Defenders sign on at Dundalk

The league champions have completed the signings of Paddy Barrett and Shane Grimes from Galway FC and local rivals Drogheda United respectively. They have also re-signed midfielder Ruairhri Higgins for the 2015 season too, while Mark Rossiter has left the club.

 

Barrett only joined Galway FC in July of this year, moving from Waterford United, but he made his mark, starting in all eleven of Galway’s remaining matches, as they earned promotion to the Premier Division through the play-offs.

 

Barrett, the scorer of Galway’s first goal in their 2-1 win against UCD in the away leg of the play-off, told dundalkfc.com that, “Being with Galway and getting promoted was great last season. The manager and the players have been great to me,” before saying, “but when Dundalk come in for you, it’s a great chance.” 

 

Playing under manager Stephen Kenny was an opportunity “too good to turn down” and the Waterford man said he “can’t wait to get working with him.” The European nights were also a pull as he said “European football is something I had to go for.”

 

Another new defender that will also be lining out for Dundalk next season will be left back Shane Grimes. The local player re-joins the club where he started his career, back in 2005, from rivals Drogheda United. Grimes played thirty-one league games for Drogheda last season, as they finished ninth place in the table.

 



While two defenders have come in, one will not be at Dundalk next season. Mark Rossiter has announced that after two seasons with the club, and over forty appearances for the Lilywhites, he will be leaving. Last season’s vice-captain posted on Twitter:

 

 

And to cap off a busy two days for Dundalk, midfielder Ruairhri Higgins has re-signed for the 2015 campaign. The former Derry City player spoke to dundalkfc.com on last season, saying, “the players, the staff, the supporters and the board have all really pulled together and we ended up one step better winning the league”, but he showed Dundalk’s intentions by finishing, “but we want to keep it now.”

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