Barnsley have completed their move for Shamrock Rovers wing-back Barry Cotter as St Pat’s swooped for Orlando City’s Jake Mulraney.
Cotter, 24, leaves the League of Ireland champions for a fee in the region of £20,000 after falling out of favour.
He had been loaned to St Pat’s midway through last season and excelled for the Saints who were keen to keep him going into 2023.
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But still under contract, Rovers were reluctant to sell to a direct rival and that opened the door for League One playoff contenders Barnsley to take a punt.
Ennis man Cotter - who was previously at Ipswich Town - has signed a three-and-a-half year contract and said: “It’s a great opportunity and I’m absolutely buzzing.
“I can’t wait to hit the ground running. It’s a huge club with great history. I’m over the moon.”
Barnsley chief executive Khaled El-Ahmad said: "We’re pleased to bring Barry to Oakwell.
“We look forward to seeing him work with Michael (Duff) and the staff out on the training pitch and wish him a warm welcome.”
But St Pat’s bolstered their squad nonetheless by sealing a deal for winger Mulraney who is returning home for the first time since joining Nottingham Forest in 2012.
Since then, he has played for QPR, Dagenham (loan), Stevenage (loan), Inverness and Hearts before moving to America in 2020 with Atlanta United and then Orlando City.
Mulraney, 26, who had interest from other League of Ireland clubs and in the UK, worked with Saints assistant Jon Daly during his time with Hearts and that is what sealed the move to Richmond Park.
An Orlando City statement suggested a fee was paid when it said "as per Club policy, terms of the transfer were not disclosed."
But Mulraney said: "I've heard a lot of good things about the club and have been watching the games and the highlights in America. I know the club is on the up. I've been away for years so myself and the family are delighted to be home.”
And St Pat’s boss Tim Clancy said of the former Crumlin United schoolboy: “He was of interest to us last year while he was still in the MLS.
“So when we heard about the possibility of him coming home, we were interested in signing him straight away.
“He's an old school winger with lots of pace, who likes to create and score goals and we think he'll fit perfectly into our squad and the way we are trying to play.”
Clancy added: “There was a lot of interest in Jake and he had a number of other offers, so we’re very happy he chose St Pat’s.”
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