Former Hoops keeper Craig Hyland and Drogheda captain Mick Daly return to football with St Mochta's

Former Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Craig Hyland and ex-Drogheda United defender Mick Daly have both returned to senior football with Leinster Senior League side St Mochta's.

The Blanch side endured a disappointing campaign in 2017/18 as their title defence petered out to an tenth-place finish, and manager Brian McCarthy has moved quickly to inject fresh blood.

Hyland returns to regular football after leaving the Hoops two years ago to join the fire brigade, while Daly makes the move back into amateur football after retiring with a debilitating back injury.

The pair made an immediate impact with their new club, Hyland saving twice in a shoot-out as Mochta's beat Portmarnock in the final to secure the pre-season Tommy Clements Cup at the AUL.

“One of the lads of the team, Craig is in the fire brigade with him, and that’s how it came around,” McCarthy told extratime.ie.

“We got in touch with him and he hadn’t played in two years I don’t think between training for the fire brigade and injuries.

“He made two saves in the penalty shoot out and a couple in the game as well. His whole presence, his distribution, everything is top-quality.”

He added: “Mick has been up and he played the first three games for us and his back has held up. That’s another one we’re hoping will hold up because he hasn’t played in two years.

“He’s been excellent. We’ve definitely freshened us up and we hope will take us higher in the table than last year.”

Mochta's have also signed Kenny Carr and Glenn Shannon, who won the Metropolitan Cup last year with Newbridge Town, and Noel Murray from Crumlin United.