Former Bray and Galway winger Jay O'Shea becomes Robbie Fowler's second Irish signing at Brisbane Roar

A-League side Brisbane Roar have made former Bray Wanderers and Galway United winger Jay O’Shea their second Irish signing of the summer.

New Brisbane manager Robbie Fowler unveiled ex-Cork City goalscorer Roy O’Donovan as his first signing and has swiftly added a second in O’Shea following his departure from Bury.

30-year-old O’Shea was named in the League Two team of the season as his 15 goals helped the Gigg Lane club to promotion to England’s third tier.

The promotion came amid a crisis at the Lancashire club as players went unpaid for long periods and the Shakers could yet enter administration due to financial problems.

“It was exciting when I got the call from Robbie Fowler, being a Premier League legend,” O’Shea told the Roar’s website.

“I then spoke to a few of the Irish players who have played in the league, including Roy O’Donovan and they couldn’t rate it highly enough and said I would be crazy to not take the opportunity.”

“It made the decision really easy - a lot of people I have spoken to really recommend the A-League. It’s a great competition and fantastic opportunity for myself.”

Dubliner O’Shea came through the ranks with schoolboy nursery St Joseph’s Boys and, via a stint with Home Farm in the Leinster Senior League, joined Bray in 2006.

He made his debut at the age of 18 and, following two years at the Carlisle Grounds, move across the country to join Galway United ahead of the 2008 season.

O’Shea earned a move to Premier League-bound Birmingham City in the summer of 2009 and made his debut on the opening day of the season against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

He had loan spells with Middlesbrough, Stevenage and Port Vale before joining MK Dons in 2011 where he spent two years, signing for Chesterfield following a loan spell.

He helped Paul Cook’s side to promotion from League Two as champions in 2014, and a loan spell with Sheffield United resulted in promotion to the Championship in 2017.

He signed for Bury ahead of the 2017-18 season and the club were relegated the same season, but 15 goals in 30 appearances saw Bury promoted once more at the first attempt.