BOHEMIANS HAVE THIS evening announced that Ian Morris and Philip Gannon have signed new contracts for the 2o18 season, as well as confirming Kevin Devaney’s return to the club he departed three years ago.
Devaney, a 27-year-old winger, joined Bohs from Finn Harps in August 2012. A month after his arrival, he scored a memorable winner for the Gypsies as they beat rivals Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium for the first time.
After making 56 league appearances, he left Dalymount Park to join hometown club Sligo Rovers in 2015. Following a year at the Showgrounds, Devaney spent the last two seasons with Galway United, who were recently relegated to the First Division for 2018.
“Unfortunately Kevin moved to Sligo with Owen Heary before I joined the club so I never got a chance to work with him,” said Bohs manager Keith Long. “He’s an explosive player – he did some damage against us for Galway this year – and gives us pace and options out wide. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
Morris, a 30-year-old midfielder who’s also comfortable in defence, has spent the last 18 months with Bohemians, having previously played for Glenavon and St Patrick’s Athletic after he returned home to Ireland following a 13-year spell in England.
The Dubliner came through the ranks at Leeds United and went on to play for several cross-channel clubs, winning a League Two medal with Chesterfield and achieving promotion to the Championship via the play-offs with Scunthorpe United.
Keith Long said: “Morro is a player with vast experience and someone who gives us great leadership. You can trust him playing in several positions, which is really important for us.”
Midfielder Gannon, a Finglas native who turned 21 in October, came through the ranks with West Bromwich Albion but was released by the Premier League club in 2015. After a stint with Longford Town, he joined Bohs for the 2017 season.
“Because he’s been around the division a couple of years, sometimes people forget Philly’s still only a young boy,” Keith Long said. “There’s lots of development to come. He has had his ups and downs but we feel as a backroom team that we’ve seen signs of great potential.”
Bohs, who are scheduled to begin pre-season training on 28 December, now have the following 21 players under contract for the 2018 season:
Oscar Brennan, Dan Byrne, Dan Casey, Dinny Corcoran, Rob Cornwall, Kevin Devaney, Philip Gannon, Jamie Hamilton, Paddy Kavanagh, Paddy Kirk, JJ Lunney, Cristian Magerusan, Colin McCabe, Eoghan Morgan, Ian Morris, Derek Pender, Fuad Sule, Shane Supple, Warren O’Hora, Keith Ward, John Ross Wilson.
