Building their squads: How Rovers’ rivals are shaping up
Alan Finn looks at the latest signings by the clubs that Sligo Rovers will be facing in the 2021 League of Ireland Premier Division campaign
BOHEMIANS
OVERVIEW: Last year’s Premier Division runners-up have had a job on their hands replacing an attacking trio of Kris Twardek, Danny Grant and Andre Wright. If they can get the right striker to tie it all together, or get the best out of Georgie Kelly, their signings to date represent good value. SIGNED: Tyreke Wilson, Rory Feely, Bastien Hery, Ali Coote, Stephen Mallon, Thomas Oluwa, Georgie Kelly. MOVED ON: Michael Barker, Paddy Kirk, Evan Ferguson, JJ Lunney, Kris Twardek, Danny Mandriou, Danny Grant, Dan Casey, Dinny Corcoran, Andre Wright.
DERRY CITY
OVERVIEW: The Candystripes have been slow out of the traps, losing some key players and missing out on some potentially vital signings.
But Derry’s few acquisitions so far are quality additions and their fans will be hoping there is more yet to follow, particularly in midfield with captain Conor McCormack expected to leave soon.
SIGNED: Daniel Lafferty, David Parkhouse.
MOVED ON: Peter Cherrie, Ally Gilchrist, Conor Clifford, Gerardo Bruna, Ibrahim Meite, Walter Figueira.
DROGHEDA UNITED
OVERVIEW: By all accounts, the 2020 First Division champions have conducted some decent transfer business so far. The club has retained the best of their squad from last season and have added an abundance of Premier Division experience to their ranks, most notably Dane Massey, winner of five Premier Division titles with Dundalk, and ex-Sligo Rovers striker Dinny Corcoran.
SIGNED: Colin McCabe, Dane Massey, Daniel O’Reilly, Gary Deegan, Darragh Markey, Dinny Corcoran. MOVED ON: Stephen Meaney, Richie O’Farrell, Adam Wixted.
DUNDALK
OVERVIEW: The Lilywhites are very much the team to watch in 2021 – but for different reasons. The club’s hierarchy appears to have adopted a preference for signing international players with signings coming from Albania, Faroe Islands and Latvia so far. A bold move to replace well-established talents which will either end in triumph or tears.
SIGNED: Alessio Abibi, Sonni Nattestad, Raivis Jurkovskis, Ole Erik Midstkogen.
MOVED ON: Gary Rogers (retired), Aaron McCarey, Jimmy Corcoran, Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Dane Massey, Jordan Flores, Nathan Oduwa, John Mountney, Georgie Kelly.
FINN HARPS
OVERVIEW: Ollie Horgan’s side have been relatively quiet in terms of new signings to date. Raffaele Cretaro’s retirement is their most notably loss from 2020, but they have turned to another ex-Sligo Rovers man in Will Seymore to replace key midfielder Gareth Harkin. Sourcing a striker will be their biggest challenge, however, in the coming weeks. SIGNED: Ryan Rainey, Conor Barry, Will Seymore.
MOVED ON: Sam Todd, Tom McDermott, Gareth Harkin, Raffaele Cretaro (retired).
LONGFORD TOWN
OVERVIEW: The promotion-relegation play-off winners have elected to keep their team together for a new challenge, with very little in terms of players coming or going so far. Play-offs aside, their First Division form left plenty to be desired and it is hard to see them being competitive without further recruitment. SIGNED: Paddy Kirk, Aaron Dobbs. MOVED ON: Dylan Hand, Adam Evans.
SHAMROCK ROVERS
OVERVIEW: The champions wasted no time in raiding their nearest rivals for some new faces and while they have gone very quiet in recent weeks, it is unlikely they are finished just yet. All eyes will be on ex-Bohs man
Danny Mandriou who will surely be under no illusions that he is very much the man expected to step into the shoes of Jack Byrne.
SIGNED: Sean Gannon, Sean Hoare, Chris McCann, Danny Mandriou. MOVED ON: Kian Clarke, Rhys Marshall, Sean Callan, Daniel Lafferty, Greg Bolger, Jack Byrne.
ST PATRICK’S ATH
OVERVIEW: After a slow start to business, St Pat’s – the former club of current Rovers boss Liam Buckley – have finally started assembling a squad. Goals were very much a problem for the underperforming Saints last year but the additions of John Mountney, Ronan Coughlan and Matty Smith have the potential of solving that if they gel as a unit, with more players likely to arrive.
SIGNED: Sam Bone, John Mountney, Ronan Coughlan, Matty Smith. MOVED ON: Brendan Clarke, Conor Kearns, Rory Feely, Paul Cleary, James Doona, Jordan Gibson, Darragh Markey.
WATERFORD FC
OVERVIEW: There was a feeling that the Blues’ future prospects hinged a lot on Europe, and their lack of business to date is bound to be a concern for fans with just a small handful of players re-signed to date, while a number of their better players from the 2020 campaign have already moved on to pastures new.
SIGNED: Matthew Connor. MOVED ON: Sam Bone, Tyreke Wilson, Robbie McCourt, Ali Coote, Jack Larkin, Kurtis Byrne, Michael O’Connor.
EX-ROVERS ON THE MOVE IN THE LEAGUE OF IRELAND FIRST DIVISION: Michael Schlingermann, Adam Wixted (Athlone Town); Steven Beattie (Cork City); Gary Boylan, Ruairi Keating (Galway United); Brendan Clarke (Shelbourne).