SSE Airtricity League News Round Up Week Ending 4th February 2018 Busy Week for Dundalk as Season Starts this Weekend

It was a busy week for Dundalk as they were away in Spain as part of their pre-season preparations, they added to their squad and then their new owners met supporters for the first time at the weekend. They announced the loan signing of former Hungarian U-21 international Kriszrian Adorjan from Serie B side Novara until July. The 25-year-old midfielder previously had spells with Liverpool and FC Groningen. They enjoyed a successful week away as they played two games drawing 1-1 with Shanghai Shenxin and then beating FC Seoul 1-0. On Sunday then Peak6 investments who are the club’s new owners held a well-attended supporters’ forum as they outlined their plans for the future and also introduced the club’s new CEO Malachy Brannigan who previously was with Sheffield United. It is clear that the club’s manager Stephen Kenny has their full backing as he plans on making at least two more additions to his squad before the window closes in Ireland at the end of February. So after all that they have the small matter of the President’s Cup to prepare for this weekend which is the curtain raiser for the coming season. The League’s equivalent of the Charity Shield will see them once again do battle with Cork City who have beaten them in this game for the last two season’s running. The game is on this coming Sunday and kick-off in Oriel Park is at 2pm.

The end of the transfer window in England resulted in a couple of moves for players in the SSE Airtricity League. Defender Barry Cotter left Limerick FC to sign for Championship side Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys also signed striker Aaron Drinan for Limerick’s Munster neighbours Waterford. Staying with Limerick and the move of their winger Chiedozie Ogbene to Brentford was also confirmed. So, in total nine players from the league made the move over to clubs in the UK in this off season. One player who went the other way was Dylan Watts who signed for Bohemian FC on loan from Leicester until July. Watts had previously played in the League with UCD. Another player who returned to a familiar stomping ground was Lee Toland. The defender returned to Finn Harps after a spell in local football, a promising youngster he had previously been on the books of Portsmouth and Newcastle. And finally, just to make sure that there is an obligatory Sligo Rovers mention the club had a very successful open training session with over 100 families attending and it is always great to see kids excited to see and meet their Rovers heroes. Speaking of which great to see of the club’s all-time heroes Seamus Coleman back in action for Everton after his long spell out through injury. We all knew when he played for the club that he was a special talent with the only question being how high he would go!