LAST UPDATE | 22 Nov 2023
SHELBOURNE HAVE ANNOUNCED Sean Gannon and Keith Ward as their first new signings for 2024.
St Patrick’s Athletic, meanwhile, are welcoming Cian Kavanagh back to the club.
Gannon joins the Reds, having helped Shamrock Rovers to four League of Ireland titles in-a-row. The 32-year-old defender, one of the most decorated players in LOI history, has been in high demand since his Tallaght Stadium departure at the end of the 2023 season.
The Ringsend native has made over 300 senior appearances in domestic football since his Rovers debut in 2011, with St Patrick’s Athletic and Dundalk FC among his other former clubs. He has been part of 10 league winning sides, has three FAI Cup winners medals, and the same number of EA Sports Cups and FAI President’s Cups titles to boot.
“We are all delighted to get Sean over the line,” Shelbourne manager Damien Duff said.
“The foundation of our team over the past two seasons has been our defence and Sean is another great addition. He has an incredible CV but most importantly he has top quality that he will bring to the team. I am very excited to see him play for this great club.”
Sean Gannon is a Red 🔴#DublinsFinest | #Reds2024
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) November 22, 2023
“I couldn’t be happier to join Shelbourne FC,” Gannon added. “It’s an honour to be part of such a special club, I’m from Ringsend, I know what this club means to people. It’s a place I’ve always wanted to come to in my career.
“I’m excited to bring my experience to the team. Damien’s vision for the next few years is really exciting and I’m delighted to be part of it. Shels is an ambitious club and I’m very happy to be calling Tolka Park home from today.”
Ward, meanwhile, arrives from Dundalk FC. The experienced midfielder is entering his 17th season in the League of Ireland, having made his debut in 2008 with UCD.
The 33-year-old Dubliner represented Bohemians, Sligo Rovers and Derry City as well as Dundalk, whom he helped to league glory in 2014. Ward has totted up 410 appearances at senior level domestically, scoring 37 goals — and playing 20 games for the Lilywhites last season.
Welcome to Tolka Park, Keith Ward
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) November 22, 2023
“I have always been very impressed by Keith when we have played against him over the past two years,” Duff noted.
“He has incredible technical ability, an infectious enthusiasm and a brilliant winning mentality that will be priceless for our dressing room. We are all very excited to get on the training pitch with him and see his class.”
“I’m absolutely thrilled to join Shels,” Ward said. “The club’s going in the right direction and I was delighted when Damien called and told me he wanted me to be here next season. I’m eager to contribute and have a lot to give, it’s a massive club and I’m really excited to get going now.”
The Reds finished fourth in 2023, the club’s highest standing in the Premier Division since winning the league in 2006. Duff has also guided the Drumcondra outfit to European football next season.
Turning to the 2023 FAI Cup champions, Kavanagh returns to St Pat’s after spending the last 18 months with Derry City.
The 20-year-old striker initially joined the Saints in 2017, excelling through their underage ranks, before a stint in Scotland with Hearts and Cowdenbeath.
📝 We're delighted to welcome Cian Kavanagh back to the club
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) November 22, 2023
Cian was in our #SaintsAcademy from 2017 to 2019 before joining Hearts, the 20-year-old striker returns to Inchicore afters spells with Waterford & Derry City
Full story https://t.co/BPD4l6fHMF#StPatsFC #Saints2024 pic.twitter.com/ylVuHy14f1
Ireland underage international Kavanagh arrived back on home soil in February 2021 when he joined Waterford, spending a season-and-a-half there before moving to Derry last summer. Part of their 2022 FAI Cup winning squad, he made 27 LOI appearances the following season and scored twice in four Uefa Europa Conference League qualifiers.
“I’m excited to be back, I know what the club is about and can’t wait to get started,” Kavanagh said.
“I’ve had good conversations with Jon Daly, he was the Assistant Manager at Hearts when I was there in the U20s and Sean O’Connor coached me in the Pat’s Academy too, so I can’t wait to get on the training pitch and hopefully it will be a good season.”
“I’m delighted to get Cian in,” Daly added. “It’s an area of the pitch we’re looking to strengthen.
“Cian fits the profile we are after, he’s a young, hungry player, who wants to be successful. He’s someone I’ve had my eyes on since his days at Waterford where he was excellent, and in his time at Derry, he always impacted the games in a positive way and we are looking forward to getting him in and working with him.”
