Updated at 19.55
DUNDALK HAVE ANNOUNCED that Dane Massey and Sean Gannon have committed to the reigning SSE Airtricity Premier Division champions for the 2017 season.
28-year-old former Bray Wanderers defender Massey will compete for the Lilywhites for a fifth consecutive year, extending a spell during which the consistent left-back has made 125 appearances and scored 13 goals.
Massey also spent five seasons at the Carlisle Grounds before moving north to Oriel Park, where he featured in all six of the club’s Uefa Europa League group stage matches in 2016.
Gannon, the team’s other first choice full-back, had been linked with a possible move to England but signs on for a fourth campaign with Dundalk. The 25-year-old was a regular on the right side of their back four and played in all 12 of their European matches in 2016.
“I am absolutely delighted to have re-signed for the club,” Gannon told the club’s website. I am coming back to an unbelievable squad which is what I want and where I want to be.
We have a new challenge now and that is to go one better than we did this year. The European run in the Europa League group stages was amazing and I am happy to be back and play with these players again. ”
Although Dundalk have imported defender Sean Hoare from St Patrick’s Athletic, manager Stephen Kenny will be relieved to pin down Massey for 2017, in the wake of Andy Boyle’s departure to Preston North End.
Winger Daryl Horgan also left for Deepdale, while midfielders Ronan Finn and Darren Meenan have flown the coop to link up with Stephen Bradley’s ambitious Shamrock Rovers.
The pair join Paddy Barrett, Robbie Benson, Ciaran Kilduff, and goalkeepers Gary Rogers and Gabriel Sava, in signing up for a tilt at a fourth consecutive league title.
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