Shamrock Rovers sign promising star ahead of the new league season

SHAMROCK ROVERS Rovers have announced the signing of promising youngster and Ireland Under-19 star Michael O’Connor from Dundalk.

Despite only making a handful of appearances for Stephen Kenny’s side, the 18-year-old caught the eye of numerous clubs after scoring the winner against Austria in Tallaght Stadium, last September.

After returning home from a spell with English side Bristol City, the striker made his senior Lilywhites debut in a League Cup clash against Shelbourne in April 2015, and featured in Dundalk’s Champions League qualifier against Legia Warsaw at the Aviva Stadium.

“I am delighted to sign for Shamrock Rovers today,” O’Connor said.

“I enjoyed my time at Dundalk but I felt that I needed a change and Stephen Bradley has offered me the chance to prove myself and show what I can do.

“I will grab that chance with both hands and I look forward to getting stuck in straight away starting with training on Monday.”

Rovers head coach, Stephen Bradley admitted O’Connor turned down some big offers to join his side.

“We are delighted to have signed Michael (O’Connor), he is a very good young player and is eager to show everyone how good he really is. He turned down some big offers to come to Shamrock Rovers,” Bradley said.

“He buys into what we are building and wants to be a part of it. He spoke with Ronan (Finn) and Darren (Meenan) and knows that he will become a better footballer with us.

“He is a great talent and I know will do a job for us. He will mix really well with the squad and we will go straight into it with the squad at training on Monday.”

The striker will link-up with the squad at pre-season training in the Shamrock Rovers Academy complex on Monday.