Underage star Jamie Lennon signs senior contract with St Patrick's Athletic
Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)
St Patrick's Athletic have announced that under-19 midfielder Jamie Lennon has signed his first senior contract with the club.
The Dubliner impacted the first team last season in the Leinster Senior Cup, scoring in the quarter-final against Firhouse Clover before captaining the side in the semi-final defeat to Shelbourne.
19-year-old Lennon has been at the club for the past two years after spending the previous seven years with Shels.
He's represented Ireland at under-17 and under-19 level and was part of the Saints side that finished runner-up in the under-19 National League in 2016.
“This is my first professional [contract],” Lennon told the club's media team.
“I've been with Pats now two years with the 19s [and] done well each season. I feel I've developed as a player over the course of two years and I'm looking forward to making the step up to the first team.
“Liam gave me a couple of chances with the first team last season, in the Leinster Senior Cup and a couple of training sessions, so I know what's expected and I know how he plays.”
The holistic structure at Richmond Park has seen the likes of Jamie McGrath and Darragh Markey make the step up to the first team squad in recent years.
And Lennon feels the integrated structure the club has in place will help him to make the step up to the first team in the coming season, should he be given the opportunity.
“Liam likes to get us playing the same style of football from the senior team all the way down to the 15s, so I know what style of football is expected of us when we make the step up.
“I know my role. I just obviously need to improve and learn from the other players in the group in the first team this season.
“I've been a League of Ireland fan myself since I was a baby, so to be in the mix now and see what team you're going to playing at the start of the season is a big moment.”
St Patrick's Athletic squad for 2018: Michael Barker, Ian Bermingham, Killian Brennan, Ryan Brennan, Conan Byrne, Thomas Byrne, Lee Desmond, James Doona, Christy Fagan, Owen Garvan, Graham Kelly, Jamie Lennon, Simon Madden, Brian Maher, Barry Murphy, Ian Turner.
