Bohs sign Oscar Brennan and Keith Ward

Bohemians have announced the signings of midfielders Oscar Brennan and Keith Ward for the 2017 Airtricity League season.

Brennan made 26 league appearances for Cabinteely in the First Division last season, scoring once, while Ward re-signs for the Gypsies having spent 2012 with the Phibsborough outfit.

Former Bray Wanderers and UCD underage prodigy Brennan, is a versatile player who can operate in both central defence and in midfield, something which Bohs manager Keith Long was particularly keen on expressing when speaking to bohemiansfc.com.

“Oscar can play at centre-half and centre midfield,” Long said.

“We have watched him and we think he has the attributes required to make that step up. He’s young, big, strong and hungry and we believe he has it in him to make a big impact.”

Play-maker Ward is well-travelled despite only turning 26 in October. The Dubliner spent last season on Foyleside, helping Derry City to a third-place finish, playing 19 times in the league and bagging a solitary goal.

Long was highly complementary of the ex-Dundalk, Sligo Rovers and UCD man when talking about his latest signing, while he was also thankful to get cover for his troublesome midfield department.

Long said: “Keith’s a very good player. He’s good at keeping the ball, he has excellent technical ability and he has a great range of passing. He was offered a new deal by Derry but felt that he wanted to come home.

“It’s a big season for him and he knows that but he’s at home now. He had a very good year with Bohs in 2012. He was a bit of a fans’ favourite then and we’ll be looking for him to reproduce that form.”

The pair bring the number of Bohs players for the new season to 18.