2020 vision: Sean Gannon signs new three-year deal with Dundalk

Dundalk have announced that defender Sean Gannon has signed a new three-year deal that will keep him at Oriel Park until at least the end of the 2020 season.

The full-back has been a mainstay in the Lilywhites side since joining ahead of the 2014 season, winning consecutive titles in his first three seasons with the Louth club.

He's also won the FAI Cup in 2014 and the EA Sports Cup twice, in 2014 and 2017, in his time with the club, as well as competing in the Europa League group stages.

26-year-old Gannon has been named in the PFAI Team of the Year in each of his four seasons at Oriel Park, indicating the esteem in which he's held by his peers in the league.

“There has been plenty of great nights and I am looking to have many more here," Gannon told the club's official website.

"We have been so successful since I joined the club and there has been so many highlights over that time but beating BATE Borisov in Tallaght Stadium is up there.

“It was such a special night for everyone at the club and it qualified us for the group stages of European competition. It elevated the club even more and everyone rallied around each other. We had so much to look forward to after that.

“Playing in the Europa League Group Stages was massive for us and showed we had that capability.

“I want to get back on that stage though and that’s the plan. ”

The Ringsend native came through the ranks at St Kevin's Boys before signing for Shamrock Rovers in 2010, where he was part of the club's under-20 league-winning side.

He made his first-team breakthrough the following year as Rovers secured a second title in a row, making his league debut in a 1-1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic at Richmond Park.

Gannon was part of the squad that travelled to Belgrade when the Hoops became the first side to qualify for the Europa League proper with victory over Partizan but didn't feature in the competition.

The following season saw him link up with Stephen Kenny for the first time after he assumed the reins at Tallaght Stadium, and he made 12 appearances during a turbulent season.

He moved across Dublin to St Patrick's Athletic ahead of their title-winning 2013 season and appeared 13 times as deputy for Ger O'Brien, before moving to Dundalk the following year.