2025 Arrivals and Departures

**Mr A** · 23/06/2025, 12:27 PM

I feel like he probably overachieved last year, that squad had no real business winning a league but they got the bit between the teeth and did it.

Seems like the frustration of a bit of a revertion to the norm was just too much.

**Another Bohemia** · 23/06/2025, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by De Town

Not on a wind up here, would be interested to hear Shels fans views. But I am seeing some Shels fans online claiming the players have let Duff down - particular ire being directed towards lads who joined this season.

Why is Duff getting a pass for signing below par players? It's surely not the players fault if they're not up to the level of challenging at the top end of the league. Surely Duff has to get some of the flak considering they're all his signings?

Is that a surprise? People will always bend over backwards to defend someone they have bought into. You see an extreme version of this with American politics. To Shels fans he's the man who won them the league, it doesnt matter thet their form since the summer break last year has been more miss than hit, the outbursts and arguements were merely deflection tactics and he was playing chess while the rest of the league was playing checkers. Now the players have let him down.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle.

1. Duff winning the league was a great achievment, it doesnt matter if they stumbled over the line because a wins a win
2. Some of the nonsense he says probably was a distraction but equally I think hes a very reactive and somewhat sensitive person who will speak before he thinks and while it acted as a distraction from a challenging season I doubt it was all intentional because some of it makes him look incredibly petty and like a sore loser.
3. Some players almost certainly have let him down but equally him walking away in the middle of a tough season is him letting them & the rest of his coaching staff down. His comments on friday would have also been a let down to some players. Its well known now that what motivates and improves each player is different so slating the majority, if not all, of the squad in the press on a friday evening after a poor performance would have a very mixed result

Basically Shels fans are going to remember the positive stuff and spin it to protect their hero. Thats their prerogative.

**joey B** · 23/06/2025, 2:08 PM

Rory Feely signed for Cork City ,a bit of time spent mostly in League 2 with Barrow and a short spell with Crawley in League 1 last season,might be a decent enough signing for Cork ….

**kksaints** · 23/06/2025, 2:10 PM

Originally Posted by joey B

Rory Feely signed for Cork City ,a bit of time spent mostly in League 2 with Barrow and a short spell with Crawley in League 1 last season,might be a decent enough signing for Cork ….

Decent right back, absolutely terrible centre back in his two spells with us.

**Martinho II** · 23/06/2025, 2:10 PM

Originally Posted by Buckett

Kenny is on the verge of cracking up. I thought he was going to cry in his post-match interview the other night

I saw the picture of SK after game last weekend with his head in his heads. I think he will go next!

**Martinho II** · 23/06/2025, 2:15 PM

Originally Posted by Jack B

Seems like O'Brien can do it without the badges for a couple of months, has applied anyway and in the meantime their analyst has them so can probably do the classic LOI box-ticking job if necessary.

Whos the analyst Jack B that has them?

**2 Year Contract** · 23/06/2025, 2:38 PM

Originally Posted by joey B

Rory Feely signed for Cork City ,a bit of time spent mostly in League 2 with Barrow and a short spell with Crawley in League 1 last season,might be a decent enough signing for Cork ….

Crawley have said Cork paid them an undisclosed fee for him. Boo Dermot Usher putting no money into the squad etc

**Another Bohemia** · 23/06/2025, 2:39 PM

Originally Posted by kksaints

Decent right back, absolutely terrible centre back in his two spells with us.

I was shocked he got a move to the UK after his spell with us. He was one of the worst defenders in our squad and they were all bad that season. Great athlete but very limited footballer. Looks like Usher is putting a bit more money into the squad after Clancy up and left anyway.

Edit: Just seen that Crawley are saying Cork paid a fee for him? Surely if they were paying a fee there would be a better option?
https://x.com/crawleytown/status/1937148639169950188

**2 Year Contract** · 23/06/2025, 2:42 PM

Originally Posted by Another Bohemia

I was shocked he got a move to the UK after his spell with us. He was one of the worst defenders in our squad and they were all bad that season. Great athlete but very limited footballer

Most Pats fans would agree on that. He’s a footballer with the brain and technique of a Gaelic player, which makes sense considering he’s a former Kildare Minor. I’ve always thought he’ll end up playing county with Kildare before the age of 30

**RealJohn91** · 23/06/2025, 3:04 PM

Poor Cork

**outspoken** · 23/06/2025, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by De Town

Not on a wind up here, would be interested to hear Shels fans views. But I am seeing some Shels fans online claiming the players have let Duff down - particular ire being directed towards lads who joined this season.

