Dave Webster and Ryan Connolly released by Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers have announced that defender David Webster and midfielder Ryan Connolly will not be offered new deals.

 

They're the first departures confirmed by the Tallaght club following the arrival of midfielder Greg Bolger from Cork City as Stephen Bradley looks to improve on last season's third-place finish.

 

28-year-old Webster has spent the past three years with the Hoops, making 95 appearances in total and scoring once, in the 3-0 Europa League victory over Progres Niederkorn in Tallaght Stadium.

 

The Firhouse native came through the ranks at Bray Wanderers and made more than 100 appearances in seven years with the Seagulls.

 

He was made captain for his final season at the Carlisle Grounds following the retirement of Danny O'Connor and led the club to a tenth-place finish.

 



Cultured midfielder Connolly joined the Hoops ahead of the 2017 season after spending two seasons with Galway United and made 31 appearances in all, scoring once in the FAI Cup final defeat of Bluebell United.

 

The 25-year-old joined Galway ahead of the 2015 and helped them to promotion through the play-offs and was made captain the following season as the Tribesmen avoided the drop.

 

The Castlebar native began his professional career with Derby County – making one league appearance – before returning to Ireland to sign for Sligo Rovers in the summer of 2012.

 



He spent the second half of the 2013 season on loan with Longford Town, narrowly missing out on promotion in a play-off defeat to Bray, before joining Galway.