5k with Dundalk a week, he didn't report for pre season training, so unlikely he will have been paid for Jan.

30k for 32 yo is a lot of money, but if he can keep fit he will score goals for Derry no doubt about that, but playing in a worse pitch than OP might factor in more injuries or it may not.

The whole saga has been odd from around Mid Oct, it was all meant to have come from a discussion SOD had with him that he wouldn't be starting every game, toys out of pram, agent involved, that was it, no going back. I will say though to his abs credit he performed very well in last 2 games, sub appearance v Bohs a home 2-0 win, and scoring 2 or 3 in his last game away to UCD.

If the decision was financially related, there should have been no need for the previous regime to get involved, again poorly managed, by all parties really.

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All rather convenient wasnt it. Not starting every game, no pay rise, Lily the Panda not high fiving a goal, it was going to be something until someone was willing to pony up a new premium Understandable when its your living, not easy to when a fan. Less of the fawning over fans and the doing the scorned 'wanted to stay' routine though and just call it what it is, a better offer!. Not turning up to work shows another side to Hoban, not very professional behaviour - unless he gave notice to leave the club, as is his right and let the clubs trash out the cost of transferring his player registration.

Sean Murray joined Cork from Glentoran on loan until July…

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Could be a few in that era from Shels, Bohs, Arkaga Cork City, Drogheda. Ye know the sort of club with more successful local rivals in the doldrums at the time and busted themselves trying to catch up!

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Didn't Dundalk spend a stupid amount of money to buy Dylan Connolly from Bray too?

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Didn't Dundalk spend a stupid amount of money to buy Dylan Connolly from Bray too?

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Was only around €10k and then sold him for €40k so not bad business.

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Originally Posted by Bunny Kelly

The fee seems irrelevant, €2500 a week over 2 years is €260,000 for 32-34yr old doesn't seem like the smartest move for Derry but a great one for Hoban

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I'd say Derry will pay him 3k a week, RH desperate to win the league, that would work out at just under 350k over 2 years, and as you say the transfer part of it does seem irrelevant, but still a huge outlay as total would be made up of 312k wages and 30k transfer.

Alfie Taylor joined Pats on loan from Hull,in another reality he’d be playing north of the river but here we are!

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Originally Posted by joey B

Sean Murray joined Cork from Glentoran on loan until July…

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Haven’t followed how he’s got on up north but that seems a great signing for first division level. I’d imagine Dundalk could have used him this year

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Haven’t followed how he’s got on up north but that seems a great signing for first division level. I’d imagine Dundalk could have used him this year

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Glentoran fans not much good to say about him but I think he’s been injured quite a lot…..

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Didn't Dundalk spend a stupid amount of money to buy Dylan Connolly from Bray too?

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It was when we actually had money not a credit note....not celtic tiger or in the doldrums either - details meh!


What was stupid money was paying Athlone a fee for Stuart Connolly when we didnt have a bean, caught out by U23 training comp by a few weeks, only played a couple of games due to a sore big toe that no physio or surgeon could diagnose....eventually just released.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

It was when we actually had money not a credit note....not celtic tiger or in the doldrums either - details meh!

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I think the original post was implying that the rival was the one in the doldrums at the time not the one spending the money. So for Dundalk, Drogheda were in the doldrums similarly when Drogheda were big spenders Dundalk would have been there.

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Originally Posted by joey B

Glentoran fans not much good to say about him but I think he’s been injured quite a lot…..

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Likes the social life, Watford tried to reign it in, organised pandemic trip up north when at Dundalk, moved to Belfast but if the injury prone type of player a very healthy lifestyle is needed. He'll find some good spots in Cork too i'm sure, if does get an injury free run he'd cruise through 1st Division on half decent surfaces. They get heavy at all he'll struggle. Can you still have potential as a 30 year old footballer?

We signed Alfie Taylor from Hull City on loan. He plays as a left sided centre half so its safe to assume he can fill in at LB if we are stuck.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Likes the social life, Watford tried to reign it in, organised pandemic trip up north when at Dundalk, moved to Belfast but if the injury prone type of player a very healthy lifestyle is needed. He'll find some good spots in Cork too i'm sure, if does get an injury free run he'd cruise through 1st Division on half decent surfaces. They get heavy at all he'll struggle. Can you still have potential as a 30 year old footballer?

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Call me old fashioned but if a player is playing in 1st division at the age of 30 they are a journeyman.

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Originally Posted by D24Saint

We signed Alfie Taylor from Hull City on loan. He plays as a left sided centre half so its safe to assume he can fill in at LB if we are stuck.

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Interesting that Hull are sending players over after the Shels deal ended.

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Originally Posted by timothydec77

Call me old fashioned but if a player is playing in 1st division at the age of 30 they are a journeyman.

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Even if they have been at the same First Division club since they were a teenager?

Ali Coote joined Detroit City in the USL Championship.

