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Newly formed Galway FC has announced the signing of exciting young midfielder Ryan Connolly.

The former Derby County scholar returned to Ireland with Sligo Rovers in 2012 and played a part in the Bit o’Red’s league winning campaign.

The following season was not as fruitful for the Castlebar native, and he spent the back end of the 2013 season on loan in the First Division with Longford Town.

Connolly made one first team appearance in 2010 at the age of 18 for Derby County on the final day of the season. In 2011, he was loaned to Scottish side Ayr United, and was released from his contract with Derby at the end of their 2012 campaign.

Connolly will have last year’s play-off heartache with Longford on his mind as he will try to help Galway reach the Premier Division in 2014.

Galway manager Tommy Dunne spoke to Galwayfc.ie about the signing.

“We are very happy to sign Ryan. There was a bit of competition for him, but we got there in the end.”

Dunne added, “It is a good statement for us because we want to attract players from the region to the club and getting somebody with Ryan’s quality shows what we are about.”

Former Cork City manager Dunne also believes that his previous experience in the league will be valuable to his Galway side.

“Ryan did reasonably well with Sligo Rovers when he came home from Derby. He mightn’t have got as much time as he would have liked in his preferred central midfield role. When he went on loan to Longford, though, he got the chance to play there more often and did very well.”