General
- Friday November 25th, 2022 @ 17:00
#SAINTS2023 | Tommy Lonergan Returns
St Patrick's Athletic are delighted to confirm that Tommy Lonergan has returned to the club on a multi-year contract.
The 18-year-old spent the 2022 season with UCD AFC and scored the goal that kept them in the Premier Division.
That header at Richmond Park earlier this month helped The Students to a 1-0 win against Waterford in the relegation/promotion play-off final.
Lonergan scored 12 goals in 25 appearances for UCD in league and cup last season.
Tommy is no stranger to The Super Saints having played for our Saints Academy for thee years, winning the league and cup double with our U15s in his debut season in 2019.
He also played for our U17s and U19s across the next two years, finishing top scorer in the U19 EA Sports National League with 19 goals in 2021 and featured in the UEFA Youth League against Red Star Belgrade during that campaign.
The Ireland underage international made his first team debut for St Pat's in a 6-0 FAI Cup win against Bray Wanderers in July 2021.
Having turned down other offers to return to Richmond Park, Lonergan is delighted to be back and spoke to our Youtube channel shortly after signing his contract:
"It's great to be back and I feel at home already. I've been chatting to Tim Clancy and he convinced me to come back. I know St Pat's inside out and I feel it is a great place for me to progress and to continue my career.
I had a great three years spell in the Pat's Academy, scoring goals and winning trophies with brilliant players who have also progressed at the club from the Academy into the first team and I'll be hoping to do similar. St Pat's is a great place for young players to play football.
I'm really looking forward to being a full time footballer, it will be unbelievable to wake up every day and go into training, I'll relish the opportunity and wont take it granted and I'll be giving by all for this club.
Manager Tim Clancy added:
"I'm delighted that Tommy is returning to the club. There was a lot of competition for Tommy both from within the League of Ireland and further afield, so it's a real coup for us to get him back.
He had a very good year last season at UCD and played a key role in their survival. Especially after Colm Whelan got injured, a lot of people thought UCD might have fallen away but it shows the quality that Tommy has to score the goals that he did to help them stay in the Premier Division.
We are hoping that we can continue to help Tommy develop and get better. He will improve our squad in the attacking areas, and will hopefully score some goals for St Pat's.
He knows the club well having been here before and we are looking forward to working with him in what will hopefully be a successful season for Tommy and the club."
