Injured Cork City captain Johnny Dunleavy signs new contract

Club captain Johnny Dunleavy has signed for the new season with Cork City though it looks like being March at the earliest before he will be ready to return to action.

The Donegal man will miss the start of the season in February, as he continues his recovery from the cruciate knee injury he suffered in the 4-1 victory over Limerick at Turner’s Cross last June.

The injury meant Dunleavy had to look on from the sidelines as City won the double but it’s a measure of his determination to return and the regard in which the versatile defender is held, that he becomes the latest City player to agree a new deal.

Ryan Connolly has rejoined Galway United after spending a season with Shamrock Rovers. The midfield playmaker was voted on the First Division Team of the Year in his first season at Eamonn Deacy Park and captained the club in 2016.

Another Rovers man on the move is 19-year-old James Doona who has joined St Patrick’s Athletic. Doona’s signing follows confirmation that Barry Murphy and Ian Turner have re-signed.

Meanwhile, Dundalk have confirmed that John Mountney has signed a new contract.

Mountney is the club’s joint longest serving player having signed in 2012 along with Chris Shields and has made 212 appearances.