UCD sign midfielder Liam Kerrigan following early release from Sligo Rovers

UCD have raided Sligo Rovers for the second time this summer with the signing of Liam Kerrigan ahead of the relegation run-in.

The Students unveiled Jack Keaney on a scholarship at the beginning of the month and have returned to source once more tempt former FAI schoolboy of the year nominee Kerrigan.

The Tubercurry native signed on to attend UCD on a scholarship for the coming school year but Sligo weren’t obliged to release him until the end of the month.

Ireland under-21 call-up Keaney had a clause to end his deal immediately if he secured a scholarship but the Students were reliant on Sligo releasing Kerrigan early.

The 19-year-old was an unused substitute for the Bit o’ Red’s 3-0 defeat at Derry City on Friday but has joined up with his new teammates and will be available for Friday’s home game with Waterford.

Kerrigan came through the underage ranks with Sligo and graduated to the senior side in 2018, making 24 appearances in total, ten of them starts.

“Liam’s in now and he’s there and hopefully the paperwork will go through tomorrow,” manager Collie O’Neill told extratime.ie.

“We always said he was a Sligo player and we were looking for a favour to release him college-wise, and that’s what they’ve done.

“The paperwork will go through tomorrow so he’ll come into the squad for Friday. He’ll be in our numbers for training tomorrow, and he’s a good extra body to have in.”

Kerrigan’s arrival is welcome respite for O’Neill after midfielder Dara Keane, who made his full debut in the 7-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers, sustained a concussion that will keep him out for two weeks.



Defender Liam Scales isn’t training with the squad as he waits for his transfer to Bristol Rovers to come through, and O’Neill doesn’t expect any more incomings before the July 31st deadline.

“Unless something else pops up… how long is left in the transfer window? Unless something mad pops in in the next eight days, it’ll be a case of hoping Conor Kearns doesn’t go.

“There has been some interest in him, particularly after the game against Bohs where he did really, really well, both during the game and after the game.

“It’d be nice to get a body or two in but I just can’t see it happening.”