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Cork City boss John Caufield has strengthened his midfield options with the addition of Conor McCormack from Derry City.

The Carlingford native arrives at Turners Cross after an 18-month spell in Derry, having originally joined the Candystripes from St Patrick's Athletic midway through the 2015 season.

“Over the last few years, since I came back to the League, Cork has always been a tough place to come to,” McCormack told the City website.

“They are always a tough team to play against so it’s great I can be part of the team for the upcoming season.

“I had a couple of offers on the table but when I met with John, I liked the feeling I had. I talked to players that are already here and they told me that it’s a great club, a club that’s going places.

“We’ll definitely be up there challenging [for the League] next year and hopefully we can win it.

“I want to play well myself next season but it’s always about the team and I’m a team player. I want to win the League next year, the Cup as well and have a good run in Europe.

“You get to play against the top players from across the leagues in Europe, in top stadiums and with massive crowds and that’s where any footballer wants to be.”

Caulfield added: “I’m delighted to get Conor on board. He’s a very experienced lad. He started with Rovers and was with Pat’s when they won the League.

“In the last two seasons, he very much came into his own in Derry and you can see by his appearances that he literally played every match.

“We’re getting a player in the prime of his career – he’s the right age, he’s energetic, he can pass the ball and he creates things.

“[He has a ] great work ethic, great attitude, and [is] a player that will mould in very well into the set up here.”

The versatile midfielder – who has also played a lot of football at right-back – began his senior career at Manchester United but left without making a senior appearance.

An unhappy spell with Serie B side Triestina in Italy followed before Shamrock Rovers boss Michael O'Neill brought him back to Ireland in 2011.

He won the league title with the Hoops and was part of the squad that made the group stages of the Europa League before moving across the city to Pats in 2013.

McCormack is City's third new signing for 2017, following the capture of striker Achille Campion and midfielder Jimmy Keohane from Sligo Rovers.