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Eoghan O'Connell tracking Lionel Messi during Celtic's Champions League encounter with Barcelona at the Camp Nou in September. EMPICS Sport

Irish defender Eoghan O'Connell to leave Celtic on loan

Despite a promising start under Brendan Rogers, O’Connell hasn’t seen much first-team action recently.

EOGHAN O’CONNELL IS set to make another loan move away from Celtic in an attempt to secure regular first-team football.

According to the Scottish Herald, the versatile defender will join Kilmarnock — which will be his third temporary switch since he moved to Scotland from his native Cork at the age of 16.

O’Connell, who has represented the Republic of Ireland up as far as U21 level, was heavily involved for Celtic during the early stages of Brendan Rodgers’ reign.

The 21-year-old played in Champions League games against Astana, Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Barcelona, but he has since slipped down the defensive pecking order at Parkhead.

“He did very well in pre-season but the team has changed and he is not getting so much game time,” Rodgers said of O’Connell in November. “So if he can get out on loan that will give him the game time he needs to develop.”

O’Connell, who played his underage football on Leeside with Corinthians and Avondale United, has previously left Celtic on loan for Oldham Athletic and Cork City.

O’Connell’s Celtic contract runs until the end of the season. Kilmarnock currently sit third from bottom in the Scottish Premiership.

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    Mute James Mockler
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    Mar 3rd 2020, 7:41 PM

    Don’t know if this lad is up to it would love to see Mark Travers, caomhin kelleher or Gavin bazunu get loan moves or start starting for their first teams.But that’s highly unlikely for kelleher or bazunu so a loan is probably needed. But I’d say Travers is better than Ramsdale at Bournemouth imo.

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    Mute Nic Antonio
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    Mar 3rd 2020, 8:04 PM

    @James Mockler: apart from his debut,Travers has mad so many errors when given a chance,Ramsdale is a decent keeper.

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    Mute James Mockler
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    Mar 3rd 2020, 8:19 PM

    @Nic Antonio: tbf travers has made mistakes but so has Ramsdale one that springs to mind is against Leicester I think vardy lobbed him from 35 yards. But I think play Travers as much as Ramsdale and you’ll potentially have a better keeper in the long run.

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    Mute Marcus Suridius 57%
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    Mar 3rd 2020, 8:35 PM

    @James Mockler: O’Hara is a good keeper and playing first team football unlike Travers and Gavin is miles away from playing for Irish senior team.

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