Grace signs for Rovers as countdown to close of transfer window continues

With the clock on countdown for the closure of the League of Ireland transfer window on Monday, Shamrock Rovers announced the signing of defender Lee Grace from Galway United.

The 24-year-old defender will help the club’s conundrum at centre-half position.

Danny Devine has been out since the end of June while last week Rovers lost both Sam Bone and Roberto Lopes to injury – Bone fractured his eye socket while Lopes successfully came through emergency surgery on Friday relating to abdominal pain.

Bone should be available to play soon although he will likely need a face mask to protect the fracture.

Grace has been on the radar of Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley for some time and Rovers had been looking to sign him since the start of the year.

The Tribesmen confirmed this evening that they “were approached with an improved offer from Shamrock Rovers over the weekend, which was reluctantly accepted.”

Speaking to www.shamrockrovers.ie Stephen Bradley said that he had "watched Lee a good few times over the last maybe six to eight months.

“We'd been looking at centre-half in the off season and by the time we got to Lee he was already signed. So it's great that we've managed to get it done now.

“He is the perfect age for us; he's athletic, he's quick. He's a good defender one-v-one and he can play. He has all the qualities that we're looking to bring into the club.

“It's a really good signing and his age makes him a good signing for us going forward as a group, to build what we want to build. We need players around that age that are hungry to win things and he fits the bill.”

Grace, who hails from Carrick-on-Suir, began his league career with Wexford Youths under manager Shane Keegan, helping the club to the First Division title in 2015.

He made 49 appearances for Youths over two seasons before moving to Galway United to link up with Keegan once again.

He hasn't missed a minute of league action this season with Galway, making 26 appearances and scoring one goal (in the recent 4-1 win over Drogheda United).

“He was impressive with Wexford,” said Bradley.

““A few teams were looking at him, he was in the army at the time. I think this year he's taken the step to go and play at a full time level which is why he went to Galway and why he hadn't moved earlier.

“He's been excellent for Galway this year and we're delighted to get him. He'll be a real asset to us."

Rovers announced the signing through this ‘Countdown’ related video:

pic.twitter.com/CKS3CrBvzP

— Shamrock Rovers F.C. (@ShamrockRovers) July 31, 2017