Paddy Kirk: ‘The opportunity to be full-time in Sligo was particularly appealing’

Liam Buckley has strengthened the full back department at Sligo Rovers with the signing of left back Paddy Kirk. 

The 23-year-old former Bohemians Academy player spent the 2020 season at Longford Town in the Premier Division after three seasons in the senior setup at Dalymount Park. Speaking with his new club’s media (www.sligorovers.com), Kirk was looking forward to the prospect of playing full time football at The Showgrounds.

“It’s a great move for me,” said Kirk. “The opportunity to come to a club like Sligo Rovers was one I had to take really. I’m really looking forward to it. 

“I spoke to people about the town and they said it’s brilliant. It’s exciting and while it will be different, it’ll be part of the challenge and something I’m looking forward to.”

“I met with Liam Buckley a couple of times and he told me how much he rated me and the attributes I had. He said he felt I could improve the team and that the most important thing was to have the most rounded team possible. He feels bringing me in will help it. It was nice after a tough year to get that.

“When I was at Bohs I was in competition with Darragh Leahy and Anto Breslin so competition is something I’m used to. It helps to improve your game, such as your application in training, when you have so many good players around you.

“The opportunity to be full-time in Sligo was particularly appealing. It’s not just that at Sligo Rovers, it’s the fact the club has been in the top four for a couple of seasons now. There’s a hunger to improve and the manager has told me he wants to be right up there again. 

“There’s no reason it can’t be better again next season and that is something I wanted to be part of.”

Former St. Patrick’s Athletic and current Bit O’Red manager Buckley highlighted the reasons for Kirk’s signing and how it would also facilitate other members of the squad.

“I think Paddy is a real talent. He broke in at Bohs as a teenager and did well there before joining at Longford. He joins us at a really good time and while last season was a difficult one for his club, Paddy showed the character and qualities he has.

“It’s a signing that strengthens us significantly. We want firstly a bigger squad and secondly greater balance this coming season. Paddy will bring that competition and equally we know other players, like Robbie McCourt or our other full-backs, can slot in elsewhere. 

“That’s another positive of this signing because the four full-backs give us a degree of flexibility. When I look through all of our defenders, they’re physically strong, they can play, obviously most importantly they’re top class defenders and they’re good on the ball. 

“Paddy fits very much into that mould. We’re really looking forward to working with Paddy next season."

John Mahon: ‘I have a desire to go on to play outside of the League of Ireland. For now my ambition is to help Rovers win things.’https://t.co/ySCXCaGJmZpic.twitter.com/3BGypXVr4w

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 23, 2021