Dungannon complete triple signing ahead of big kick-off

DUNGANNON Swifts have bolstered their squad by completing the triple signing of Michael O’Connor, Darren Cole and Mayowa Aminasahun just  days before the start of the new season.

Mayowa and Cole have joined Swifts on loan from Dundalk and Glentoran respectively while O’Connor has signed a two-year deal.

The triple signing bringing to seven the new players that have arrived at Stangmore Park during the close season. Manager Dean Shiels has also signed John Scott, Brendan Barr, Dean Curry and Michael Ruddy.

No further away than Wednesday Shiels told the Herald that he was hoping to do some late business and securing all three players is a fair statement of intent.

On the new arrivals the Swifts boss said, “Mayowa is a young player with great potential.

“He has strong attributes with his pace and one-v-one defending and can play at centre back or holding midfielder. He’s just coming back from a wrist injury so will take a wee bit to get up to match fitness.

“Darren is someone who I’ve played with twice, I know him inside out. He’s played at the highest level in the Champions League knock out stages with Rangers.

“He’s a very smart player with the highest quality. In possession and out of possession he brings so much to the team. I’m delighted to bring a player of his class to the club.

“The centre forward position we’ve been struggling all summer so I’m delighted to bring Michael in on a two-year deal .

“He is a player who is still very young but played for all the biggest clubs in Ireland, north and south . I sense a great maturity about him now that was lacking before but his quality is unquestionable. We will work hard to get the best out of him. I think he’s going to be a big player for the club.”

O’Connor, 24, has a wealth of experience having previously played with Shamrock Rovers, Linfield, Ross County and Glentoran after starting out as an academy player at Dundalk.

By all accounts Swifts moved quickly in doing the deal and O’Connor is delighted to join the Tyrone club.

“The move came quick and fast. I spoke to Dean on Monday of this week and now here we are the deal is done,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to it a lot. All the lads are the same age as me, young and hungry and wanting to do well. We will hopefully have a good season. Obviously I have my own goals for the season but I’m definitely a player with a point to prove. I’d like us to finish as high up the table as possible and see where it takes us.”

Cole is an experienced defender who played for 10 years in Scotland before joining Derry City and then Glentoran.

The new arrival can play centre-back, fullback or in midfield and he said he didn’t have to think twice about joining Swifts.

“I played with Dean at Rangers and Derry City. It was easy enough for me to come here to Dungannon as we have a good relationship. The way he plays and the style of play is a real positive thing for me.

“I am looking to get three points from the get go, it’s about winning games. It’s a young squad but if you start getting points on the board early, you never know where you are going to end up. With the style of play and me being a bit older, I think I could try and help the younger players around me.”

By comparison Mayowa, 19, is young player looking to establish himself in the senior game

“Most of my appearances last year were at centre back and a bit of midfield. I would describe myself an aggressive, strong player who likes to play off the front foot. I wanted to come to The Swifts to enjoy my football and play at a good level as well as bettering myself as a player.”