Graham Lawlor (20), who has played for Bohemians for the last two seasons as an amateur, yesterday signed professional forms for the club in an important development at the start of Joe McGrath's reign as manager.

Lawlor, acknowledged as one of the brightest prospects in the domestic game, scored 13 times for Bohemians last season.

The club plans to announce three more signings shortly in their drive to break the stranglehold which St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne have exerted on the game.

FAI Cup winners Cork City must start next season without John Caulfield and Kelvin Flanagan. Both have been suspended for one game after breaching the 20 penalty points limit.