The Imps have secured the signature of exciting young forward Dylan Duffy, from League of Ireland side University College Dublin (UCD).
It’s not a loan, don’t worry, but it is the latest in a line of recruits we’ve tempted from a growing market for clubs in our division. It’s believed the 20-year-old chose the Imps ahead of a host of clubs in the Sky Bet Championship and League One, although to be fair, that standard these days, as almost every player has a couple of options at their disposal.
Still, it’s another capture for the future, and I get the impression from what I hear we’re hoping for a Ben House-style impact, a period of settling in before we see Duffy around the first team picture.
“Firstly, I would like to thank UCD for the way in which they have worked with us to provide Dylan with this opportunity,” said everyone’s favourite punchbag, Jez George. “We really respect how they provide a platform for talented young footballers in Ireland to combine education with football at their highest level domestically.
GOAL 80’ | A brilliant finish from Dylan Duffy as he drills it into the bottom corner!! 🔵⚽️ #COYBIB
UCD AFC 2 – 2 Dundalk FC pic.twitter.com/fwIcpk0Ua5
— UCD FC (@UCDAFC) September 9, 2022
“Their manager Andy Myler did a fantastic job in keeping their team in the Premier Division last season, balancing what is best for each individual with being competitive in the league. Dylan’s progress is testament to that.
“Dylan is a talented young player, with exciting attacking attributes and potential, who will excite our fans once he has transitioned into full-time training, as he makes the huge step up into League One. We will give him time to do that, and look forward to the impact that he can make for us in the future.”
There’s not a lot of information on Duffy, but he is clearly rated in the Irish league. Before a September fixture, Derry City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins said of our new recruit: “You look at Lonergan, he’s a young centre-forward who’s scoring goals for UCD; Dylan Duffy is also scoring but, listen, they always produce players, I think we know that at this stage. They have always produced some of the best young players in the country, and I think they currently have a couple there who have big futures in the game as well so they’ll punish us if we’re not at it.”
Hopefully, the ‘big future’ he has in the game starts here at Lincoln City,