Talented local teenager Ryan O’Kane has signed a professional contract with Dundalk FC.

The 17-year-old has been training with the Lilywhites first-team in recent weeks and his impressive performances have earned him a three-year deal at Oriel Park.

A schoolboy player with Bellurgan United, Ryan was named as the SuperCup NI’s Junior Player of the Tournament in 2018 after scoring three times in five games for the Dundalk Schoolboys League representative team.

A move to Warrenpoint Town followed and he made his first-team debut for the club as a 15-year-old when he came off the bench in their NIFL Premiership game against Larne in August 2019.

Under the guidance of current Lilywhites academy manager Stephen McDonnell, Ryan made two more first team appearances for The Point’s first team and a brief spell at Cliftonville followed before his return home to Dundalk at the start of this year.

“Ryan is an outstanding young player and we are delighted to secure his signature for the next three years,” said Lilywhites sporting director Jim Magilton.  

“He has benefited greatly from being with our first team squad during pre-season and he will continue to develop and mature under the guidance of all our coaching staff at the club.”