THE RETURN OF THE MAC
Patrick puts pen to paper at Oriel Park and is already plotting out another big European adventure
PRODIGAL Patrick Mceleney is eyeing another “crazy” European adventure with Dundalk.
The 25-year-old rejoined the club yesterday after the Lilywhites beat Shamrock Rovers in the battle to bring him home from Oldham Athletic.
The talented playmaker only moved to the League One club in December but struggled to make an impact due to injury. He made just nine appearances for the Latics.
The timing of his return to Oriel Park couldn’t have been better as Dundalk regained top spot in the Premier Division when they beat fierce rivals Cork City last Friday.
After facing
Inchicore on Stephen Kenny’s (inset) men will head to Estonia next week for the first leg of their Europa League tie with Levadia Tallinn.
“I only got to see parts of the match on Friday but it was a great win,” said Mceleney of the Cork game, after penning a three and a half year deal.
“I’m looking forward to being back part of it and
Europe is around the corner, which is exciting.”
Dundalk famously reached the group stages of the Europa League two yeas ago and became the first Irish club to win points at that level.
Mceleney was at the heart of that superb effort and he said: “It’s crazy for an Irish club to be thinking they can go far in Europe but we’ve done it before and we want to do it again.
“It’s a good place to be and hopefully I can help bring the league title back to Dundalk and win everything.“Mceleney scored 15 goals in 78 games for Dundalk after joining from Derry City ahead of the 2016 season. After winning one title with the club, he wants more.
“I’m buzzing to finally get the deal done,” said Mceleney. “It was a long process but it’s great to be back at the club, I enjoyed my first spell here.
“I can’t wait just to get back playing for the side again. I’ve been keeping an eye on things since I left and they’re going well here.
“Hopefully I can add to that.” Dundalk also added Georgie Kelly to their ranks yesterday, the 21-year-old signing a two and a half year deal.
The prolific striker has left UCD after scoring 14 goals this season, and having hit the net 37 times in 67 games for the Students.
“This will be my first real go at Premier Division football,” said Kelly, who played three times for Derry.
“This will be a new experience for me.
“It was too good an opportunity to turn down. I’ve come here to try and win trophies. That has to be the ambition. It is exciting and being around a winning team is where I want to be.”