Former Celtic and Southend midfielder Paul Byrne was one of several players on the move in the National League yesterday with the Dubliner joining Shelbourne on a month's trial.
Byrne was released earlier this month by Irish League club Glenavon and Shelbourne manager Dermot Keely is hoping that he can succeed, where several others have failed, by getting the best of a player who has given only fleeting glimpses of what he can do during what has, so far, been an erratic career in senior football.
Keely made two other signings yesterday, central defender Damien Maher becoming the latest player to move from Whitehall to Tolka Park and Kris Pozniak, a 17-year-old left winger who has a number of underage caps with Canada to his credit.
All three players will sit out tomorrow's game in Cork, as will striker Pat Morley whose transfer to City, which was completed earlier this week, included a clause prohibiting him from taking part in this match.
In his absence and with Gerald Dobbs carrying a shoulder injury, John Caulfield will start the game for the home side. Dave Barry will also be without Kelvin Flanagan, who has a hamstring problem, while the visitors, still without the injured Pat Scully, add Mick Neville to the squad.
Derry City also added to their panel yesterday with Marty McCann, a player who started his career with the Candystripes some seven years ago before moving on to Finn Harps and then Cliftonville, returning to the Brandywell from the Irish League champions.
The left sided midfielder, who has signed until the end of the season, goes straight into caretaker manager Kevin Mahon's squad for the derby game with Finn Harps. City's Paul Curran is again rated doubtful for the game due to a groin injury but the defender stands a far better chance of appearing than striker Michael McHugh who is still struggling with an achilles tendon strain.
Charlie McGeever has a close to full strength squad for the shortest away trip of the season, only the suspended Davie Dowling will be absent and while the Harps boss reckons that his side will not have a better opportunity to upset their neighbours at the Brandywell, Mahon is banking on the "professionalism of the players here to see us through because after the defeat here by Bohemians, it's imperative that we win this match".
Bohemians will have to wait to see whether Derek Swan will be fit to face Waterford in the day's other game. The striker has a groin strain which may keep him out, but Turlough O'Connor and Roddy Collins know that they will have to cope without the services of Robbie Brunton and Donal Broughan, both of whom are still suspended.
In the First Division, John Grace is likely to line out for Limerick against Drogheda after signing for Dave Connell on a game to game basis as cover for the absent Eddie Hickey. Sean Byrne misses the game due to the start of a three game suspension but Martin Beggs returns for United after missing his three games.
Andy Ramage is likely to make his debut for St Francis in tomorrow's home game against Longford Town while Ricky O'Flaherty is expected to come into the starting line-up for the first time since returning to Galway United for the match against Monaghan United at Gortakeegan.
Billy Bagster, who had been hoping to sign Paul Byrne for Monaghan, has several players back in his panel with Karl Wilson, James O'Callaghan, Mick Scully and Joe Hanrahan all in the reckoning for a return to the first team.
