SHANE GRIMES AND Ciaran O’Connor have announced that their respective spells with Dundalk have come to an end.
The pair, who were the last remaining Dundalk-born players in the Lilywhites’ first-team squad, both revealed via Twitter that they’re leaving Oriel Park as manager Stephen Kenny seeks to rebuild his squad for the 2018 season.
Shane Grimes celebrates with David McMillan after Dundalk's FAI Cup semi-final win over Shamrock Rovers. Gary Carr / INPHO
Gary Carr / INPHO / INPHO
A 30-year-old full-back, Grimes came through the ranks at Dundalk and made his senior debut in 2005. He went on to have spells with Monaghan United and Drogheda United before returning for a second stint at Oriel Park for the 2015 season.
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Used mostly in a back-up role by Stephen Kenny, Grimes was part of the Dundalk squad that won a Premier Division and FAI Cup double in 2015, before retaining their league title in 2016 and embarking upon an unprecedentedly successful European run.
He started at left-back when Dundalk defeated Shamrock Rovers in September to win the EA Sports Cup. Grimes’ final appearance for the club was in last month’s league defeat to Bohemians.
Without giving an indication of what his future holds, Grimes wrote on Twitter last night: “Today has been a hard day. I would like to thank Dundalk FC, all the fans, everyone involved, connected with Dundalk in any way. The past three years have been a privilege and I feel very lucky to have been involved with my hometown club in such successful years.”
Ciaran O'Connor in possession for Dundalk against Galway United in October 2016. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Another player who progressed through Dundalk’s underage system, O’Connor made his first-team debut in 2013 and also featured sporadically in the club’s successes of recent seasons.
The 21-year-old striker started the 2017 campaign on loan at Finn Harps and scored five times for the Ballybofey outfit, before beginning a loan spell with Bohemians in July.
After confirming his departure from Dundalk today on Twitter, O’Connor told the club’s official website that while he’s eager to secure regular first-team elsewhere for now, he hopes to return for another spell with his hometown club later in his career.
He said: “Of course I’m sad to leave as it’s my hometown club and there is nothing better than playing for your hometown team, but it’s important that I’m playing week-in-week-out now. This is why I have decided to move on and hopefully one day I get to put on that Dundalk jersey again in the future.”
Grimes and O’Connor join Paddy Barrett — who has joined FC Cincinnati — on Dundalk’s departures list following the conclusion of the 2017 season. Goalkeeper Gabriel Sava, defenders Sean Gannon and Brian Gartland, and midfielder Chris Shields have all signed new deals, with more contract extensions and new arrivals expected to be announced by the Louth outfit over the coming weeks and months.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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Hometown duo announce Dundalk exits
SHANE GRIMES AND Ciaran O’Connor have announced that their respective spells with Dundalk have come to an end.
The pair, who were the last remaining Dundalk-born players in the Lilywhites’ first-team squad, both revealed via Twitter that they’re leaving Oriel Park as manager Stephen Kenny seeks to rebuild his squad for the 2018 season.
A 30-year-old full-back, Grimes came through the ranks at Dundalk and made his senior debut in 2005. He went on to have spells with Monaghan United and Drogheda United before returning for a second stint at Oriel Park for the 2015 season.
Used mostly in a back-up role by Stephen Kenny, Grimes was part of the Dundalk squad that won a Premier Division and FAI Cup double in 2015, before retaining their league title in 2016 and embarking upon an unprecedentedly successful European run.
He started at left-back when Dundalk defeated Shamrock Rovers in September to win the EA Sports Cup. Grimes’ final appearance for the club was in last month’s league defeat to Bohemians.
Without giving an indication of what his future holds, Grimes wrote on Twitter last night: “Today has been a hard day. I would like to thank Dundalk FC, all the fans, everyone involved, connected with Dundalk in any way. The past three years have been a privilege and I feel very lucky to have been involved with my hometown club in such successful years.”
Another player who progressed through Dundalk’s underage system, O’Connor made his first-team debut in 2013 and also featured sporadically in the club’s successes of recent seasons.
The 21-year-old striker started the 2017 campaign on loan at Finn Harps and scored five times for the Ballybofey outfit, before beginning a loan spell with Bohemians in July.
After confirming his departure from Dundalk today on Twitter, O’Connor told the club’s official website that while he’s eager to secure regular first-team elsewhere for now, he hopes to return for another spell with his hometown club later in his career.
He said: “Of course I’m sad to leave as it’s my hometown club and there is nothing better than playing for your hometown team, but it’s important that I’m playing week-in-week-out now. This is why I have decided to move on and hopefully one day I get to put on that Dundalk jersey again in the future.”
Grimes and O’Connor join Paddy Barrett — who has joined FC Cincinnati — on Dundalk’s departures list following the conclusion of the 2017 season. Goalkeeper Gabriel Sava, defenders Sean Gannon and Brian Gartland, and midfielder Chris Shields have all signed new deals, with more contract extensions and new arrivals expected to be announced by the Louth outfit over the coming weeks and months.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
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Ciaran O'Connor League of Ireland LOI Moving On? Shane Grimes Dundalk