Sligo Rovers have announced the signing of Danny Lafferty from Derry City.
The full-back has signed a deal keeping him at the Showgrounds until the end of 2023, and joins having won the FAI Cup with Derry earlier this month.
The 33-year-old struggled for minutes in the second half of 2022, starting just one of the Candystripes last 13 league games, and didn’t feature in the cup final victory.
Before returning to his hometown club, the Derryman won a league title and FAI Cup in a two-year spell at Shamrock Rovers. Lafferty signed for Celtic in 2006, before joining Burnley in 2012, and had loan spells with Sheffield United and Peterborough before returning to Ireland in 2019.
Lafferty has been capped 13 times for Northern Ireland and trained with Sligo for the first time on Monday, who finished fifth last season, 17 points off a European place.
‘’Danny is a player of immense quality,” said Sligo boss John Russell.
“He is an attacking full back who possesses a great passing range and crossing ability. Danny knows the league well and brings a wealth of experience having played for his country and spent the majority of his career in the UK. He is a player I’ve always admired and I’m excited to start working with him’’.
‘’When I spoke to John, I was immediately taken aback by his ambition for the club, and it aligned with what I want as well,” added Lafferty.
‘’I’m looking forward to getting in and getting going, meeting all the lads. I’ve always liked coming to play at The Showgrounds and even more so now next year. I can’t wait to be playing in front of the Sligo Rovers fans’’.
“Danny has been a brilliant professional and his experience has been so valuable to me and the squad since I joined the club,” said Derry boss Ruaidhrí Higgins.
“I’m sure our supporters will remember him fondly and in particular some very important goals he’s scored over his two spells with the club. We wish Danny every success moving forward.”
Elsewhere, St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Jamie Lennon has signed a new multi-year deal at the club. The former Ireland U-21 cap has made 136 appearances for the Saints to date and becomes their longest serving player in the current squad.
Dundalk goalkeeper Peter Cherrie has signed a new contract keeping him at Oriel Park for 2023.
The Scot made just three appearances last term behind first choice Nathan Shepperd, and Lilywhites boss Stephen O’Donnell lauded the 39-year-old’s attitude.
“Peter has been brilliant this season. Whenever he was called upon, he was exemplary," said O'Donnell.
“His attitude has been exceptional. I don’t think it’s any coincidence that Nathan had such a good first season because he is part of a very good goalkeeping stable and Peter is a big part of that.”
Striker Cian Murphy has signed a new contract with Premier Division newcomers Cork City. The 22-year-old has hit 18 league goals in two seasons at Turner’s Cross, and is raring to go in the top flight next year.
“I have played a few games in the Premier Division, but I am really looking forward to having another crack at it,” said Murphy.
“We have all worked very hard over the last couple of years to get this club back where it belongs.”
“Cian has been brilliant for us over the last couple of years,” added Cork manager Colin Healy.
“He has come up through our academy and on into the first team, which is always really pleasing for us as a club. It’s a test now for him going back into the Premier Division, but I am sure it is one that he will relish.”