Why is Duff getting a pass for signing below par players? It's surely not the players fault if they're not up to the level of challenging at the top end of the league. Surely Duff has to get some of the flak considering they're all his signings?

Plus it was Duff who moved away from the formula that worked so well last season

**Jack B** · 23/06/2025, 3:52 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

Whos the analyst Jack B that has them?

Martin Doyle, according to Dan McDonnell.

**Nesta99** · 23/06/2025, 3:54 PM

He made signings as if they were on a particularly tight budget, rough diamond type players from the bargain basket, O'Kane an example. There wasnt a turnover of signficance so either the squad just wouldnt or couldnt do another year of the intensity needed or Duff switched things up. But really I think that other clubs are showing better form earlier where last years Shels were consistant and even draws were keeping them at arms lenghth on top. They probably shouldnt have been champions on paper in the way that Rovers shouldnt be running away with things this year were being very average with occasional good games being enough with Pats and Derry doing less, Galway looking like theyve been found out, Waterford going bckwards with Sligo, and Bohs going from Reynolds out to Reynolds genius in a couple of months. For a number of years if any side showed any form they were in with a shout, Shels last season, not Shels this season.

**Buckett** · 23/06/2025, 4:43 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

Galway looking like theyve been found out

We're 6 points off second place with two games in hand

**total hoofball** · 23/06/2025, 6:19 PM

Originally Posted by De Town

Not on a wind up here, would be interested to hear Shels fans views. But I am seeing some Shels fans online claiming the players have let Duff down - particular ire being directed towards lads who joined this season.

Why is Duff getting a pass for signing below par players? It's surely not the players fault if they're not up to the level of challenging at the top end of the league. Surely Duff has to get some of the flak considering they're all his signings?

Split opinions have been around the fanbase on our performances this season

The staunch Duff loyalists have been increasingly pointing fingers anywhere but Duff. Bad luck got the blame for a while, then injuries got the blame for a while and then with a full squad the blame shifted towards the squad particularly all the new signings

Other fans like myself see combination of Duff's stubbornly sticking to 5 at the back that doesn't suit the squad with incoherent starting lineups/constant half-time substitutions and underwhelming recruitment since both Molloy and Jarvis departed, I also see some of our title winning squad not at it to the same level as last season

Looks like Joey O'Brien is reverting to 4 at the back going by tonight's starting XI looks like something from 2024, that may be a tell-tale sign

**Nesta99** · 23/06/2025, 6:50 PM

Originally Posted by Buckett

We're 6 points off second place with two games in hand

Didnt say you were bad, just that that the levels of chaos and panic and consistency are not at last years levels. While I havent looked it up, I reckon last year's Galway would be closer to top now. Games in hands are a fools hope metric!

**Buckett** · 23/06/2025, 8:42 PM

Originally Posted by Buckett

We're 6 points off second place with two games in hand

Nevermind!

**D24Saint** · 23/06/2025, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

I saw the picture of SK after game last weekend with his head in his heads. I think he will go next!

Will he walk away from such a lucrative contract ? His reputation is going down the tubes this year but still not convinced he will walk away from that kind of cash with nothing similar available particularly in Ireland.

**Martinho II** · 24/06/2025, 1:24 PM

Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

Most Pats fans would agree on that. He’s a footballer with the brain and technique of a Gaelic player, which makes sense considering he’s a former Kildare Minor. I’ve always thought he’ll end up playing county with Kildare before the age of 30

Think the wrong Feely is playing loi football. Cant remember the other brothers name whos a Kildare GAA footballer who played in the UK Newport Co was one of those teams.

**RealJohn91** · 24/06/2025, 1:40 PM

Originally Posted by Martinho II

Think the wrong Feely is playing loi football. Cant remember the other brothers name whos a Kildare GAA footballer who played in the UK Newport Co was one of those teams.

Kevin, he started at Bohs. He was a cracking player.