Dean Shiels has been a busy man this week and has completed his fourth signing. We welcome, central defender, Keith Cowan, who joins us after most recently having been on the books of Glentoran FC.
Manager, Dean Shiels with new signing, Keith Cowan.
Cowan, a PE teacher from Donegal, signs on a one year deal after his contract expired with the East Belfast side.
The 6’2″ defender has also played for and Captained Finn Harps in the League of Ireland and joins us with plenty of experience under his belt. He obtained an Irish Cup Winners Medal in 2020 with Glentoran.
New signing, Defender, Keith Cowan.
“It feels great to have signed for the Swifts. I’m very excited. I’ve spoken to Dean (Shiels) quite a few times and I’m excited about what he’s trying to do here. I enjoyed my time at Glentoran but I got frustrated massively about lack of minutes and game time. I know they had a big squad and it was hard to break through, maybe not being full time was part of that. That’s all very much in the past now as I’m looking forward to getting started with Dungannon. Everything is about the collective really, understandably I want to get more game time and minutes and be in the managers thoughts for every game but it’s very much so about the collective. I want to try and push on up the table. I think last year was a bit false in terms of how Dungannon finished up the table. I think it’s trying to give something for the fans to smile about and make them proud of the Club. Being a threat to a couple of big teams in the league I think is a fair enough aim for the season!”
Keith Cowan
Manager Dean Shiels is very happy to get the signing of Keith over the line. He had this to say;
“Keith’s a leader, he’s going to bring leadership qualities that we have lacked. He’s a winner, he’s had a great career. He’s hungry to come here and do well. He will give us something that we lacked badly last year, he’s aggressive in both boxes, he wants to defend. I’m delighted to get him!”
Dean Shiels
Welcome to Stangmore Park, Keith. We wish you every success as a Dungannon Swifts player.
Goalkeeper Alex Moore, has re-joined the club on a season long loan from Linfield Football Club.
Moore, comes as no stranger to Stangmore as he previously spent the 2018/19 season also on loan from Linfield. He returned back to Linfield where he has spent the last couple of seasons.
Twenty two year old Alex, who was number two GK at double winners Linfield, will come to Dungannon Swifts with the hope of getting plenty more first team football under his belt again. The Lisburn native is eager to get started at Stangmore.
“It’s good to be back, I’ve had a year of not playing enough. I feel like coming here will coming here will give me an opportunity to get some more game time to show what I can do. I want to play as many games as I can this year and as well as I can and help the team finish as high up the table as possible. I loved it here the last time, we had plenty of good results, we got to the quarter final of the Irish Cup. It maybe ended up in disappointment as I felt like we should have went a bit further. I want to try and help the team do as best as possible this year again.”
Alex Moore
“Alex is a young keeper who has developed a lot since he was last at the Club. He comes highly recommenced by Roy Carroll, by David Healy and a lot of people in the game. I think he’s got the feet and distribution that is going to suit us playing out from the back. He’s going to be a big asset to us, I’m excited to see him play.”
Dean Shiels
Welcome back to Stangmore Park, Alex. Good luck! We look forward to seeing you playing again really soon.
Dean Shiels has moved quickly to secure the signature of James Knowles after he was released from Ballymena United.
Manager, Dean Shiels and new signing, James Knowles.
Knowles, 28, joins from the Braidmen on a one year deal.
James, who can play in a few positions in the midfield, started his footballing career off when he signed a professional deal with English side Blackburn Rovers in 2009 from Lisburn Distillery Youth.
Knowles spent 3 years at Ewood Park before returning back to Northern Ireland to sign for Cliftonville FC. Since then, he has represented Linfield, Ards (Loan), Glentoran, and most recently Ballymena United where he spent the last three seasons at the Showgrounds.
“James is a player I’ve always liked. I’ve watched James career for a long time and I know the ability he has. He’s courageous on the ball, wants the ball in tight areas, he’s got a great range of passing and he’s a typical midfielder that will suit our style of play. I’m excited to watch him next season and I’m really delighted to get him on board.”
Dean Shiels
New signing, Midfielder – James Knowles.
“I’m over the moon to sign for the Club. I spoke to Dean at the start of the week and was happy with everything he had to say. He obviously seen me play last year. I loved the way Dean was trying to implement the way the team was trying to play. I seen it from a far and thought it could suit my style of play, so after speaking to the manager I felt I didn’t need to look any further. I’m looking forward to getting going and hopefully show what I can do.”
Dean Shiels has strengthened his squad by bringing in full back Micheál Glynn on loan from Derry City FC.
Swifts Manager Dean Shiels with new signing Micheál Glynn.
Glynn, 19, joined the Candystripes in February 2021 from Ballinamallard United FC where he spent six years with the Fermanagh Club.
“Micheál is an exciting young player, he’s versatile he can play left back, left wing back, left centre back and he’s a player that will suit the style. He can receive the ball he’s dynamic, he gets forward and I’m delighted to get him.”
Dean Shiels
In his early career, Micheál, started off with Enniskillen Rangers before moving to Ferney Park. He spent two years with the senior squad and played along side our first new signing of the season, Darragh McBrien. Glynn was also part of the squad with Ballinamallard Utd when they lost out to Crusaders in the 2019 Irish Cup Final.
