Transfer News update

Jody Moylan reports on the transfer news from teams around the League of Ireland.

Sporting Fingal

Sporting have signed Ciaran O'Brien on loan from MLS club Colorado Rapids. Ciaran is the son of former Irish international Fran O'Brien.

He plays in defence or midfield and has had spells with the Seattle Sounders and the Austin Aztex. He made his debut for the Colorado Rapids against the Los Angeles Galaxy in March 2008

St. 
Pats

Pete Mahon has signed 22 year old striker Danny North (subject to international clearance) from Grimsby Town FC. North joins St. Pats after spending the past five months on loan at Scunthorpe United and Conference side Alfreton Town respectively.

He made his first team debut for Grimbsy in 2005 and scored 19 times in 99 appearances. Pete Green of Cod Almighty (Grimbsy FC website) has described North as “a pest of a forward with a useful bit of strength and pace to beat defences, and a decent finisher if he's got through on the keeper.”

North himself is upbeat about the new adventure, “My agent was alerted to St Pat’s from a scout based in Dublin and I came over, trained with the team during the break and thankfully things worked out for me. I had been at Grimsby a long-time and needed a change, so coming over to Dublin to play in the Airtricity League is definitely a change and a big challenge.

“I’ve been impressed with the training ground, the lads have made me feel very welcome and now I need to try and establish myself in the squad and hopefully get a chance or two with the first team. In terms of my strengths as a forward, I suppose I would have a bit of pace and like the ball to feet, also holding it up and bringing others into play would be a part of my game. I know the team are challenging for silverware this season so it would be great to play a part in helping them achieve some success”.

Elsewhere at the club Alex Williams' contract with the club has been cancelled by mutual consent.

Pete Mahon said "I would like to thank Alex for his contribution to St Pat's and to wish him the very best for the future".

The Glaswegian joined Dundalk last summer after a career in Scotland and moved to the Inchicore club in January where he scored on his debut in a pre-season friendly against Wexford Youths

Goalkeeper Dan Connor is to join League two side Hereford United on a two year contract subject to the transfer receiving international clearance.

Connor had previously spent five seasons in English Football with Peterborough United before playing for Waterford United, Drogheda United and Cork City in the League of Ireland.

Pete Mahon who signed the former Ireland Under 21 keeper at the start of this season said “Dan is a model pro, myself and John [Gill] have really enjoyed working with him and we wish him every success with his move to Hereford”.

Bray Wanderers

The Seagulls have made two signings to their first team squad. Derek Prendergast signs from Bangor Celtic while Danny O'Connor comes in from Newry City. Michael O'Connor (19) has been added to the U20 squad after transferring from Crumlin United. Pouyan Farahmand returns to the Carlisle Grounds and joins the A Team panel.

Cork City

Gareth Cambridge rejoins City after his contract at Waterford United was terminated The 22 year-old forward previously played for Cork City under Alan Mathews and Paul Doolin, and spent the first half of this season at the RSC.

“Gareth is a good player and impressed me when he was with the club last season, but the turmoil at the club at that point meant that he moved to Waterford at the beginning of the season. He will add to our options in attack and I’m pleased that he has signed,” City boss Tommy Dunne has said

Waterford United

The Blues have added Paul Murphy, Shane Barrett and Michael Coady join the squad in the wake of George O’Callaghan and Gareth Cambridge departing the RSC . Both players had their contracts terminated in the past week (by mutual consent).

Sligo Rovers

The Bit O’Red have made two signings in Jim Lauchlan and striker Lee McEvilly.

Lauchlan (33) joins from Scottish First Division side Dundee where he was just voted player of the season.

The Glasgow-born defender has previously played with Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Ross County, as well as Queen of the South. He is one of up to 16 players who have left the Scottish club in the of failure to win promotion to the SPL.

McEvilly, a former Northern Ireland international (one appearance against Spain in 2002) has notched up 106 goals in 304 appearances in England.

He joins Rovers from Barrow, recently helping the club win the FA Trophy at Wembley with a goalscoring appearance against Stevenage. At 28-years-old McEvilly has spent time at Rochdale, Accrington Stanley and Cambridge United during his career.

Both players have signed until the end of the season and will hope to make their debuts for the north westerners within the week, registration permitting.

Longford Town

Lee Roche joins the Flancare outfit after joining from Ringsend side Liffey Pearse. Out are Fiachra McArdle, Derek Tyrrell while Ryan McEvoy returns to his parent club Bohemians.

Two more loan signings have yet to be confirmed.