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Sean O'Connor with Rovers boss Trevor Croly and Mark Quigley. George Kelly
Double trouble

Shamrock Rovers signal title intent by signing Quigley and O'Connor

New Hoops boss Trevor Croly has pulled off a transfer coup by snatching the PFAI Player of the Year from Sligo.

SHAMROCK ROVERS HAVE pulled off a sensational swoop by signing two of the nominees for last season’s PFAI Player of the Year award.

Mark Quigley, who won the award, and his fellow nominee, Sean O’Connor have both signed two year deals with the Hoops.

O’Connor signs from Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic while Quigley has been snatched from league champions Sligo. It will be a second-coming to Rovers for both players.

The Tallaght side have moved quickly in the off-season to strengthen their squad having finished fourth in the league.

Newly appointed Rovers boss Trevor Croly said, “We have added more quality to the squad with these signings.

“Both players were nominated for the Player of the Year [award] by their fellow players, which says a lot about the seasons they had last year.

“They are both excellent players; I have worked with them before and they have a lot of ability and are the type of players that excite fans.”

Hungry for success

Quigley, 27, scored 10 goals to help Sligo on their way to their first title in 35 years. He previously had spells at St Pat’s, Bohemians and Dundalk as well as playing for the Hoops in 2005. He said:

It’s unbelievable to be back at Shamrock Rovers; I started my career in the league here. This is a massive club and I’ve come here to win the league with Rovers.

I think all the players that are here will be very hungry for success next season and that’s the way I’m feeling too.

“It’s hard for any player to leave the current champions,” admitted Quigley, “and everyone at Sligo was great to me, but this is a new chapter now and I’m going to knuckle down and do well here.”

O’Connor played for the club from 2008 to 2010 and proclaimed his delight at making the move.

He said, “I think the club is going to be very competitive next year and I think it will be a good place to be.

It was a hard decision to make as I had a good season with Pat’s but when Trevor said he wanted to talk to me, I was interested to hear what he had to say and then when I spoke to him, I knew I wanted to come back here.

“This is the only club I have won something with and I want to do that again.”

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