REPUBLIC OF IRELAND international Aaron Connolly has signed a new four-year contract with Premier League club Brighton.
The 20-year-old forward earned his new deal with an impressive season in which he scored three Premier League goals and made 27 appearances overall for the English club.
The Galway man made his Ireland debut off the bench against Georgia last October and featured against Switzerland the following week.
Connolly will hope to be prominently involved under new national team manager Stephen Kenny, while he’s excited about his new contract with Brighton.
“It’s fantastic the club have given me this kind of security because it means I can push on now for the next four years,” said Connolly. “It will help me relax and enjoy my football even more.
“This season has been unbelievable at times and obviously the Tottenham game when I scored twice was a big moment for me. But then I had the dip where I didn’t get the goals which was tough to take.
“But to get one against Burnley on the final day of the season and to go into the break knowing I have scored another goal since Spurs was a great feeling. I am just looking forward improving even more next season.”
Former Mervue United man Connolly also paid tribute to his Brighton manager, Graham Potter, for the faith he has shown in young players at the club.
“Without the manager I don’t think I would have played any Premier League games for Brighton by now,” said Connolly.
“I owe a lot to him and I want to repay that faith that he has shown in me next season. The trust he has put in me is a huge bonus even without the goals, so if I can score regularly next season it will make me even happier.”
Brighton finished 15th in the Premier League this season and will hope Connolly can be part of their development in the coming years.
The club’s technical director, Dan Ashworth, underlined Connolly’s work ethic in welcoming his new contract.
“It’s been a breakthrough season for Aaron but he is always looking to improve every aspect of his game,” said Ashworth.
His new contract will give him stability and the opportunity to really develop with us. We’re looking forward to working with him and helping to make him an even better player.”
Good luck Leinster Keep the momentum going
Fair play to Lyon though, you have to give it to em.
Bonus point as requested and delivered. Build on the lead now.
Don’t take the foot off the pedal. Let’s hope for a thumping performance and that Lyon are competitive.
What an absolute joke of a video ref disallowing Fardy’s try. If you get that pernickety about it then no try would ever be given. Pathetic.
@Vincent O’Keeffe: and after all the microscopic bullshit they missed a clear neck roll on Treacy.
Free stream?
@Ao: MOBDRO, LiveNetTV TV. VIP, first row,
Whitehouse is screwing Lyon
Examples allowing Leinster to have men diving in beyond the ruck creating space clever but illegal. Offside in defence at every breakdown. Lowe trying to use the boot in the ruck that is illegal with years. Toners contact to the face accidental yes but under the rules a yellow card. Whitehouse try’s to give Leinster the disallowed try in spite of being told by the TMO there was a clear knock on.
@Brian Gallivan: you can use your boot in a ruck, you just can’t kick it out, nothing illegal there at all, massive chip on yo shoulder there though!
@Brian Gallivan: anything else??
@Umpaloompa:
No chip whatsoever all you can ask for is consistency. He has just called the exact same offences against Lyon when Leinster are attacking and gives them a warning. I hope Leinster win but hate to see Whitehouses incompetence having a bearing on the game. Any difficulty with my other comments
@David: Did you just see what Fardy did in the build up to Deegans try Whitehouse misses I again
@Brian Gallivan: with relation to going past the ruck and the offside, I’m pretty sure the Leinster coaching staff have seem Munster get away with it all the time (e.g. vs Connacht in the interpros), and decided to give it a go.
@Brian Gallivan: your complaining about what every team does, as for Whitehouse trying to give the try, he clearly couldn’t hear the tmo and couldn’t see a problem himself, no ref or tmo ever calls that, good spot all the same.
Leo looks pissed off.
Little ‘Nigel’ should shut up pontificating and let teams play.
That try from Conway! Mon dieu!