Maher signs for Dundalk

Following weeks of frustration Dundalk interim manager Darius Kierans has confirmed that Stephen Maher has finally completed his transfer to Dundalk FC. Speaking after his side's defeat to St. Patrick's Athletic, Kierans said the transfer had finally gone through as the club had their transfer embargo lifted. The midfielder returns to Oriel Park for a second spell after spending two seasons in County Louth during 2010 and 2011.

First signed by Ian Foster in February 2010, Maher became an instant favourite among the fans and was without doubt one of the team's best performers as they took the league by storm in the early part of the year. However, his spell was disrupted by continuous injury which led to him only featuring in a handful of games throughout 2011.

When Sean McCaffrey took over in December, Maher found himself surplus to requirements and was forced to look elsewhere, thus signing for Roddy Collins at Monaghan United. After a good first part of the season, where he was a first-team regular, he was left without a club once more as the Mons withdrew from the League.

Dundalk, now under the stewardship of former Drogheda United boss Kierans, were interested in taking the 24 year-old back to the border venue. Having featured in friendlies and agreed terms, the FAI blocked the move as Dundalk were unable to sign players due to their financial state. However, the club have been successfully taken over and the

transfer has now gone through.

Maher now joins the Lilywhites squad but will have to wait before he makes his competitive return as he is carrying a suspension over from when he was at Gortakeegan. He is also cup-tied for the match away to Malahide United on Friday but is in line to feature in the Louth derby against Drogheda United on Friday week.

Kierans has also confirmed that he is trying to bring in a few players to boost their survival hopes. Stay tuned to extratime.ie for all the latest from Oriel Park!