Promising Finn Harps defender Shane Blaney joins Doncaster Rovers

Promising Finn Harps defender Shane Blaney has completed a move to English League One club Doncaster Rovers.

 

The centre-half, who signed terms with Harps for 2018 after breaking through to the first team late last year, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the Yorkshire club.

 

18-year-old Blaney was announced alongside captain Ciaran Coll as Harps' first signings ahead of the new season before Doncaster met the club's valuation.

 

The Letterkenny native made four appearances for Harps in 2017, two starts and two from the bench, as Ollie Horgan's side suffered relegated back to the First Division.

 

Blaney will go straight into the Development squad at the Keepmoat Stadium but has already set his sights on making the step up to the promotion challengers' first team.

 



“The aim is just to get as fit and strong as I can using the facilities here and put in the hard work,” Blaney told Donnie's official website.

 

“If I keep working hard I can eventually get into the first-team.

 

“I’m working with the fitness coaches now, then hopefully I can get a few games for the Development teamed show the gaffer and the lads what I can do.

 



“They played a big role, from going from my hometown clubs to Finn Harps was a big step up as well, going from the Donegal league to the League of Ireland.

 

“The coaches there, Joe Boyle and Declan Boyle, and the manager Ollie Horgan, were all brilliant with me and I can’t thank them enough.”

 

Doncaster boss Darren Ferguson added: “I’m very happy that Shane is now joining us. We have been watching his progress at Finn Harps and have had him over here a couple of times.

 

“Shane wants to take his football career to the next stage so the coaching staff and management here are very much looking forward to helping him realise his ambitions.”

 

Blaney played underage football with Illistrin and the Donegal Schoolboys League before signing with Harps' under-17 National League side in 2015.

 

He made the step up to under-19 level with Harps level before making his senior debut as a late substitute in a 2-0 win over Limerick at the Market's Field in September.