New Cork City boss Paul Doolin has signed 2 more players this week with Fahrudin Kuduzovic and Billy Dennehy both signing.
Fahrudin Kuduzovic signs from Doolin's former club Drogheda United and has a proven goal scoring record in the league with Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United. Kuduzovic becomes the 2nd signing from Drogheda United after Dan Connor joined the Rebel army this week.
Billy Dennehy is the 2nd signing and signs from Derry City. The Tralee-born player has signed a 2-year deal.
Cork City have filled the void left by Michael Devine's departure to Waterford United. Drogheda United no.1 Dan Connor has joined up with his former boss Paul Doolin as City look to challenge for honours this season.
Cork City have also announced that Colin O'Brien has retired from playing after 13 years with the Rebel Army.
Dan Connor will boost the city backline and Paul Doolin is rumoured to have more players on the verge of signing.
First Division side Athlone Town are in trouble in relation to their finances. The club from Athlone held a meeting on December 15th to discuss the terms of the difficulty and the supporters suggested that difficult times lie ahead for the team.
Athlone Town are not alone as many clubs across the country are in difficulty themselves. The possiblity of Athlone selling there players is looking more likely.
Galway United's Jay O'Shea is expected to leave the club in the comming weeks with English championship side Derby County among the clubs interested in the midfielder.
O'Shea has caught the eye of numerous clubs throughout 2008 and is expected to leave Galway. Galway will want to sell as they need the money from the sale.
Meanwhle at Galway's manager helm Ian Forster has taken control followeing Jeff Kenna's move to St Patrick's. Forster has signed a 2-year deal.
Shamrock Rovers have punced on Drogheda United's difficult situation by signing two key players that guided the Drogs to League title sucess in 2007.
Shane Robinson, who had been on trial with English League 2 side Brentford has signed for Rovers. Robinson left Rovers in 2003 to join Drogheda.
Former Cork City and Shelbourne mdifielder Ollie Cahill has also signed for the club from Drogheda as Shamrock Rovers boost their midfield options for 2009.
Robinson and Cahill were also joined by Stephan Bradley who played for Drogheda last year. Bradley arrives from Falkirk.
Drogheda United have lost two key defenders as the 2009 season closes in fast.
Irishman Joe Kendrick has left the club just a year after joining from Newcastle Blue Star. Kendrick has left Ireland completly to join up with Azerbaijan side Neftchi Baku.
Another defender John Tambouras has also left the Drogs to join Kendrick at Neftchi Baku. The Australian was a key man behind Drogheda's first ever League title sucess in 2007 and played in the UEFA Cup qualifiers the same year.
Drogheda United are also set to lose more players but the good news is that they have signed an agreement with the players of the wages that surrounded their examinership pieriod.
St Patrick's have found a replacement for their vacant managerial role with former Galway United boss Jeff Kenna taking the reins from O'Donnell who resigned earlier in the month.
St Patrick's are expected to mount a challenge for the title this comming season and Jeff Kenna beleives he can do it.
Former Drogheda United manager Paul Doolin has been appointed as manager of Cork City. Doolin who guided Drogheda to 2 Setenta Cup successes along with the 2007 League of Ireland title will be expected to get Cork into Europe for next year.
Doolin has been lifted by the news that Colin Healy has signed a new 2-year deal that keeps him at the club until 2011. Doolin will have to buy new players with the transfer window closing on February 2nd.
Former Bohemians boos Sean Connor has not stopped signing players as newly-promoted Dundalk look to survive the coming season.
Connor has raided former Bohemians players and this week have signed 3 new players. Harpel Singh and Darren Mansaram have both signed for the club with Connor having managed the pair at Bohemians and Sligo Rovers. The other arrival is Shaun Kelly who joins from SPL side Hearts despite other offers.
Connor also said that 3 more players will be signed next week plus another 5 more trialists. Dwight Barnett, who has MLS experience with Chicago Fire and has played for Montreal Impact is one of the trialists. Kyle Moran is another trialist while Etienne Barbara will arrive from SV Veri of Germany for a trial.
Sean Connor has also pointed out he wants another goalkeeper to challenge current No.1 Chris Bennion. Darren Quigley of Derry City has been mentioned but won't be joining the Lillywhites. As one Louth club enjoys life another is suffering.
St Patrick's are looking for a new manager after John McDonnell quit earlier this week. St Patrick's have gone part-time due to fianancial probloms that are effedting the league clubs at this moment in time and it is said that McDonnell has quit due to this change from full-time.
St Patrick's have made good progress in the last few years under McDonnell who lased four seasons at Richmond park and masterminded a 0-0 draw with Hertha Berlin of Germany back in September last year.
Cork City have lost winger Liam Kearney on a free transfer. The Conna-born winger has left Cork City for a 2nd time to join Derry City on a free.
Kearney who also left the club in 2006 to join Shelbourne but he returned to Cork a year later. But Liam proberly is gone for good. It is roumoured however that Eredivisie side Heerenveen were interested in the winger as were Djurgarden in Sweden. But Kearney has choosen to remain in the League of Ireland for 2009 at least.
Liam Kearney had been out of contract at Cork and opted to leave for a better salary. It will be interesting to see how he will be treated when Derry visit Turner's cross this coming season.
