Dundalk completed their close season squad overhaul in one fell swoop last night.
Robbie Benson moved to Oriel Park from Belfield and Patrick McEleney chose a move to the champions over St Patrick's Athletic after having turned down the offer of a new contract with home town club Derry City. The pair, both of whom will live locally, have signed one- and two-year deals respectively.
Benson was unveiled to some acclaim at a packed Táin theatre which had been booked for the launch of the club’s new kit, made for the first time by local firm CX Sports, an offshoot of the successful Horseware brand.
Word of McEleney’s impending arrival was also doing the rounds amongst the assembled crowd (which included former managers Jim McLaughlin, Turlough O’Connor and Dermot Keely and many ex-players) before the midfielder arrived mid-event to confirm the deal was done himself.
“It was a long process involving a lot of phone-calls,” he said “but I was always coming here, it just came down to getting it over the last couple of hurdles. That happened today and I’m glad to be here.
“It was tough to leave Derry but I wanted to win titles and that’s why I’ve come here. They’re league champions, FAI Cup holders and I hated playing against them. I knew Stephen well and he got the best out of me before. He gave me my chance then played me every week until I left and I’ve loads of respect for him.”
His former club Derry are likely to receive significant compensation due to the player’s age.
Long way
But if he can deliver on his potential, McEleney can go a very long way to fill the void left by Richie Towell’s departure to Brighton while Benson, at his best, can also bring goals to a side that got 29 from the departing midfielder in all competition’s last season.
“Of course we’re disappointed about Richie going,” said Kenny, “(but) they are two of the most natural footballers you could ever see. Patrick McEleney’s probably the most natural football that there’s been in the league since Paddy McCourt. What a footballer!
“I gave Patrick his debut at Derry when he was 17 and he got 14 goals for me in the first division. Then the following year he was outstanding. Eamon Zayed got player of the year and he played behind Zayed.
“He’s had a slightly up and down few years since then; he’s been a bit erratic; moments of magic and some great goals but it’s been injury interrupted. Anytime I went to look at him he always seemed to feel that he had to do something exceptional and it didn’t always come off.
Terrific dribbler
“But we dominate possession in nearly all of the games that we play so he’ll have a lot of the ball and so while we’ll look for him to give it simple when that’s the best option, the opportunities for him to be creative will certainly be there.
“Robbie Benson is terrific as well; another natural footballer. He was at Athlone when I was with Derry in the First Division and I was aware of him then. Robbie’s a terrific dribbler, breaks from midfield very quickly, plays sharp one-twos and gets goals. Obviously it’s a step up for him but he has a great attitude and he wants to improve.”
Benson, who recently finished a masters in actuarial science, certainly feels he can make his mark.
“I enjoyed my time at UCD,” he says, “I’m very grateful for everything that they gave me but it’s my time now to kick on as a player and everyone there understands that. I think this is the right move at the right time.
“Every player who has come here has improved. If I work hard and give it my all I don’t see any reason why I can’t make that step up.”
With Sean Maguire looking set to depart, possibly for Cork City, and Ciaran O’Connor likely to return after his loan spell at Derry City, Dundalk’s squad for 2016 now looks to be complete well in advance of a start a season which which they will be aiming to defend the league’s main trophies.
