Goalkeeper Brendan Clarke returns for a third stint with the Saints

Brendan Clarke has re-joined St Patrick's Athletic for a third spell after leaving Limerick by mutual consent last week.

The netminder, a local and lifelong Saints fan, has spent the past 18 months with the Blues after opting to leave Richmond Park.

Well-publicised financial problems at the Markets Field have seen five players, including Clarke and fellow Saints signing Conor Clifford, agree to cancel their contracts.

“Liam got in touch, we managed to get a deal sorted and here we are,” Clarke told the club's media team.

“I spoke to a good few clubs and I took each club on its merits. The stuff going on behind the scenes is really exciting and it's something I want to be part of.

“It's a good group of players who play the right way and I'm really excited to be here.”

Clarke will fill the shirt vacated by Tyson Farago, who left the club earlier today, and will compete with Barry Murphy for the starting position between the sticks.

32-year-old Clarke began his career with the Saints, debuting in 2003, and spent six years at Richmond Park before signing for Sporting Fingal, whom he'd previously had a loan spell with.

He spent a year with Fingal and the following season with Sligo Rovers, where he won an FAI Cup medal, before returning to the Saints in 2012.

Clarke won a Premier Division title and FAI Cup during his second stint with Pats before joining Limerick ahead of the 2017 season.