Ciaran Kelly joins Bohemians from Dublin rivals St Patrick's Athletic

Bohemians have confirmed the acquisition of defender Ciarán Kelly from Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic.

The central defender joins Keith Long’s charges having departed the Athletic at the end of the 2019 campaign.

Prior to making his Richmond Park return in 2019, Kelly played for First Division Drogheda in 2018 – where he was a key part of the club’s unsuccessful promotion hunt.

He originally joined the Saints when he was 17 and starred for the St Pat’s under-17 and under-19 teams.

On his top-flight return, he made 25 appearances for the Richmond Park outfit as the Saints were unable to secure Europa League football.   

“We welcome Ciarán to the club,” Keith Long told his club’s media team. “I believe he’s going to be a great addition to our squad.

“He’s young, he’s hungry and we are looking forward to working with him.”

News of the former Drogheda defender’s arrival to Dalymount follows confirmation that fellow defender Michael Barker has re-signed with the club for 2020.

He also becomes the club’s 25^th recruit for the 2020 campaign, and in turn becomes club’s seventh new recruit for the year.