Derry City return for Danny Lafferty as he leaves Shamrock Rovers

Danny Lafferty is returning to Derry City for his second spell with the Candystripes.

“Danny is precisely the type of player we want here” said the Declan Devine on his new signing. “He knows what the club means to the people of Derry and he brings a wealth of quality and experience.

“He is the right fit for the system we’re looking to play and is a fantastic signing for this football club.”

Lafferty won the First Division with City in 2010 during Stephen Kenny’s second spell with the Candystripes before the left back moved on to play in England with Burnley and Sheffield United.

Following a loan spell with Peterborough, he came back to the League of Ireland last year in the summer window making ten appearances in total for Shamrock Rovers and won the FAI Cup with the Hoops. In this season’s shortened 18 game league winning campaign, he played 11 times (six of them off the bench) 

The 31-year-old scored both goals in Rovers’ 2-1 FAI Cup Second Round win at home to Cork City before getting the winner in the Dublin derby against Bohs in the league in September.

With Sean Kavanagh injured for most of the 2020 season, the left wing back role was shared between Lafferty and Neil Farrugia but with Kavanagh back fit and Chris McCann signing this week, Lafferty has now gone to Derry on a two year deal.

“We would like to thank Danny Lafferty for his commitment and professionalism during his time at Tallaght Stadium and wish him all the very best in his future career,” said Rovers on their twitter account.

Rovers have confirmed the departure since the end of the season of defender Sean Callan (released), Greg Bolger (Sligo Rovers) and Rhys Marshall (Glentoran) and the signings of Danny Mandroiu (Bohemians), Sean Hoare and Sean Gannon (both from Dundalk) and Chris McCann (Oldham Athletic).

Rhys Marshall heading to Glentoran from the Hoops https://t.co/KN07l49Mogpic.twitter.com/1SJkPKalOG

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 17, 2020