Dundalk FC sign McHale on loan from St. Pats

Dundalk FC has announced the signing of 19-year-old centre-half Seán McHale to their squad for the upcoming season on a season-long loan deal from St. Patrick’s Athletic.

The young defender is no stranger to loan spells. He gained valuable experience on loan last season with Wexford, where he made a strong impression.

Having started his career with Corduff and Shelbourne, McHale signed with St Pat’s in January 2022 where he made his mark by helping the club win the U19 League in his debut season and was capped for the Republic of Ireland at U17 and U18 levels that same year.

McHale’s Wexford debut was a standout moment as he scored the winning goal with a second-half header in a 2-1 victory over UCD. However, an injury shortly afterwards sidelined him for nearly two months.

Despite the setback, McHale returned to action in May and played in 24 of Wexford’s remaining 27 matches.

He scored again in a crucial win against Kerry as the team pushed for playoff success, though their campaign ultimately ended in a narrow aggregate defeat to Athlone Town.

Dundalk manager Ciarán Kilduff expressed his excitement about bringing McHale into the fold.

He said: “Seán is a player I’ve had my eye on for a while. He has all the attributes we’re looking for—he’s strong, physical, and ambitious.

“Adding someone of his quality is a great coup for the club. Seán played a key role in Wexford’s season last year, scoring some important goals and gaining invaluable experience in the league. 

“He fits perfectly with the young, hungry group of players we’re building here at Dundalk.”

McHale is expected to be ready when Dundalk kicks off their competitive campaign against Malahide United in the Leinster Senior Cup.