Padraig Amond returns to League of Ireland with Waterford after 14 years abroad

Much-travelled striker Padraig Amond is making a return to League of Ireland football after 14 years abroad with his move to Waterford and he has promised to use his vast experience to guide the Blues on their return to the Premier Division.

The Carlow-born player lined out in the league for Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers before he was sold to Portuguese top flight club Pacos de Ferreira in 2010 and after a short stint there he’s spent the last 13 years with clubs across England and Wales, most recently lining out for non-league Woking under their Irish manager Michael Doyle.

But Waterford, in the market for a striker after the defection of top scorer Ronan Coughlan to parent club Fleetwood Town, have swooped as he joins other new faces like Robbie McCourt, Darragh Leahy, Kacper Radkowski, Kacper Skwierczynski, Joseph Forde (Perth Glory) and Ben McCormack in Keith Long’s squad.

“I’m delighted to have signed; delighted to be back home. Looking forward to seeing what the year is going to be like, so I’m really pleased to be here – it’s a really exciting time,” Amond said.

“I think it’s quite a young squad, so I’m hoping I can use my experiences that I’ve had in my career so far to help those younger players and which in-turn will help the club as well. I’m here to learn from them too, and use their youthful exuberance to keep me along the way as well. I met the lads this morning and they all seem to be really good. They’re all keen to learn, always asking questions so far, so long may that continue and hopefully that can be successful for us all.

“I’m really excited. I know there’s quite a lot of season tickets sold already, and the attendance in the league over the last three/four years has really shot up so it’s a really exciting time for the league, and obviously with Waterford being back in the Premier Division it’s a great opportunity for the city and for the club to build on that and the successes of the last couple of years, and in-turn hopefully that will bring more fans in through the turnstiles and bigger crowds. Hopefully the fans can get right behind us, and we can do the job on the pitch, and they support us off the field then hopefully we can have a successful year together”.

Manager Long said: “He’s given everybody a bit of a lift coming in, so it’s positive, and on a personal level I’m looking forward to working with Podge because, from a managers point of view, it’s always good to tap in to different experiences. Podge has played and had an extensive career over many-many years. That’s something that the coaching staff will look to tap into over the course of the season.”

Meanwhile, Dundalk have announced the signing of Scottish striker Jamie Gullan from Raith Rovers pending international clearance.

Gullan has made 24 appearances this season for the team that is joint top of the Scottish Championship, but he has primarily been restricted to the role of impact sub.

Dundalk have paid an undisclosed fee to bring him to Oriel Park and help to fill the void left by the departure of Patrick Hoban for Derry City.

The 24-year-old made his senior breakthrough in football with Hibernian although he spent a considerable portion of his time with the Edinburgh club on loan, including three stints at Raith prior to signing for them on a permanent basis in January 2022.

He scored 24 times in 111 appearances for Raith, although just two of those goals have come this term.

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