League of Ireland:Jason Byrne is set to complete his return to League of Ireland football today. The striker, whose medical at Bohemians last night threw up a minor hamstring problem, hopes to receive final clearance from club doctors this afternoon, in which case he will sign a three-year deal.
The 29-year-old had turned down offers from Scottish clubs Kilmarnock and Dundee, to be reunited with Pat Fenlon, the manager with whom he enjoyed such success at Shelbourne, and Glen Crowe, his former strike partner at the Tolka Park club.
The move, which has been the subject of speculation since Fenlon succeeded Sean Connor at Bohemians, ends an unhappy year for the Dubliner with Cardiff City, where he failed to make the impact he would have hoped for. He made just two starts for the English Championship outfit.
Although he scored on his debut for the club against Wolves, he didn't find the net again in nine more appearances, and he always looked set to be left on the sidelines after the summer despite deciding to stay on and fight for another opportunity to prove his worth.
For Fenlon, his signing is a major boost, as goals were hard to come by for Bohemians last season. Under Connor, the club had the best defence in the league but scored significantly fewer than the other top-four sides.
Crowe, who returned to his former club from Shelbourne 12 months ago, ended up as top scorer but with only eight goals.
Byrne, in contrast, had finished each of the previous four campaigns as the league's top scorer with an average of 21 goals a season.
During their time together at Tolka Park, he and Crowe also proved to be a prolific partnership despite suggestions from critics that they did not entirely complement each other's strengths.
Byrne's arrival at Dalymount significantly increases the chances that former Shamrock Rovers and Longford striker Dave Mooney will join Cork City over the coming weeks.
Mooney has been on trial with a number of clubs in Britain since the end of the season here, but he has not received an attractive enough offer. Now, with the prospect of an offer from Bohemians all but gone and Alan Mathews set to be unveiled as Cork's new manager before the end of the week, the young Dubliner is likely to head for Turner's Cross.
The striker is certainly one of Mathews' targets, but George O'Callaghan has also been sounded out about a return to Turner's Cross, as have Jamie Harris and Bobby Ryan.
O'Callaghan, a huge favourite with the City supporters before personal problems and a falling out with then manager Damien Richardson prompted his departure, is said to be inclined to come home. The 28-year-old is currently on loan at Brighton, for whom he has played 15 times this season, from Ipswich.
Ryan has been a target for St Patrick's Athletic manager John McDonnell and is expected to join the Inchicore outfit, while Harris may stay on at Dunfermline, having recently regained his place in the team there.
Confirmation of Mathews' appointment will end a difficult period for Cork City, which chose to dispense with Richardson's services despite December's cup final success.
The former Longford boss is set to relocate and take leave of absence from his job with Ulster Bank to devote all of his energy to the challenge at Turner's Cross. He inherits a squad of many talented players and perhaps the league's best midfield.
Finn Harps, meanwhile, have released three members of their promotion-winning squad: David Divin, Séamus Browne and John O'Loughlin.
Manager Paul Hegarty recently signed long-time Derry City striker Gary Beckett, and the club said a number of new arrivals are set to be confirmed in the next fortnight.
