Jay McClelland is targeting Europe in his first season with St Pat’s after signing from UCD today.
The winger is new Saints boss Stephen O’Donnell’s first signing since taking charge in September.
McClelland, 22, spent the last four years with College and this is his first step into full-time football.
He said: “It was a tough four years at UCD balancing everything because it’s like a 9 to 5 job in college and in the library and then going straight to training.
“Now I can concentrate on football 9 to 5 and I think I can only improve and get better by doing that.”
The former Irish youth international continued: “I was hooked straight away when I spoke to Stephen and I can’t wait to play for him.
“St Pat’s are fond of keeping the ball on the ground, intricate passing, playing in the hole and splitting defences.
“That suits me as it’s the way we played at UCD and I have Collie O’Neill to thank as he preferred me coming in off the wing and taking up those positions in the hole.”
And McClelland added: “Next season is about pushing for Europe and closing the gap on the top two and that matches my ambition because I’m hungry.”
