Last updated on .From the section St Mirren

Jamie McGrath, left, won the League of Ireland league title in each of his two years with Dundalk

St Mirren have signed League of Ireland pair Conor McCarthy and Jamie McGrath on two-and-a-half year deals.

Attacking midfielder McGrath, 23, joins the Scottish Premiership side from champions Dundalk, where he was out of contract after more than 100 appearances in two years.

Centre-back McCarthy, 21, has played over 50 games for Cork City.

"Jamie's a really exciting one," St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin said of the former Ireland Under-21 international.

"He's been a big player for Dundalk and key to their success of recent seasons. He can play a number of positions across the front area. He's technically very good and very comfortable on the ball."

St Mirren are 10th in the top flight, a point above Hamilton Academical and six clear of Hearts, and McCarthy's arrival bolsters an injury-hit defence further weakened by loan defender Sean McLoughlin's return to Hull City.

"Conor ticks all the boxes," Goodwin added. "He is one that we looked at in the summer but couldn't do anything about it then.

"I have seen him in the flesh, Gus [MacPherson] has seen him in the flesh and we have watched a lot of footage on him. The references we got from people that I know over there were fantastic as well."

Meanwhile, St Mirren have also confirmed that defender Jack Baird's loan to Championship side Morton has been extended until the end of the season.

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