Manorhamilton's Eanna Clancy departs Sligo Rovers for UCD Football Scholarship

Manorhamilton’s Eanna Clancy will begin a new chapter in his sporting career after it was confirmed that the Sligo Rovers star has departed the Bit O’Red and will join UCD on a full-time football scholarship.

Clancy, who signed his first contract last August, has made a huge impression with Sligo Rovers over the last year and a half and will now join SSE Airtricity Premier Division rivals UCD who currently sit bottom of the table.

Sligo Rovers confirmed the news on Wednesday with Eanna thanking everyone connected with the club for all they have done for him since he first joined the club from Manorhamilton Rangers as a 14 year old.

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Speaking to sligorovers.com, Eanna said “’I’d like to say a massive thank you to all the great people working in the Academy and the club for developing me as a player and as a person from when I joined the club as a 14-year-old. I wish the players and staff all the best for the rest of the season and I want to say a huge thank you to the supporters and all the volunteers for all the work they do at the club and for making me feel so welcome.

“I will never forget my debut last season and the experience I have had in the past few years involved with this great club and I am now excited about the challenge ahead both academically and on the pitch.”

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell said “I’d like to wish Eanna the best of luck on his move to UCD. Having spoken to Eanna last year, I knew this was an opportunity he was likely to take up. Eanna came up through our academy and broke into the first team squad last year.

CLANCY JOINS UCD⬇️

Eanna Clancy has today joined UCD to take up a football scholarship at the University

Clancy joined the club as a 14-year-old, signing as a pro in 2022

We wish Eanna the best of luck for the future⬜️

Story: https://t.co/sf8qlPksjD#bitored pic.twitter.com/KEouCjtyHQ

— Sligo Rovers (@sligorovers) July 5, 2023

“This season he has played a lot of games and gained a huge amount of experience. He has shown great promise for such a young player and I’m sure he will have a great career ahead of him.”

Clancy joined Rovers’ Academy from Manorhamilton Rangers and signed his first professional contract last August, making 16 appearances, scoring once against Cork City earlier this season at The Showgrounds. The Leitrim native has made ten appearances so far in 2023 however has missed the last month or so with a hamstring injury.

Concluding their statement, Sligo Rovers said “Everyone at Sligo Rovers would like to wish Eanna the very best of luck in his future academy and football career and we thank him for his service to the club.”