Hoops capture experienced quartet

New Shamrock Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley has confirmed the capture of an experienced quartet of players with the announcement of Roberto Lopes, Paul Corry, Ryan Connolly and Dan Devine as part of his 2017 squad.

Those new signings, along with Bradley and new Rovers Sporting Director Stephen McPhail, will be present at a press event at Tallaght Stadium on Friday morning. Corry is 25 years old and  the other trio a year younger, and they will provide a balance for the club who are championing youth at present.

Bradley had previously noted that “identifying and recruiting top senior players with the right attitude and character to help bring on and educate our exciting crop of youngsters is now of paramount importance.”

Connolly was club captain with Galway United last year while Lopes was Bohemians' vice-captain. Connolly, Corry and Devine all have experience playing professionally in the UK and join Rovers as the club switches to 52-week contracts for their players.

Lopes

Bohs supporters won’t be happy to learn that fan favourite Lopes has joined their bitter Dublin city rivals. Lopez, the Bohemians 2015 Player of the Year, got the winner in last month’s Dublin derby between the Gypsies and the Hoops at Dalymount Park.

That was the fourth goal for the Crumlin native, whose father hails from Cape Verde, for the 2016 season. Lopes also helped Bohs to their only trophy success in the last six seasons by scoring twice in this year’s 4-0 Leinster Senior Cup Final win over  Wexford Youths. His versatility means he can be deployed at centre-half or in midfield.

Corry

Like Lopes, Paul Corry played his schoolboy football with Belvedere. In 2009, he had the chance of signing for Burnley, but turned them down to join UCD on a scholarship. As a midfielder he was part of the Students squad that won the First Division title that year, a squad which included Rovers defender Dave O’Connor and Dundalk title winners Ronan Finn, Dave McMillan and Andy Boyle (who was part of the Ireland squad in Austria last week). 

Corry makes a return to the League of Ireland with Rovers after a four year spell playing in the UK. Sheffield Wednesday signed him from Belfield in August 2012 on a three-year deal during which time he also had brief loan spells with both Tranmere Rovers in 2013 and Carlisle United in 2015. He subsequently went to Northampton Town to play in League Two last year but injury curtailed most of his football in the 2015/16 season.

Connolly

The Hoops have also captured Galway United captain Ryan Connolly. Connolly scored twice at Tallaght Stadium in September when United lost 4-2 to Rovers – they were two of the five goals he scored in the 2016 league campaign from 29 starts.

Rovers made the move for the Mayo born midfielder who spent the last three seasons with the Tribesmen making 96 appearances and scoring 12 goals. He was also 2014 Galway United player of the year. 

He spent time previously with Sligo Rovers and Longford Town (on loan from Sligo). He was part of the Bit O’Red squad that won the 2012 League of Ireland title. Prior to that the 24-year-old was with Championship side Derby County where he was a teammate of Jeff Hendrick. He had a four month loan spell with Ayr United playing mostly as a substitute in the Scottish First Division.

Devine

Defender Dan Devine will look to bolster the Rovers defence as he joins the Hoops from Firhouse Clover. The Dublin-born player captained Aston Villa to the FA Youth Cup final in 2010 but injuries curtailed his progress and he return to Ireland to play amateur football with Cherry Orchard.

They join Brandon Miele, Gary Shaw, Sean Boyd, Trevor Clarke, Aaron Dobbs, Shane Hanney and James Doona who have been signed from last year's squad.

The Hoops have also announced that former midfielder Steven Rice has been appointed coach of their under-17 side.