IRISH DEFENDER PADDY Barrett has signed for United Soccer League [USL] club FC Cincinnati.
Barrett confirmed his departure from Dundalk earlier this week, having joined the Lilywhites from Galway United for the 2015 season.
The Waterford native won a Premier Division and FAI Cup double in his first season at Oriel Park, before adding another league medal 12 months later.
He also featured regularly during last year’s memorable European run for the club, which featured a victory over BATE Borisov in the Champions League qualifiers and progression to the group stages of the Europa League.
In July, Barrett returned to hometown club Waterford on loan and helped the Blues to secure promotion back to the top flight by winning the First Division title.
“Paddy is a tough, uncompromising centre-back who also has the technical skills to play out from the back,” FC Cincinnati head coach Alan Koch said of the former Dundee United defender.
“He has had some amazing experiences for a young player and has learned a lot from these appearances in major European competitions. We expect him to come in and compete for a starting position immediately.”
Alongside the North American Soccer League [NASL], the USL acts as the second tier of football in the USA beneath Major League Soccer [MLS]. Earlier this year, striker Ciaran Kilduff left Dundalk to sign for NASL side Jacksonville Armada.
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Always loved his ‘over the shoulder’ points
To be fair comparing Kelly to Sean Og is a bit silly. Sean og was good , but Kelly was an absolute genius . He was worth the entry fee alone when tipp were average at best. He won games himself eg 14points v lim 06, or 2-9 v waterford 06. He will be remembered as an all time great. I’m pretty sure Tipp will not produce a forward of his class for a long time
He got a fair bit more coverage then Sean og got for his retirement