Cork City stave off interest from UK to sign UCC defender Sean McLoughlin

Cork City have fought off competition from Scottish and English clubs to sign UCC defender Sean McLoughlin on an 18-month contract.

McLoughlin is City's second summer signing from the Munster Senior League champions following the arrival of UCC captain Sean O'Mahony earlier this month.

Manager John Caulfield had been keen to strengthen the defence given the expected departure of Kevin O'Connor and the season-ending injury to captain John Dunleavy.

The retention of Ryan Delaney on loan from Burton Albion until the end of the season has eased the pressure, and the arrival of the pair from UCC will help to spread the burden across the backline.

“Training has been good,” McLoughlin told the club's official website following the announcement of his signature.

“It’s been tough and I need to get up to the pace, but that will come. I need to put in the hard work and get as many games as I can.”

Caulfield added: “We have been monitoring Sean for a while and we are delighted to get him, because he had an offer from an SPL club and a League One club as well.

“After speaking to him over the last few weeks and having had him in training, he has signed for a year and a half.

“He can play left back or left centre back and he is very good on the ball. He is a guy who has come through UCC, who have done very well over the last few years.

“It is a big step up but he has done well in training. He is getting used to it and we see him as player who can step up to the mark very quickly, so we have high hopes for him.”