League leaders St Patrick's Athletic are hoping to bring in South African goalkeeper Aime Katanga as cover for Trevor Wood over the weekend but face a race against time if international clearance is to be obtained to sign the 23-year-old before Sunday's transfer deadline.

The Jamu Cosmos player was recommended to St Patrick's manager Liam Buckley by a contact familiar with the league in South Africa and St Patrick's Athletic then enlisted the help of Eoin Hand to have the goalkeeper further checked out before making an offer. If Katanga does join the champions then it will be the end of the proposed exchange deal involving Shamrock Rovers goalkeeper Robert Forde and unsettled St Patrick's defender Keith Long.

Elsewhere former Dundalk player Stephen Kelly has completed his move from Finn Harps to Longford Town while former Cork City striker Dominic Iorfa yesterday signed for Waterford United.

David Fairclough has rejoined Bohemians from Tranmere while the Dalymount Park outfit have agreed a three-year deal with Paul Byrne who joined them last month on a short-term contract.