‘Dream come true’ for Rovers Under 19 duo of Morahan & McNicholas
Since Lyttle arrived at the club, John Mahon, Jack Keaney, Ed McGinty and Liam Kerrigan have all been rewarded with professional contracts.
The pair completed their Leaving Certificate this summer and can now commit to training full-time with the Bit O’Red senior team.
Luke said: “The experience of being part of the first team has been first class. I’ve loved it and there’s an obvious step up in class.
“To work with someone like Mitchell Beeney is unbelievable and I know Ed who is going from strength to strength.
“My club in Mayo, Manulla, were very supportive of me and were the big part of my earlier years of playing football. I’m grateful to them today. My family have also always been behind me so I want to thank all of them too.
“It’s going to be a great experience being a permanent part of the first-team squad. I want to show I’m here on merit and best of all I can play Under-19s for the next year so it gives me a chance to keep playing matches. We get top coaching and I feel I’m in a great place to keep getting better. I’m thrilled to sign today.”
Niall said: “It is that cliche of a dream come true to sign as a professional, it is every young lad’s ambition. I’ve been in training with the first-team and it has been terrific. There are plenty of players I know like John Mahon and Jack Keaney and they’ve set the example.
“This is a great opportunity for me. I was involved in pre-season with the first-team and play Under-19 now. That’ll continue hopefully. But I think I can replicate what the lads have done eventually. I’m sure the coaches have a plan around that, the Under-19 management and the Under-17 before that too has been brilliant. It is nice to be a Sligo Rovers first-team player from Leitrim too - Rovers have a following in the area and people in the county would be asking how you are getting on there.
“My former club Carrick Town has a good link with Rovers. I’d like to mention them too for all their help. Hopefully it grows the link between Leitrim and the club. I want to progress and signing professionally where I can put 100% into my football will give me a great chance. I’m going to keep working hard and do my best with this platform I’ve been given.”