Bohs have signed striker Sten Reinkort. Estonian international and I have no idea how good he is but at least it is a striker

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Originally Posted by D24Saint

We signed Alfie Taylor from Hull City on loan. He plays as a left sided centre half so its safe to assume he can fill in at LB if we are stuck.

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Who knows how good he is but it was an important space in the squad to get filled out to make it 4 CBs. Still feel we'll need to be lucky again with Breslin's availability but between Taylor, McClelland or even one of the right backs we hopefully have something there to cover us in a pinch. Takes us up to 21 players excluding academy lads that haven't/barely have featured. If I were being greedy I wouldn't mind another midfielder and a winger, but on the whole the squad is looking alright.

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Originally Posted by Another Bohemia

Bohs have signed striker Sten Reinkort. Estonian international and I have no idea how good he is but at least it is a striker

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Flora seem a weird team, always loaning out and offering around fellas that appear to make quite a few appearances for them. Bohs will be needing him to be more of a Poom than a Kreida or Vastsuk.

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Originally Posted by Louth4sam

Was only around €10k and then sold him for €40k so not bad business.

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I think I remember this one (Dylan Connolly), was actually one biggest transfer fees paid by Dundalk, pretty sure it was a mad 40k and sold for exact same to Wimbeldon (I think). Others in SK era that commanded a fee (most didn't), Horgan was between 12-15K from Cork C, McGrath around 20k from Pats, Kilduff was 10 or 15k, not sure who to as he was at Pats, I think Rovers were the parent club.

Michael Duffy was another, Celtic held out for money, and was undisclosed but was a hefty fee I heard at the time, forget what it was.

Bohs are interested in bringing in Dean Lyness to cover for Talbot apparently and former Pat's player Jake Carroll is on trial too.

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Originally Posted by RealJohn91

Bohs are interested in bringing in Dean Lyness to cover for Talbot apparently and former Pat's player Jake Carroll is on trial too.

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He turned down a new deal with us as he wants to be closer to his family. I’d be shocked if he signed for another LOI club but you never know suppose, if it’s a six month deal it might suit him.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Even if they have been at the same First Division club since they were a teenager?

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The term is a subjective one anyway. But they are still better than 99% of players that have played the game.

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Originally Posted by Jack B

Flora seem a weird team, always loaning out and offering around fellas that appear to make quite a few appearances for them. Bohs will be needing him to be more of a Poom than a Kreida or Vastsuk.

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We were there (Tallin) in 2018, great trip, brilliant city, we played Levadia beat them 1-0 (Dylan Connolly would you believe) anyway found out later Levadia were by far the least popular club in the city as they had Russian links, Flora by far had the biggest support of the city.

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Originally Posted by oriel

I think I remember this one (Dylan Connolly), was actually one biggest transfer fees paid by Dundalk, pretty sure it was a mad 40k and sold for exact same to Wimbeldon (I think). Others in SK era that commanded a fee (most didn't), Horgan was between 12-15K from Cork C, McGrath around 20k from Pats, Kilduff was 10 or 15k, not sure who to as he was at Pats, I think Rovers were the parent club.

Michael Duffy was another, Celtic held out for money, and was undisclosed but was a hefty fee I heard at the time, forget what it was.

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Yous bought him from Pats. He signed for free ahead of the 2015 season, struggled to dislodge Fagan from the team and was then sold in the summer window to Dundalk for a transfer fee. A win win for both clubs that transfer was, after Kilduff fit into that Dundalk team so well too

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Yous bought him from Pats. He signed for free ahead of the 2015 season, struggled to dislodge Fagan from the team and was then sold in the summer window to Dundalk for a transfer fee. A win win for both clubs that transfer was, after Kilduff fit into that Dundalk team so well too

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Kilduff is probably the Dundalk player I hated to love, depended on my mood - that headed goals v AZ or that missed sitter in ET v Rosenborg. the winner against Macaibi at home or the missed sitter in Israel that could have put got us through the group stage (for a while anyway). Pats fans (well Dodge) laughing at the mere notion that he was worth a transfer fee and yet could be (one of) the best value for money signings in league history, fee to value of goals scored? I suppose he did put us in a cup final and broke his back for the Dundalk cause too- total legend!! (Yes WeAreRovers I know he flirted with legendary status in Tallaght first, assisting the Partizan win and winning a league medal - additional context, he won 2 at Dundalk:p).

Funny how fickle football fans really can be as Hoban has and will become the love to hate legend.

In addition to those already mentioned on here, Bohs are also looking at Estonian centre half Marten Kuusk and a 20 year old centre half called Divin Isamala that plays Leinster Senior League for St Francis

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

In addition to those already mentioned on here, Bohs are also looking at Estonian centre half Marten Kuusk and a 19 year old centre half called Divin Isamala that plays Leinster Senior League for St Francis

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A young CB from St Francis played a few preseason games for Bohs last year. Is it the same player? If so he could be a decent option he looked strong and fast in the game I saw vs Galway in the AUL with an experienced player like Carroll or Cornwall beside to help with positioning he could be very good

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

In addition to those already mentioned on here, Bohs are also looking at Estonian centre half Marten Kuusk and a 19 year old centre half called Divin Isamala that plays Leinster Senior League for St Francis

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Saw it reported that despite the links to Bohs your man Kuusk is signing with a club elsewhere in Europe.

