Clarke and Carpenter offered ticket to ride with Rovers

Shamrock Rovers have confirmed the addition of two more signings to their first team squad with Dean Carpenter and Darren Clarke joining from Leinster Senior League side Collinstown.

The duo have been training with Rovers since July and both played in Rovers’ recent friendlies against Celtic and Burnley.

Carpenter is a left-sided player who can play full back or centre-half, while Clarke is a winger like his brother Trevor, who has been impressive for the Hoops over the last two seasons.

“He's fitted into the group really well,” said Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley about Carpenter, who was the club captain with Collinstown.

“He's a good defender, understands the game and I think he'll do well for us.”

He played against Shamrock Rovers when Collinstown knocked the Hoops out of last season’s Leinster Senior Cup and was part of the Collinstown team who lifted the Leinster Junior Cup on two occasions.

“I think he's had a few offers over the last few years from the League of Ireland but he was setting up his own gym at the time and obviously turned it down.

“I think he feels the time is right now to give it a go. He can play left sided centre-back, he can play left- back and he can play wing back as well so he gives us options."

The Hoops complete transfer window signings with Dean Carpenter & Darren Clarke confirmed in addition to Lee Grace https://t.co/psM9ZRgzRppic.twitter.com/qfmQJGozPA

— Shamrock Rovers F.C. (@ShamrockRovers) August 1, 2017

Bradley has brought in Darren Clarke to Rovers but the player is likely to go on loan.

Clarke played with the Shelbourne U19 team and has some League of Ireland experience having signed for Cabinteely in the 2015 First Division, making five league appearances.

He added a further two more league appearances last year before joining Collinstown.

"Darren is another one we see potential in but different to Dean in that he's not ready to play for us right now. He can play off both feet, he's very quick and direct.

“We're speaking to one or two clubs and hopefully a loan move can happen but if not, either way he'll be here training and working away behind the scenes. I see a little bit of Trevor in him when he first came in, in terms of how direct and quick he is.

“Watching Darren throughout the year with Collinstown, he was a player that interested me every time I watched him, and I just thought I'd like to see him in our environment with our players, give him time to settle in and let's see where it goes."

The signing of the pair from the Leinster Senior League club comes in the same week that Rovers added defender Lee Grace from Galway United.