Updated at 22.29
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC have announced the signing of Aidan Keena.
The 25-year-old signs from Cheltenham Town, subject to international clearance.
Keena previously worked with Pat’s boss Stephen Kenny at Ireland U21 level and re-joins the club where he began his senior career, seven years after his initial departure.
The striker returns from a second spell across the water.
He initially left Pat’s for Hearts, but struggled to find a home in Britain, also having short stints at Queen’s Park, Dunfermline Athletic, Hartlepool United and Falkirk.
It took a move to Sligo Rovers in 2022 to kick-start Keena’s career. 18 goals in 32 appearances saw him finish as the Premier Division’s top score and secure a move to Cheltenham Town.
But he was less prolific for the League One outfit, managing seven goals from 60 appearances.
Keena becomes Kenny’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Joseph Anang, Al-Amin Kazeem and Zack Elbouzedi.
Elsewhere, Cork City have re-signed Ruairí Keating on a multi-year deal after the striker’s St Patrick’s Athletic departure by mutual consent was confirmed.
The 29-year-old enjoyed the best spell of his career at Cork, helping them gain promotion after joining in 2022.
However, 13 goals in 34 Premier Division appearances last year was not enough to save the Leesiders from relegation.
The impressive performances secured him a move to St Pat’s last November, but he has struggled to replicate his form from last year, registering four goals from 22 league games with the Richmond Park outfit.
Keating has consequently opted to drop down a division, but Tim Clancy’s men look all but assured of a swift return to the top flight — at the time of writing, they are top of the table, 15 points ahead of second-place Athlone Town with 11 fixtures remaining.
You’d have to say that Pat’s currently are the best team in the LOI & if they can win their last 3 matches then they might even nick the league.
Bohs may be the most P.C. team in football, but they’re dicing with the drop.
@Gerry Kelly: If Kenny was appointed a month earlier they’d be top.
@Comments Section Closed: still pathetic for Bohs to even contemplate finishing 9th with their set up and finances.
@An tEoghanach: we’ll finish 8th which is nowhere near good enough as you stated but that’s a sign of how competitive its been. There are no easy games in this league. Who’d of tought Dundalk would be relegated… Yes they had financial struggles but still had a squad good enough finish in a better position. Drogheda have Rovers Shels and a local derby in their remaining 3 but will win the playoff and stay up. Galway while not likely can still win the league from 5th if others slip up which just proves again how competitive its been… and with Cork coming back up, its going to be similar next year as well so everyone is going to have to get their shit together
Sligo Rovers ran rings around Derry tonight but only came away with a draw. We still have a chance to get Top 4!
C’ mon The Bit ‘O Red!!!
Why are they saying in the article about Derry City game tonight that it’s out of their hands but if my maths are right if they win their last 3 games they win it as they play Shels in the last game
The run Kenny has Pats on at the moment is something else. After the failure in the Irish job you can’t deny him as a coach he gets his players playing. Winning games there going to be contending next season. The league has been great so many teams involved with the final few games. Would love Shels to hold on but not sure if they will. They need to get a win asap. Give them some form for the remaining games
Kenny doing incredible things. Getting his reputation firmly back on track. The rest of the league will be worrying about what Pats will do next season
Tough watch in Dalyer tonight. Pats were on top but the red card was the killer blow. You could see how effectively they used the extra man to create space. It’s been a long season!