17 February 2017; Kevin O'Connor of Cork celebrates after scoring his side's second goal with teammates during the President's Cup match between Dundalk and Cork City at Turner's Cross in Cork. Photo by David Maher/Sportsfile

PRESTON North End have made another move into the League of Ireland market - and the Cork City dressing room - to agree a deal to sign left back Kevin O'Connor.

O'Connor will follow in the footsteps of team-mate Sean Maguire after it was announced over the weekend that the prolific striker had signed a three year deal to join the Championship side at the end of July.

Simon Grayson has been tracking the Wexford native for some time and it's understood that agreement has been reached on a fee to bring the 22-year-old to Deepdale.

Confirmation of the deal is expected before the end of this week, but it's unclear at this point when O'Connor will formally move across. The terms of the Maguire arrangement allow the front man to contribute to Cork City's early stage Europa League qualifiers.

Grayson came to Ireland in April to watch Maguire and O'Connor play for the runaway league leaders in their win away to St Patrick's Athletic.

They will join a large Irish contingent at the club that includes ex-Dundalk pair Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle who were snapped up last winter off the back of their Europa League exploits with Cork City's rivals.

Online Editors