O'Connor makes first signing as Athlone face daunting fixtures this weekend

Athlone Town FC manager Sean O'Connor has confirmed the signing of midfielder Sean Brennan from fellow League of Ireland First Division side Bray Wanderers.

The club is also considering a move for winger Dylan Connolly - a brother of current Athlone midfielder Aaron Connolly - and who is the only Irish player to perform at the FIFA World Club Cup (for New Zealand's Auckland City).

Connolly, said O'Connor, is returning to Ireland in the coming weeks and could be a potential signing, as he will be an unattached player. Clubs in the league can only sign unattached players for the rest of the season following the closure of the Irish transfer window last night (July 28).

O'Connor also confirmed that the signing of Rhys Brennan, on-loan from Bohemians, has not received the green light from the FAI.

Explaining the situation, O'Connor said: “It's really unfortunate with Rhys because he was with us for a few training sessions and was signing, that was the plan. But because he played in a Leinster Senior Cup game for his parent club (Bohemians), and on-loan at Cobh Ramblers in the first part of the season, he can't play for a third team in the same season. We weren't aware of his appearance in the Leinster Senior Cup, so it's disappointing for us, but also for Rhys.”

On signing Sean Brennan, O'Connor said: “I'm delighted to get Sean. I started watching him at Belvedere, in Dublin's schoolboy league, when he was around 12. He went to Southampton but has good experience since coming back to the league, at Shamrock Rovers, UCD and Bray. A few people in the league are surprised that we got him, but I made an enquiry after he wasn't playing much in recent weeks. I really like the way that he plays in midfield and he should be a really good addition.”

Athlone, who are currently four points adrift of a promotion play-off spot, face a challenging weekend.

First up they face third-placed UCD at Athlone Town Stadium on Friday (kick-off: 7.45pm) before a trip to the league's runaway leaders Cork City on Monday, August 3 (kick-off: 5pm).

O'Connor, who only joined as manager a couple of weeks ago, will definitely be without Derein Adewale and Aaron Maloney (both ruled out for the rest of the season injured), as well as Callum Cleary and Robbie Lyons, who are recovering from hand and hamstring injuries respectively.