North End bolster squad ahead of run-in

NORTH End United have bolstered their squad for the league run-in by adding four players to their ranks during the January transfer window.

John Godkin has re-signed three players from League of Ireland football, Paul Murphy, Shane Dempsey and Dylan Owens, as well as bringing in Dale Flynn from Campile United.

Former Ipswich Town man Murphy switched to Waterford United after a successful spell with Wexford Youths but he has since opted to return to Junior football and rejoin the Sky Blues.

Dempsey also played top flight football with Wexford Youths and the talented playmaker will bring plenty of guile and craft to the North End midfield.

Promising young netminder Dylan Owens is returning to Hollygrove from Athlone Town, and the 19-year-old will give Godkin another option between the sticks.

The Belvedere Road side have also acquired Dale Flynn from Campile United, a player who has been a pivotal part of Godkin’s Wexford Oscar Traynor squad which has successfully negotiated their way into the last eight of the competition.

Godkin says the versatile Flynn is the ideal replacement for Robin Dempsey, who departed for Waterford United in early December, and is a great addition for the Wexford town outfit.

North End’s hope of FAI Junior Cup and Leinster Junior Cup honours may have been scuppered for this season, but the domestic double will certainly be firmly in their sights.

‘The league is going to be tough. It’s a four-horse race at the moment. Gorey are going well. They’ve had a great start and were very unlucky to go out to Sheriff (in the LFA Junior Cup).

‘Moyne are also going well and Rovers are in the mix and all of us have to play each other still,’ he said.