Shamrock Rovers have completed a double swoop for UCD duo Gary O'Neill and Neil Farrugia.
Midfielder O'Neill and winger Farrugia will offer a boost to Rovers' title-chasing squad with manager Stephen Bradley hoping to increase his side's goal-scoring threat.
Farrugia is believed to have spurned several offers from English clubs in order to link up with Rovers and will combine his playing and training time with his studies at UCD as he aims to complete his degree in Biomedical Science.
The Ireland Under-21 international will remain in Ireland to finish his studies before contemplating a move to the UK and, all going well, should graduate next summer.
O'Neill began his career in England with Port Vale, Southport (on loan) and Hereford United before joining UCD in 2015.
His nine goals helped UCD to promotion from the First Division as champions in 2018 and the Kerry-born midfielder has scored twice in 19 appearances in this year's Premier Division.
Bradley welcomed the signing of both players and said; "We have goals from all over the pitch in this team and Neil and Gary will just add to that. They've shown that they can create and score goals and I'm sure they'll bring that to us.
"Both of them, once we sat down with them and gave them our plan of where we see them here, they were very keen to get it done. It was great that both were very interested and wanted to get it done quickly and thankfully we did.
"Neil is very athletic, quick and direct. He's different to what we have currently in the squad and a player we've liked for quite some time.
"We've known about other interest in him but we're delighted that he sees his football at Shamrock Rovers. He's only young, he's done well so far and there's still so much more to come from him. Hopefully we can see that here at this club."
