Dan Carr and Greg Bolger re-sign with Rovers as Hoops confirm squad update

The ticker tape celebrating the FAI Cup winners and cementing Dundalk's double was just finished drifting to the turf in the Aviva Stadium when Shamrock Rovers announced the re-signing of a number of keys players for next season. 

Rovers confirmed ten players for their 2019 first team squad, along with the departure of four players from the club.

The Hoops will be hoping that their squad adjustments for next season can finally see them mount a title challenge against Dundalk and certainly Sunday's announcement is movement in the right direction for the Hoops. 

Rovers supporters will be keen for their team to add an out-and-out goalscorer to Stephen Bradley's squad but the re-signing of Dan Carr - who scored ten league goals this season - is an important re-acquisition, as is Greg Bolger who was pivotal to Rovers' strong finish to the season.

The club noted the re-signing of seven players (Dan Carr, Greg Bolger, Joey O'Brien, Joel Coustrain, Sam Bone, Dean Dillon and Sean Boyd). 

The Hoops also confirmed that new contracts were agreed with Sean Kavanagh, Aaron Bolger and Brandon Kavanagh over the course of the 2018 season. Both Aaron Bolger and Brandon Kavanagh contracts are believed to take the teenagers up till the end of 2020.

Meanwhile Rovers noted that Luke Byrne, David McAllister, Gary Shaw and Ally Gilchrist have all departed the club. “We wish all four players well and thank them for their contribution to Shamrock Rovers in their time at the club.” 

Hoops Head Coach speaking about Dan Carr said “we're delighted to have Dan back. He had a lot of interest from the league and other offers on the table, so were delighted when he saw his future here and committed to us. 

“He's quick, he's strong and he's shown this year that he can score goals. He had a good year but I believe he can get better. He's scored some good goals, a decent amount but he can score a lot more goals than he did.”

Speaking to shamrockrovers.ie, Carr noted that after his first season in the League of Ireland that next year he will “know the league a bit better, and my experience here and from other leagues will help me.

"I want to score as many goals as I can. I have my own individual targets so hopefully I can match them next year. Yes, expect more back flips!”

Greg Bolger is part of a very strong Shamrock Rovers midfield and the former Cork City and St. Patrick's Athletic player said he was “delighted” to return with the Hoops again for 2019.

“Me, Ronan Finn and Dylan Watts have clicked well and there's a good balance between the three of us, even though we're three different players. When we played together in midfield we took nearly full points from the last series of games bar the last one of the season. 

“On a personal level, I want to win something next year and I'm sure the group is the exact same. Whether it be the league or the cup. This team is too good not to win something, it deserves to be up there challenging or there or thereabouts.” 

Stephen Bradley noted that Bolger has been “a big player for us this season, part of the reason we've been so strong defensively and kept so many clean sheets.

"He's a leader, you see that by how he plays and how he organises. When he's at it, there's no one better in his position in the league.” 

More of this in 2019 pic.twitter.com/DWs4VlVxAe

— Shamrock Rovers F.C. (@ShamrockRovers) November 4, 2018