McDonnell signs for Shelbourne

Stephen McDonnell

Local footballer Stephen McDonnell last night signed a contract with Shelbourne for next season.

The former Quay Celtic and Glasgow Celtic midfielder has played for Dundalk FC for since March 2010 and will be best remembered by Lilywhites’ supporters for scoring a crucial late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Waterford United in the first leg of the 2012 promotion/relegation play-off.

McDonnell’s role was limited with Dundalk this season as he made just 11 league appearances and the 21-year-old will be hoping to reignite his career with a move to Tolka Park.

Commenting on his Twitter page, McDonnell said he was “delighted” to have signed with Shelbourne and said he was targeting an instant return to the Premier Division following their relegation last season.

He also thanked Dundalk FC for the last four years.

Celtic insist their thoughts are with ill Dundalk legend McConville

Tommy McConville (right) with former Celtic captain Tom Boyd ahead of Dundalk’s friendly clash with the Glasgow outfit earlier this year

Celtic Football Club have issued a get well soon message to Dundalk legend Tommy McConville on their official website.

Tommy, who played an incredible 580 times for the Lilywhites between 1964 and 1986, was in the Beaumont Hospital last week due to illness.

He did get out in time for yesterday’s victory over Drogheda Utd but before that Celtic issued a message saying that the “thoughts and prayers of everyone at Celtic are with Tommy and his family at this time.”

Tommy famously missed a chance to knock Celtic out of the European Cup when he missed a guilt-edged chance in the second leg of the European Cup clash between the pair at Oriel Park in the 1979/80 campaign.

Celtic had been leading 3-2 from the first leg but a goal for Dundalk in the return leg, which finished 0-0, would have seen them advance to the next round to face Real Madrid.

Tommy has also coached Dundalk over the years and is a hugely popular figure both in the town and around the country.

Read the tribute to Tommy here.