Dundalk youngster Georgie Poynton signs two-year deal

Dundalk have announced that midfielder Georgie Poynton has signed a new two-year contract with the club.

Republic of Ireland under-19 internationalist Poynton is looking forward to a third season at Dundalk, having signed his first senior deal with the club aged 16 at the outset of their title-winning 2014 season.

The 18-year-old Dubliner made his league debut for the Lilywhites away to St Patrick's Athletic in May before making a second appearance at Cork City in the penultimate round of games, having earlier featured in the club's EA Sports Cup campaign.

“It’s really good to get it done,” Poynton told the club's official website.

“We had been talking about it for a while so it’s good to finally get things sorted and get it on paper. I want to stay here. I think over the past couple of seasons that we are the best club in Ireland. The people running the club, the management and the youth staff are very professional in what they do.

“Playing here has helped me with my international career. We have big games coming up for the international squad but I still have to go out there and perform, whether that is for Dundalk or Ireland. I want to do the best I can for both and if that helps me stay in the squads then I am happy.

“I have played a lot more this year in the first-team. I have been a lot more involved and it has been great for me. Getting knocked out on penalties against Galway in the EA Sports Cup was a tough one but winning the Leinster Senior Cup was nice and having featured in it the whole way up which was great.

“I got to make my league debut this year which was great for me. Coming on against Pats and then the game down in Cork a few weeks ago was a really good experience. It was brilliant to be involved this year. Stephen Kenny has done a brilliant job since he came in so hopefully that can continue.”

Poynton is the second of the club's highly-rated under-19 squad to commit his future to the club, striker Cian O'Connor having signed an 18-month deal midway through the 2015 season before finishing the season on loan at Derry City.

Dundalk have also succeeded in securing midfielders Ronan Finn, Darren Meenan and John Mountney, as well as goalkeeper Gabriele Sava, for the coming season, while midfielder Chris Shields has signed up until the end of 2017.