Davy McDaid makes shock move to Northern Ireland second tier side Larne

Northern Ireland Championship side Larne have announced the shock signing of striker Davy McDaid from Waterford on a deal until the summer of 2020.

McDaid scored 11 goals for the Blues – second only to strike partner Mark O'Sullivan – last season as they won promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in a decade.

It's something of a transfer coup for the Antrim club, who sit second-from-bottom in the second tier of Northern Irish football but have significant financial backing behind them.

McDaid will join Central African Republic international midfielder Ralph Kottoy and former Northern Ireland under-21 goalkeeper Conor Devlin at Inver Park.

“Davy is a top, top player,” manager Tiernan Lynch told the club's official Youtube channel.

“We used to hate playing against him when we were at [Glentoran]. He had a wee bit of everything: he's strong, he's quick, he holds the ball up, he brings players into the game, he scores goals.

“I think Davy was excited about the challenge and Kenny sold the club to him, where he wants to take this, and how we want to be a force in football in Northern Ireland for the coming years.

“And Davy wanted to be part of that. It's a great one for the club and it's a great sign of where the club is going. I hope Davy is only the first of so many more.”

McDaid began his career with his hometown club Derry City, being sent out immediately on loan to Sligo Rovers in 2008 after signing his first senior contract.

Following a further spell on loan with Finn Harps, McDaid made his breakthrough to the Candystripes team in the second half of the 2009 season.

He became a key figure in the Derry attack following the club's expulsion and re-emergence in the First Division, and was part of the side that won the league that season.

In 2013, he signed for English League Two side York City, where he spent six months before returning to Derry before stints with Coleraine and Cliftonville in the Irish League.

McDaid signed for First Division Waterford ahead of the 2017 season and picked up his second First Division winner's medal at season's end.