The Lyness situation is interesting one, would reckon McGinty is more likely but could all work out that they only need someone until, say, the summer to cover Talbot's absence which would work better for Lyness than signing for a full season which is what Pats would have been after. Good keeper all the same albeit I thought he got slightly overrated by winning player of the season.

Kept up with Jake Carroll a bit over the last few years because I wondered if he'd ever be an option to come back to us, he used to get a rough time of it off Motherwell fans and has had a couple of awful injuries during that time. Given he's got a couple of hundred appearances across England and Scotland and can cover a couple of positions he could end up being a useful squad player though.

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Originally Posted by Another Bohemia

A young CB from St Francis played a few preseason games for Bohs last year. Is it the same player? If so he could be a decent option he looked strong and fast in the game I saw vs Galway in the AUL with an experienced player like Carroll or Cornwall beside to help with positioning he could be very good

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I googled him and saw an article from this time last year about him being with Bohs in pre-season so yeah it’s the same lad. He was reportedly on the verge of agreeing a deal with Blackpool in May but that seems to have fallen through. He’s also trialling/trialled with Derby County this month and wants to go there but Bohs seem to be the fallback destination if the Derby thing doesn’t happen

Hoban on more than €2,500 mad money !!

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Originally Posted by gufct

Hoban on more than €2,500 mad money !!

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Source?

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

In addition to those already mentioned on here, Bohs are also looking at Estonian centre half Marten Kuusk and a 20 year old centre half called Divin Isamala that plays Leinster Senior League for St Francis

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Is 'Divin' his birth name or just his nickname? :D

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

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Impeccable

Hoban to Derry confirmed. That will likely put them as favourites for the league, at least in the bookies. Can't say I'm convinced of Higgins as a manager just yet but I can't see any excuses for him based on what I think will be the weakest Premier division in a while. The drain on talent has hit a lot of teams and many will have multiple unproven players in their squads or even starting 11s come the start of the season.

By my count that makes 7 players as well as the head coach taken straight from Dundalk. A phenomenally detailed scouting system up in Derry.

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Originally Posted by Another Bohemia

Hoban to Derry confirmed. That will likely put them as favourites for the league, at least in the bookies. Can't say I'm convinced of Higgins as a manager just yet but I can't see any excuses for him based on what I think will be the weakest Premier division in a while. The drain on talent has hit a lot of teams and many will have multiple unproven players in their squads or even starting 11s come the start of the season.

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I love these comments, but this is probably the earliest I've ever seen it. Usually get through a round of games before it's the weakest ever Premier Division.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

I love these comments, but this is probably the earliest I've ever seen it. Usually get through a round of games before it's the weakest ever Premier Division.

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Yeah I may be a bit early but we are starting preseason and a lot of clubs would admit themselves that they still need to add a few players to their squad before the season starts. Devine said as much in the announcement of Bohs new striker. Add to that the obstacles in bringing in players from abroad (cost of living and general lack of housing) and the uncertainty of how the players who do come in will perform. Lastly the more recent trend of pretty average LOI players earning contracts in L1 & L2 e.g. Rory Feely, Ciaran Kelly even to an extent Ronan Coughlan. The league isn't just losing talented young players but also some fairly average starters that previously would have spent their careers in the league and kept the level reasonably consistent as well as acting as a sort of mentor for younger players coming through. At the very least I think we'll see another inconsistent season where there won't be any outstanding teams and results from week to week will be unpredictable.

The LOI has never been in a better place as far as I'm concerned. The sign that seemingly average players are being picked up by League One and League Two clubs, and even First Division players going across and doing well, isn't a sign that the league is at it's weakest, it's arguably quite the opposite.

It's this nonsense "my club isn't doing amazing so the whole league is crap". It drives me mental reading it.

The league is as strong as it can be every season. It's a pointless, if sometimes enjoyable debate.

Whoever wins it this season will have fought off more than a few heavy budgets. Some teams are clearly struggling to sort themselves out but while Dundalk are in decline, Pats are on the rise. While Bohs seem to have lost focus, Shels are aiming higher. Derry are....still building? Don't think it's any weaker than previous years by many metrics really? I do take the point about attracting players and we need to figure something out there but we still have some fantastic players on show and it's going to be even more competitive again I'd say.

Will we compete in Europe? Not sure. I do think other leagues are improving fast while we are staying still to an extent. Still, the football on show is good, the atmosphere is cracking and the buzz is great. I'd take the league now over most decades previously.....but then I'm a Rovers fan and Nigel's point works both ways!

Are we ready for the Predictions thread?