Royals snap up Bray starlet Sweeney

Irish teenager Pierce Sweeney is hoping to emulate the likes of Kevin Doyle and Shane Long after swapping League of Ireland football for newly promoted Premier League side Reading.

The 17-year-old defender joined Reading from Bray Wanderers for an undisclosed fee and said the Royals’ tradition of developing young Irish players helped attract him to the club.

“I’m absolutely delighted, it’s a big dream of mine and the best moment of my career so far,’’ he said.

“There are a good few Irish connections here which helped to attract me. There are plenty of players who have come from the League of Ireland and made the step up at this club so it’s something I want to aim for.”

Nick Hammond, Reading’s director of football, believes Sweeney has the ability to go to the top.

“At the age of 17, Pierce is a young player with great potential and one we’ve identified and watched over a long period of time,’’ Hammond said.

“He is entering an excellent environment, and I know he will work extremely hard to try and realise his ambitions. The recruitment of young talent is massively important for us and after doing well in League of Ireland he will now come into our development group.”

Elsewhere Cork-born goalkeeper Colin Doyle has signed a new one-year deal with Birmingham City.

The 27-year-old Douglas man has made more than 50 appearances for the Blues’ first team and featured in several of Birmingham’s Europa League games last season, in addition to a handful of Championship fixtures and cup ties.

“I love it here at Blues. It’s a great club, a massive club,” he said.