Defender Lee Desmond signs new two-year Saints deal

St Patrick’s Athletic defender Lee Desmond has signed a new two year contract with the Inchicore club.

The 23-year-old has committed to the Saints until the end of the 2020 season having signed initially ahead of the 2015 season from cross city rivals Shelbourne.

The defender, who has also played extensively in midfield in his time at the Athletic, previously spent time with English Premier League side Newcastle United.

The Dubliner had been linked with a switch to fellow Premier Division side Shamrock Rovers over the winter but will instead continue to ply his trade at Richmond Park.

"I am happy at the club and have really enjoyed my time here," Desmond told the club’s website.

We have had plenty of ups and downs like everyone else but overall I have enjoyed my time and I am happy to commit to the future here at Pat's.”

"This year especially and last year as well, I have been playing every week and enjoying my football. I get on very well with everyone at the club and we are a really tight knit group, and that is what I want to be a part of.

"The fans, the players, all the staff, we all get on well and I think the club is definitely going in the right direction and minimum next season, hopefully we can get into Europe."

Director of football Ger O’Brien highlighted this announcement as one which shows the club making progress ahead of the 2019 season.

He said: "Myself and Garrett [Kelleher] sat down with Lee and explained what way the club will move forward.



“Lee has turned down bigger and more lucrative offers from other clubs because of what he wants to achieve here at St Pat's.

“Lee is four years here with us and these two years will bring him up to a total of six which is fantastic for us,” he said.

"He has progressed really well since he has come in and is only going to get better so we are delighted from a club point of view that we can tie Lee down."

"There is hopefully more business that the club can get done between now and the end of the season as well, and the club can then sit down and hatch out a plan on how we can best move forward."

Desmond could face his former club when the Saints take on Shelbourne in the Leinster Senior Cup Final on Friday night in Tolka Park (kick-off 7:45pm).

It will be the first game for the club since long-term manager Liam Buckley departed the club earlier this week.