Tuesday, January 7
Former Shelbourne winger Will Jarvis has left Hull City to sign a permanent deal with League Two Notts County, news that puts an end to the hopes that he would return to Tolka Park this winter.
In his second loan stint with Damien Duff’s men last season, the 22-year-old played a pivotal role in their title triumph with eight goals and five assists before being recalled to the Championship club in August. He also bagged a goal and assist in the Reds’ Conference League win over St Joseph’s a month before, and was named Player of the Month in both March and June last year.
Jarvis admitted that he didn’t want to leave Shels last summer, as Duff said at the time, “Will is devastated leaving, he didn’t want to go, but he’s been told to come home even though I think this is his spiritual home.”
Many fans hoped the York native may return to the Reds in the off-season, but Jarvis will now start a new chapter at Notts County where he has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal. Notts sit sixth in League Two and two points off the automatic promotion spots.
Meanwhile, Shane Griffin has signed for First Division Cobh Ramblers.
Shels confirmed the defender’s departure last November following the expiration of his contract, as the 30-year-old arrives at St Colman’s Park after three years with the Reds. He was an ever-present in the 2022 and 2023 campaigns before making 12 appearances last year in their league-winning season.
The Carrigaline native now returns to his home county with Cobh eyeing promotion in 2025, having finished in eighth and seven points off the play-off places last term.
Elsewhere, Cork City have confirmed that midfielder Evan McLaughlin has penned a new contract with the club.
The 22-year-old made 34 league appearances in his first campaign on Leeside last term and scored five goals, and has now committed his future to the club as Tim Clancy’s men prepare for their top-flight return in 2025.
Monday, January 6
Ireland U-21 striker Tommy Lonergan has returned home to sign a season-long loan deal at Waterford from sister club Fleetwood Town.
The Dunboyne man signed for the League Two club 12 months ago after his goal-scoring display for St Patrick’s Athletic in their FAI Cup final with over Bohemians in November 2023, his sixth goal for the Saints in 40 appearances across two spells.
The 21-year-old has made 20 appearances in total for Fleetwood so far, scoring his first and to date only goal in their final game of last season against Burton Albion, as the club were relegated by a point.
Now, he joins Keith Long’s Blues who begin the 2025 campaign away to Sligo Rovers on February 15, having finished seventh last term in their first season back in the top-flight. Longergan is the latest Fleetwood player to embark on a loan spell at their sister club, following on from the likes of Barry Baggley, Tom Donaghy, and Sam Glenfield.
“I’m delighted to be here and can’t wait to get going. When I heard the call about coming here it just made sense to me,” said Lonergan, who won his first two U-21 caps last November.
“I loved playing in the League (of Ireland), Friday night lights, it is what you want as a young lad. That (scoring in the 2023 cup final) was probably the pinnacle of my career so far, a brilliant moment. It was amazing. I want to bring my work ethic, goals, desire and an energy to the team.”
Sunday, January 5
Athlone Town have made a major statement of their intent to challenge for promotion next season with the signing of Scottish winger Declan McDaid from Bohemians.
The former Dundee player spent three seasons with the Gypsies but McDaid was included in an end-of-season clearout after a disastrous 2024 campaign for the club, McDaid now the 10th player to leave Bohs in the off-season.
Athlone have been busy in the transfer market as McDaid joins Dean Williams (Shelbourne), JR Wilson (Sligo Rovers) and Matt Connor (Waterford) in dropping down a division with also the capture of Cole Omorehiomwan (Bray), Bastien Hery, Kyle O’Connor and Adam Wixted (Longford) and Noe Baba (Finn Harps).
Athlone finished fourth in the Division One table last term but lost out to Bray Wanderers in a promotion playoff.
Saturday, January 4
Former Shelbourne striker Aidan O’Brien has joined English fifth-tier side Woking.
The ex-Ireland and Millwall striker O’Brien (31) joined Damien Duff’s Reds last August and was part of the league-winning squad, scoring twice in ten games for the club.
The return from injury of Seán Boyd reduced O’Brien’s playing time in the latter part of the season and the December signing of Mipo Odubeko saw O’Brien surplus to requirements at Tolka Park.
Friday, January 3
Shamrock Rovers have suffered a pre-season blow with news that Neil Farrugia has joined Barnsley on a free transfer.
The 25-year-old’s contract with the Hoops expired at the end of the season and he has agreed to sign a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Tykes, who are currently sixth in League One.
Paris-born Farrugia joined Rovers from UCD back in 2019 and although his career has been plagued by injuries, he leaves having won four Premier Division titles in a row as well as the FAI Cup in 2019.
Thursday, January 2
Seán Hoare has returned to St Patrick’s Athletic.
The 30-year-old central defender, who has won titles with Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers, returns to the club where he made his League of Ireland debut in 2012.
The Dubliner has won six Premier Division titles (one with St Pat’s, two with Dundalk and three with Shamrock Rovers), three FAI Cups (one with St Pat’s, two with Dundalk) and four League Cups in an illustrious career so far.
