Lilywhites keep hold of Gannon for 2017

Despite a few days of turbulent speculation surrounding his future, Sean Gannon has committed his future to Dundalk.

The full-back has signed what is believed to be a one-year deal which will see the Dubliner play a fourth consecutive season at the champions.

Gannon was believed to be a target for cross-water sides, including Ipswich Town, while his former club Shamrock Rovers were also said to be interested in adding the Ringsend native to their growing squad, which includes ex-Lilywhite favourite Ronan Finn.

Having been Stephen Kenny’s first choice since signing, establishing himself as the Airtricity League’s most prominent right-back, Gannon has been named in the PFAI Team of Year for the past three seasons.

The 25-year-old has won every major domestic honour with the Lilywhites since joining from St. Patrick’s Athletic in 2014, winning three league titles, the FAI Cup, the EA Sports Cup and the President’s Cup.

Gannon also played every minute of the Lilywhites’ Europa League group stage campaign, most impressively curtailing the offensive effects of Maccabi Tel-Aviv dangerman and Israeli international Tal Ben-Chaim during Dundalk’s heroic 1-0 win in September.

The defender’s improvement since joining Dundalk is there for all to see, especially following a tough spell at the beginning of his career with the Lilywhites, and speaking to dundalkfc.com he revealed his satisfaction ahead of playing with the club for a fourth season in 2017.

Gannon said: “I am absolutely delighted to have re-signed for the club. I am coming back to an unbelievable squad which is what I want and where I want to be.

“We have a new challenge now and that is to go one better than we did this year. The European run in the Europa League Group Stages was amazing and I am happy to be back and play with these players again.

“For myself personally I am very hungry. In my three years at the club I have won three league titles, the FAI Cup, the EA Sports Cup, the President’s Cup, Leinster Senior Cup and competed in Europe every year. There’s no way I wanted to go anywhere else.

“I am very hungry to get back to those great nights again. We have had a few of them in the last few years and the challenge is there for the four leagues in a row. It’s a massive motivation for us.

“We are the holders of the league title and we don’t want to give it up.”

Gannon becomes eleventh confirmed member of Kenny’s squad for the new season.