Preston North End have added to their Irish contingent by signing Cork City defender Kevin O’Connor for an undisclosed fee.

The 22-year-old joins the English Championship club on a three-year-deal and will link up with them on July 24.

O'Connor's Cork City team-mate Sean Maguire will also join Preston before the start of the new season and they will link-up with Irish internationals Alan Browne, Greg Cunningham, Andy Boyle and Daryl Horgan.

Speaking about his move, O’Connor told the Preston official website: "I'm delighted to sign, it's a massive opportunity, I'm just looking forward to getting started now and I couldn't be happier to sign.

"From the first minute the club showed an interest in me they were keen to sign me and they were the ones who pursued it. It's a great club, a big club and there's a big fan base here so I'm just excited to get started.

"I know a few of the boys already obviously with Sean [Maguire] moving over and Alan [Browne], that will help me settle in quicker, but I wasn't really thinking of that, I was just delighted to be joining, but that is always helpful when you know a couple of the boys.

"I played against a couple of the boys last year in Boyle and Horgan so I'm just looking forward to seeing all the lads now and getting sorted.

"I can't wait now, as a kid growing up you would be following it and now to actually get the chance to play in it is just exciting and I can't wait to get started."

Cork boss John Caulfield added: "While we never want a player to move on during the season, it shows how far the club has come and it is a fantastic deal for Kevin which puts him at a higher level.

"It also increases his chances of coming into the reckoning for an international call-up as well."

From next Monday (July 3) Soccer Republic will be available live on RTÉ Player at 6.30pm ahead of its usual slot on RTÉ2 at 10.55pm.

Peter Collins will be joined in studio by Alan Cawley and Stuart Byrne as they take a look back at the weekend's SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games as well as highlights of the three Irish clubs in Europa League qualifying action.

Soccer Republic - Monday 3 July, 6.30pm on RTÉ Player and 10.55pm on RTÉ2