Waterford FC is delighted to announce the capture of PFAI First Division Goalkeeper of the Year Niall Corbet from UCD. The 23-year-old shot-stopper is the second player from County Laois to join the club for the new season, following in the footsteps of fellow PFAI First Division Team of the Year member, Garry Comerford.

With interest high in Corbet, the Blues fought off stiff competition for the midlander’s signature, following his eye catching performances between the sticks for ‘The Students’ during 2017. Niall started 27 of a possible 28 league games last season and kept three clean sheets in his final four league outings to finish 2017 strongly. He will compete with Tramore man Matthew Connor in 2018 for the starting berth heading into the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division campaign.

Speaking on signing for the Blues, Niall commented:

“I am delighted to sign for Waterford and I look forward to the challenge of full time football in 2018. Playing against the club four times last year you could clearly see something big was happening.

“I spoke with several players at the club and they spoke very highly of the management team and structure in place, the levels of professionalism on display at the club was a big attraction to me.”

Leaving UCD wasn’t easy for Corbet who spent six years at Belfield. Commenting on his former club, Corbet remarked:

“I had a great six years at UCD. The club did a lot for me during that time and I will always have fond memories of playing with UCD at every level from U19, Leinster Senior League, Premier Division and First Division. UCD gave me the opportunity to play at the top level and trusted me with their number 1 jersey; I owe them a lot for my development as a goalkeeper during my time at the club.”

Corbet is under no illusion that the step up to the Premier Division for both himself and his new club won’t be an easy challenge but it is one that he relishes. He added:

“Waterford were very strong last season. They attracted some top players and you could see that in the way they played exciting football. They had a huge following which made it such an enjoyable game experience each time I played at the RSC.

“I have a big challenge ahead with Matt (Connor) who is obviously a top keeper, so having a weekly battle with him will hopefully push us both on and help our development as well as benefiting the team overall. We will be facing strong opposition every week so that competition has to drive both us to perform on the pitch.”

Corbet becomes the fourteenth member of the Blues’ squad to be named ahead of its return to the top flight of Irish football for the first time in ten years.