Micheál has represented Northern Ireland at Under age level where he was part of the squad for the U17 European Championships. Glynn is also a talented Gaelic Footballer and was instrumental in the winning of the MacRory Cup and Hogan Cup titles in 2019 with his school, St Michael’s Enniskillen.
“I’m delighted to be here, I can’t wait to get going, meet the lads and hit the ground running. Darragh (McBrien) and I are very close. He would be one of my closest friends. We’ve grown up together playing football at Ballinamallard, playing Gaelic together at St Michael’s and known how each other play. We know how well each other play. It was a great move for me to go to Derry City to be in and around full-time football everyday has helped me massively improve as a player. I think that will benefit me in my time at Dungannon and I can’t wait to get games under my belt. Personally I want to play as best as I can for this Club and give it my all. For the Club I hope to get as many wins under our belts as possible and progress from last season. The only way is up!”
Micheál Glynn
Welcome to Stangmore, Micheál! We wish you all the very best in a Dungannon Swifts Jersey!
Back Row L-R: Jamie Smith (Head of Academy Recruitment at Derby County, Keith Boyd (Chairman) & Dean Shiels (First Team Manager) Front Row L-R: Dixie Robinson (Head of Youth Development) & Darren Robinson
Teenage midfielder, Darren Robinson, has signed a Professional Contract with English Championship side Derby County.
Robinson, 16, arrived at Dungannon two years ago from Portadown and has just made his debut for the Club coming on in the last game of the season against Glenavon.
Darren Robinson pictured with proud parents Zelda & Malcolm
An obviously excited Darren Robinson has signed a three year deal with the Championship club and can’t wait to get started.
“Its all I’ve wanted to do ever since I started playing football, to get over the water, I’m over the moon to sign for Derby. I’ve loved every minute of my time here at Dungannon. Dixie, Keith and everyone else have treated me so well and its been a great experience training with the first team.
I chose Derby firstly because the facilities are excellent and the place itself s nice too. I felt more at home there and I really enjoyed my time when I was there.”
Speaking back in January, when “Robbo” as he is known to his teammates, signed his first professional deal with Dungannon spoke very highly of the club.
“I’m very happy to sign my first professional contract and I can’t thank Dungannon Swifts enough for how they have treated me over the last two seasons.”
Darren Robinson speaking in January 2021
Head of Youth Development, Dixie Robinson, is a very proud man having seen another one of the exciting young prospects have a crack over the water.
“Darren has been excellent ever since he has came in. He got the chance to go over to Fleetwood in the winter and he asked could he train with the first team due to COVID restrictions and to be fair to him he has trained so well he has stayed with the first team since. Robbo has also been over at Stoke and most recently Derby where he has decided to sign for on a three year deal.”
Looking to follow in the footsteps of Sean McAllister (Everton), Aaron Donnelly (Nottingham Forest) and Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Dixie believes Darren has what it takes to succeed in the professional game.
“Darren has a great attitude, works tremendously hard, technically very good and he gets about the pitch and I’ve no doubt, with the mindset that he has, I think he will go a long way in the game.”
All the best “Robbo”, everyone at Dungannon Swifts FC wishes you every success at Derby County.
Darragh McBrien along with Dungannon Swifts Manager, Dean Shiels
Dean Shiels has captured the signing of the much sought after Darragh McBrien after beating off competition from Premiership Clubs including Glenavon and Cliftonville.
“Darragh is an exciting talent and I’m really excited to work with him. He is a player that a lot of people won’t know a lot about but im sure they will in a years time. He is a really promising player with a real hunger and desire, he has electric pace and most importantly he is a goal threat. He has turned down some big clubs to sign for Dungannon Swifts which says a lot about his mentality and his desire to come to the club and I’m delighted to have him.”
Dean Shiels – Dungannon Swifts Manager
McBrien, 19, joins on a three year deal from Ferney Park outfit, Ballinamallard United FC.
Ballinamallard United Academy product McBrien attracted attention from a few clubs last summer but decided to stay and develop further with the Championship club.
Darragh featured in the friendly between Dungannon Swifts u20’s and Ballinamallard United as part of the Fermanagh sides preparation for this seasons Irish Cup and caught the attention of Dean Shiels.
“He tore our u20’s to pieces that night, he’s direct and he has an eye for goal. He gets his shots off and there is end product there which we are lacking”
Darragh also was part of the Ballinamallard United side that reached the final of the 2019 Irish Cup, unfortunately losing out to Crusaders.
Darragh McBrien in action for Ballinamallard United FC
“I’m thrilled to have signed for Dungannon Swifts. I’m looking forward to working under Dean and making the step up to the Danske Bank Premiership. I feel like the style of play that the manager wants to implement here suits my style of play. I just can’t wait to get started, meet all the lads and hit the ground running from the get go”
Darragh McBrien – Dungannon Swifts
Welcome to Dungannon Swifts, Darragh! We wish you every success in a Dungannon Swifts jersey.
