NOT content with signing legendary League of Ireland striker Glen Crowe, Sporting Fingal have further boosted their attacking options by snapping up ex Drogheda United star Shane Barrett.

The 28-year-old forward, who completes Liam Buckley's squad for 2010, won the league with the Boynesiders in 2007, also boasts two Setanta Cup, two FAI Cup and a League Cup medal from his time with Drogheda and Longford Town, and has played in Europe.

Barrett's career has been plagued by problems, the most serious being a cruciate knee ligament injury which put him out of the game for almost two seasons.

Last year he seemed to be getting his football career back on track as he scored four goals in 12 appearances for the Drogs, but then he cancelled his contract because of work commitments. However, speaking yesterday (Monday), Buckley said he was convinced he'd got the right man.

'He was head-hunted by the'3' communications company, but he jacked that job in at the end of last year and went back to college to study social science, so our training schedule suits him.

'Shane's a great fella. He has been training with us for the last week and he will be a good signing for us from the squad point of view.

'If we go 4-3-3 he could play in any of the three forward positions.'

Meanwhile, Sporting Fingal were still putting the finishing touches to their pre-season friendly schedule yesterday, but the first match confirmed is against First Division Monaghan United at Portmarock on Saturday February 6th (kick-off 2.30pm).

On the 13th they will face Swords Celtic in a game to mark the opening of Swords' new pitch, and on Tuesday February 16th Sporting will face Stephen Kenny's Derry City away.

Two other friendlies are to be slotted in between that match and the home game against Longford Town in the Leinster Senior Cup which takes place on the weekend of February 26th to 28th, with the League of Ireland season commencing the following week.

- Marcus CAVAROLI