O’Connor and Kee arrive at Inver Park

Jan 24, 2025 | All News

We are delighted to announce the signing of Tiarnan O’Connor and Josh Kee from H&W Welders.

The much sought after pair have put pen to paper to become Invermen after lighting up the Championship in recent weeks and months.

Striker O’Connor joins up with his new team-mates ahead of tomorrow’s Shanes Hill derby at home to Ballymena United, while midfielder Kee, will spend the remainder of the season on loan at the Blanchflower Stadium.

Leaving Inver Park temporarily will be Benji Magee, who returns to Loughgall on loan until the end of the season.

O’Connor, 22, has caught the eye as an exciting prospect having scored 18 goals in NIFL’s second tier this season, including a hat-trick against Armagh City earlier this month, building on an impressive campaign last year.

The striker came through Maiden City’s Academy as a youth prospect before a stint at Chesterfield.

After returning to Northern Ireland he linked up with Paul Kee at the Welders, where he has made a name for himself.

Midfielder Kee, also 22, also signed for his father in East Belfast, is a midfielder known for being comfortable on the ball and will continue his development at the Blanchflower until the summer.

Head of Football Nathan Rooney is looking forward to officially welcoming both players.

“We have been tracking the form of both players over a period of time now and have been really impressed with what we’ve seen,” he said.

“We delivered our plans to both players and outlined how we see them playing huge parts for our football club moving forward

“Tiarnan comes with a presence and an ability to cause real problems for defenders with his instinctive style and he has real eye for goal and these credentials will add so much to our playing squad.

“Josh has a real calmness and a guile about his game and he will add to our midfield with his ability to play with a high intensity and his attitude to work hard off the ball.

“We are really looking forward to getting to work with both players and introducing them to our amazing fans.”

The duo become Larne’s third and fourth signings of this window, following the arrival of Harry Harry Panayiotou and Olatunde Bayode.

Benji Magee, meanwhile, will move to the familiar surroundings of Lakeview Park until the end of the 2024/25 season.

Nathan Rooney added: “Benji will return to us with the momentum that he requires and will come back with four months more playing experience where he can hit the ground running in pre-season.

“At that point, new targets will be set for the next stage of the club’s development.”

“Benji goes with our best wishes and we will continue to work with Benji in training throughout the week.”

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