Monaghan add Dundalk duo
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Monaghan United have completed the signings of Aidan Lynch and Shane Grimes from last year's First Division champions Dundalk.
Lynch, a 31-year-old centre-half, captained the Lilywhites to promotion last season, although he only appeared 16 times on the way to that success as he suffered with injuries throughout. Grimes too played a limited role due to David Crawley's form in the left-back position as he appeared in just 11 games.
Lynch had been training with Monaghan in recent weeks after being released by Dundalk in December. However, Grimes' move to Kingpsan Century Park will come as a surprise as the 21-year-old signed a new 18-month contract with the Lilywhites last July and had been part of Sean Connor's pre-season programme up to now.
"I am delighted to have signed two more quality players for the upcoming season," Monaghan manager Mick Cooke said. "In Aidan Lynch and Shane Grimes we have added great depth to the squad.
"Monaghan United have been progressively improving over the last few years and I feel that Lynch, Grimes and my other signings will help take this a step further in 2009."
Lynch had been club captain at Dundalk since December 2005 when John Gill signed him from Dublin City, where he won promotion a month earlier, scoring in the Vikings' playoff victory over Shamrock Rovers. His other previous clubs are Drogheda United (2002-04) and UCD, where he spent seven successive seasons in the Premier Division between 1995 and 2002.
For Grimes, on the other hand, Monaghan is only his second League of Ireland club. The youngster had been involved in the Dundalk first-team since making his breakthrough at Oriel Park under Jim Gannon in April 2005.
