Dan Tobin moves to Wexford for 2020

Wexford have boosted their squad for the new season with the welcome addition of Dan Tobin from UCD. Tobin has been with the College since 2013 and departs having amassed over 100 appearances.

The defender first joined the Boys in Blue in 2013 when he signed for their under 19 team. As is so often the case in UCD, Tobin soon found himself making his senior debut at just 17 years of age, with his first game coming against Derry City. In 2014 he made 6 appearances at senior level for the College but was unable to stop them being relegated back down to the First Division.

Tobin made 24 appearances in the Premier Division in 2019 as UCD were relegated having only just won promotion 12 months earlier. Having finished in College recently Tobin feels the time was right to move on to a new challenge. "It was a brilliant six years I spent there, obviously they gave me my senior debut, gave me over 100 appearances, played me when I was 17 and then obviously the educational side of things as well, I can't thank them enough. It was probably a natural time for me to move on now that I've done college, we kind of did a full cycle really.

“I was there when we were in the Premier Division, got relegated and then four seasons in the First Division till we won it and then obviously another season in the Premier Division. So it felt like the right time for a new challenge. Brian rang me three or four weeks ago and he had a lot of positive things to say about the future and the players he wants to bring into the squad and I've always liked coming down to Ferrycarrig Park to play so I think it's a good move for me."

Cian Kavanagh has also signed with Wexford for 2020 and Tobin knows Cian from their time at St Kevin’s together.

“Me and Cian were at St.Kevin's Boys together, he was a year above me and I played with him at UCD as well of course. Technically he's a brilliant player, if he gets a good run in the team he could be key for us this season. Tom was with me at UCD as well and was unlucky when he came into the team. Things were falling apart at the time, we had lost a few players, then our manager got sacked so he came in when UCD were really struggling but he's a good keeper. And I know there's another new player who will be coming to Wexford shortly that I've played with before so it'll obviously help us on the pitch that we have played together in the past and get on well."

Wexford finished second bottom of the 2019 First Division table, a final finishing position which was helped by Limerick suffering a large points deduction after the season had finished.

"Hopefully I will bring a bit of experience to the side, I'm just 22 but I've a fair bit of experience already and have won the First Division. It looks like there'll be a few new players at Wexford this season but I think we'll settle and gel pretty quickly. On the pitch I'd like to maybe add a few more assists to my game this season, me getting a goal or two might be pushing it a bit though! The squad is developing nicely and with the top five teams fighting for play offs in the First Division next season, there's no reason why we can't be one of them. Or at least pushing to get into the top five. Last season you saw Cabinteely who weren't really fancied and they went a lot further than what people thought so maybe we can surprise a few people this year."