Cork City FC pair Alan O’Connor and Timmy Kiely have both signed new one-year contracts with the club.

O’Connor, who joined the club from Rockmount last season, was a regular member of the squad in the latter part of the season, playing on the right wing and up front.

He told the club's website, CorkCity.ie, that he was very pleased to have put pen to paper on a new deal.

“I’m very happy to have signed a new contract with Cork City. Having signed this time last year, I fought my way into contention for the first team during the season and hopefully I can kick on from there in 2009.”

Young forward Timmy Kiely, who signed after spells at Glasgow Celtic and Kilkenny City, was a regular at youth and reserve levels for the club last season, before injuries gave him a chance with the first team. He hit the headlines when his header away to Derry City sealed Cork's place in the Setanta Sports Cup Final.

The young Tipperaryman said he was looking forward to 2009: “I’m absolutely delighted to have signed a new contract and to be staying with Cork City. This will give me a great chance to work under an excellent coach in Paul Doolin, and I am looking forward to what I hope will be a successful season.”

Commenting on the two players signing new deals, Cork City manager Paul Doolin said: “Both Alan and Timmy made the breakthrough into the first team last season. They’ve been back in pre-season training with us all week and they have both been working well. They are young lads, but they have ability and they are both very keen, so I am looking forward to working with them."

He continued: "It is a good sign for the club that there are young, talented players making the breakthrough, and with the experienced players we have here, they can learn a lot.”