LAST UPDATE | 18 Dec 2021
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC have today confirmed three new signings, with Joe Redmond, Anto Breslin and Mark Doyle joining the Cup champions.
Centre-back Redmond was confirmed to have signed from Drogheda United this evening. The 21-year-old once agreed to join the Saints as a teenager before instead joining Birmingham City. He spent part of the 2020 season on loan at Cork City from the English club.
“Joe came into us at Drogheda having spent five years in the UK with Birmingham and did really well,” said new St Pat’s manager Tim Clancy, who coached Redmond during the second half of last season. “He’s only 21 but is very mature in the way he plays the game.
“He’s a strong, aggressive centre-back who is also very good with the ball and will fit in well with how we want to play.
“He is the type of player and person we want at the club.”
Redmond added:
“I’m buzzing to have signed for the club and can’t wait to get going in the new year. I’ve been really impressed watching St Pat’s over the last couple of years, there are lots of top players at the club and the atmosphere any time I’ve been to Richmond Park has been brilliant, I’m excited to be a part of the club.
“I enjoyed playing under Tim at Drogheda, he is building an exciting squad, hopefully we’ll have a good year both domestically and also in Europe in the summer.”
𝙍𝙀𝘿𝙈𝙊𝙉𝘿 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙎 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙎
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) December 18, 2021
We are excited to announce the signing of centre-back @JoeRedmond_4
The 21-year-old joins us from Drogheda United
The Ireland underage international spent five years in England with Birmingham City#StPatsFC #Saints2022 pic.twitter.com/Ljps8OsNIH
Attacker Doyle has also swapped Drogheda for Inchicore, linking up with his former manager at Richmond Park.
23-year-old ‘Doyler’ spent the last six seasons with Drogs, and scored his 50th goal for the club on what turned out to be his last appearance for them on the final night of last season.
He scored 13 times in the Premier Division in 2021, finishing as the third top scorer in the league, while he was named PFAI 1st Division Player of the Year in 2020, scoring 13 goals as Drogheda were crowned second-tier champions.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” Doyle said. “I really enjoyed my time at Drogheda United, I was there since I was 16 and I’d like to thank everyone for my time there.
𝘿𝙊𝙔𝙇𝙀 𝘿𝙀𝙇𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏 𝙁𝙊𝙍 𝙎𝙏 𝙋𝘼𝙏'𝙎
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) December 18, 2021
We are delighted to announce the signing of Mark Doyle
The 23-year-old scored 50 goals during his 6 seasons with Drogheda United, including 13 in 2021, making him the 3rd top scorer in the Premier Division#StPatsFC #Saints2022 pic.twitter.com/cG4KYSBo9b
“I felt it was time to move on and move to a full-time set up at St Pat’s. I’m looking forward to putting all of my time and focus into being a full-time footballer, it’s an honour to sign.
“Tim put a lot of faith and belief in me from the moment he joined Drogheda so I’m obviously looking forward to working with him again. He’s a top manager and I think he will do really well at St Pat’s. He’ll give us all a good platform to perform and kick-on as individuals and as a group and I just can’t wait to get going now.”
Clancy added: “There was a lot of interest in Mark from clubs at home and abroad, he’s one we really wanted to get into the club and we are really happy he’s signed. Mark is a wide player who scores a lot of goals, I know him very well from our time together at Drogheda.
“He’ll add goals to the team, he is excited by the prospect of full-time football, he’s got a lot of experience in the league and he’s still only 23, so he still [has] plenty off improvement in him. Myself and the coaching staff are looking forward to helping him continue his progress.”
Defender Breslin was earlier today confirmed to have moved from cross-city rivals Bohemians, the side the Saints beat in last months’ Aviva Stadium decider.
The 24-year-old has been at Bohs for the past two seasons, having previously played for Wolves and Longford Town.
“I’m very happy to welcome Anto to St Pat’s,” boss Clancy said. “He’s technically very good, covers the ground really well, he gets forward and delivers well too.
“He’s coming back into a full-time environment now and is looking to push on in his career, we’ll help him to do that. He’s another very good singing for us, Anto and Ian Bermingham will push us each for that position in the team, I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
𝘽𝙍𝙀𝙎𝙇𝙄𝙉 𝙅𝙊𝙄𝙉𝙎 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙐𝙋𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝘼𝙄𝙉𝙏𝙎
— St Patrick's Athletic FC (@stpatsfc) December 18, 2021
We are delighted to welcome @BreslinAnto to the club 🤝
The 24-year-old ex Wolves & Longford defender joins us from Bohemians, where he spent the last 2 seasons
More here ➡️ https://t.co/mGc1vhdldi#StPatsFC #Saints2022 pic.twitter.com/T0JVxDa1fM
Breslin added: “I’m really excited to be a Pat’s player and can’t wait to get going. I’ve had a little break now since the cup final and am raring to go in pre-season. I’m looking forward to getting in next week and to meeting all the lads.
“Having spoken to Tim, he made my decision very easy. He’s building an exciting squad with young, hungry players and some experienced players too with the likes of Chris Forrester and Ian Bermingham.”
Pat’s also announced today that winger Jason McClelland had signed a new contract with the club.
