Fenlon confident goals won't be an issue for Hoops

Shamrock Rovers boss Pat Fenlon says that although his recent quest to find prolific goal scorers has been made rather difficult by a combination of financial constraints and a narrow range of available options in the close season transfer market, he believes the Hoops' new-look strike force should have no problem finding the net on a regular basis in 2015.

Having taken over a Rovers side last August whose goalscoring record fell someway short of that needed to place them in the shake up for silverware, Fenlon has spent a considerable amount of time conducting a search for some much needed firepower over the winter period which he admits has been somewhat frustrating.

''To be honest, there hasn't been too many players available for the type of striker we want,'' he told ExtraTime.ie.

''A lot of the good strikers in the league have left with the likes of young Hoban at Dundalk and Gaffney at Limerick going across the water and then if you’re looking to take players from outside of the league, that's particularly difficult with strikers considering they tend to demand more money because they're goalscorers.

''Then on top of that you've to take into account the cost of accommodation and things like that which is difficult for us because we just don't have the money anymore.''

Nonetheless, with former Hibs starlet Gareth McCaffrey joining Danny North (Sligo Rovers) and Michael Drennan (Aston Villa) as the third frontman to commit himself to the Tallaght based club ahead of their forthcoming league campaign earlier today, Fenlon is confident that Rovers will not be lacking a killer instinct in front of goal.

''We had three or four strikers here last year who are all good players but none of them scored a lot of goals for us so we were reluctant to throw money the amount of money we did at it again but I think the three we have at the club are all very good signings.

''Danny has a proven record in the league, Michael Drennan has a proven record of scoring goals at underage international level and did really well at Aston Villa and then we have young Gareth coming in as well.

''The three of them should be great additions to the club.''

Along with the arrival of Drennan and ex-Newcastle United reserves midfielder Brandon Miele, the signing of McCaffrey, which was announced alongside the completion of deals that will see ex-St. Johnstone left-back Tim Clancy and 2011/2012 Plymouth Argyle Player of the Year Maxime Blanchard ply their trade in Dublin 24, is indicative of the former Bohs and Shelbourne supremo's efforts to sprinkle his squad with a degree of youthful hunger and exuberance which he feels is necessary having witnessed a number of more experienced campaigners fail to produce the goods in the green and white jersey.

''We've tried to mix it up a bit in terms of the balance between youth and experience because if you look at Rovers the last few years, they've had a lot of experienced players that haven't really produced the goods and that's just not good enough for the club.

''We'll be looking to develop those exciting younger players we've brought in and to do that I think you need to have to have some good experienced players on the pitch.

''It'll take a bit of time but we've made sure that the more experienced players we've brought in are all good pros so hopefully they can bring the younger lads on.''