Jimmy Keohane leaves Cork City to join English League One side Rochdale

Midfielder Jimmy Keohane has joined English League One side Rochdale on a deal until the end of the season after parting company with Cork City.

The 28-year-old returns to England following a three-year stint in the League of Ireland with Premier Division sides Sligo Rovers and Cork.

He will link up once more with his former City teammates Ryan Delaney and Stephen Dooley at Spotland.

Keohane joined Sligo Rovers before the start of the 2016 campaign, in which the midfielder played 31 times for the Bit O’Red.

He moved to Cork City ahead of the 2017 campaign and the former Belvedere schoolboy won a league and FAI Cup double in his first year at Turner’s Cross.  

The Kilkenny native made over 70 appearances for the Leesiders, while also representing the club in both the Europa League and Champions League.

The former Evergreen and Belvedere schoolboy had been heavily linked with a move towards the exit door at the Rebel Army and has now completed his move cross-channel.

This will be his second stint over in England, having spent five years playing for Bristol City, Exeter City and Woking after making the move cross-channel from Wexford Youths.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and contributing to the team as much as I can,” Keohane told Rochdale’s official media team.

“I’ve played for five-and-a-half years in England before, so I’m used to the EFL and it will be a good test in League One.

“It’s a welcoming group and the training has been good, so I’m really looking forward to it!”