Blaney swaps Rovers for Rovers as Buckley adds to squad for 2021
SLIGO Rovers have completed the signing of former Donacaster Rovers defender Shane Blaney for the 2021 season.
The Letterkenny man joins the Bit O’ Red after two and a half years with Doncaster where he captained their Under-23 side and played in the EFL Trophy.
Blaney, a 6 ft 2 left-footed centre-half, began his career with Finn Harps, making his debut at 17 before joining Doncaster at the start of 2018 just prior to his 19th birthday.
He is a former Irish schoolboy captain and took the same role at Doncaster Under-23s.
Blaney had two loan spells but left Doncaster last summer.
He will turn 22 in January as he starts pre-season under Liam Buckley, looking to kickstart his career at home again.
Liam Buckley said: “Shane is a really good addition to us. He comes strongly recommended and is looking to make an impression here.
“The conversations we’ve had have been good. Shane is ambitious and he’s coming here to prove what he can do and that can only be done by earning a place in the team and playing matches.
“Shane is a very good addition to our group of defenders. He is a centre-half who can play in a back three or a back four and is good on the ball with a good strike of it too.
“He has lots of attributes to be a good defender for us and he’s really eager to get going as we all are now. We’re waiting on the schedule to finalise all of the details of pre-season.
“We are speaking with more players. There’s a good core group assembled and I hope we’ll be adding to that soon.”
Under contract at Sligo Rovers for 2021 so far: Ed McGinty, Luke McNicholas, Lewis Banks, Robbie McCourt, Garry Buckley, John Mahon, Shane Blaney, David Cawley, Greg Bolger, Niall Morahan, Ryan De Vries, Romeo Parkes, Mark Byrne.
It’s understood Luke McNicholas may be sent out on loan and if so a new goalkeeper would have to be signed.