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Connolly holds off Dundalk's Niclas Vemmelund.
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Kenny refuses to be drawn on Connolly transfer speculation ahead of Bray showdown

Dundalk are reportedly in talks to sign the 22-year-old winger.

DUNDALK BOSS STEPHEN Kenny is keeping tight-lipped about the club’s potential transfer targets.

The reigning SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions have been linked with several players in recent weeks and The Irish Mirror reported yesterday that negotiations are ongoing with Bray Wanderers about a move for Dylan Connolly.

The 22-year-old winger, who joined the Seagulls after leaving Ipswich Town in December 2015, is regarded as one of the best young players in the league but the Lilywhites boss would not be drawn on such rumours.

“You can’t help speculation but I’m not in a position to discuss anything at the moment in that regard,” said Kenny, when asked about Connolly after last night’s 2-0 win over Galway United.

Connolly featured when Bray defeated Dundalk 3-1 at Oriel Park back in April to condemn the home side to their third loss in six games.

However, Sean Maguire’s hat-trick for Cork City are the only league goals the Louth club have conceded in the last eight matches and they have opened up a seven-point lead over Bray heading into this Friday’s meeting at the Carlisle Grounds.

“It wasn’t a classic but I must compliment my players because that’s their seventh clean sheet in eight games,” Kenny added last night. “We’re not giving up any chances in the games even though there have been changes in the back four.

When Bray beat us here with the two penalties I think they went ahead of us on goal difference. Now we’re seven points clear going into the game on Friday so that’s a decent turnaround.

“We’ve had tough games against teams who sat off us at home and we had to break them down, but Bray and Bohemians away won’t be like that. It will be good for us in preparation for the game against Rosenborg.”

Stephen Kenny Kenny (file photo). Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

After the Bray clash, Dundalk face Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Wednesday before a two-legged tie against Rosenborg in the Champions League second qualifying round.

Coach Ruaidhri Higgins travelled over to Norway to watch the current league leaders defeat Sogndal 3-0 on Sunday and report back.

“It was planes, trains and automobiles,” Kenny joked. “He went about two weeks ago and is only back tonight [Monday]!”

- Additional reporting by Caoimhin O’Reilly

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