At this rate, Preston North End might be able to field a full Irish starting team in next year's Championship. The Lilywhites are on the verge of their second summer signing - and once again, it's coming from Cork City.
The Lancashire Evening Post are reporting that Simon Grayson will add left back Kevin O'Connor to his acquisition of Sean Maguire during the week. The Post describes the move as a case of 'when not if', indicating O'Connor's move to Deepdale is now extremely close to being completed.
That's bad news for City fans.
O'Connor has been a regular in the Cork squad for two seasons now, scoring some crucial goals - including one against BK Hacken in last season's Europa League. He has an FAI Cup and a President's Cup from his time on Leeside.
The Rebel Army managed to keep hold of Maguire until the end of July, and will be hoping for a similar enough clause in O'Connor's deal should it happen. They have five league games between now and then. More importantly, there's at least one round of Europa League qualifying to get through.
John Caulfield's men have steamrolled their way through all competition so far this year. At time of writing, they sit 18 points clear at the top of the Airtricity League table after Maguire said goodbye in style against Dundalk. O'Connor is part of a defence which has conceded just eight goals in 17 league matches.
O'Connor will join Maguire, Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan, Greg Cunningham, Aiden McGeady, Alan Browne and a returning Eoin Doyle at Deepdale.
It would make for another interesting battle for Grayson's selection: an all-Irish duel between Cunningham and O'Connor for left back, to add to McGeady and Horgan attempting to get onto the wing.
However, the same article also links the 47-year-old former Leeds boss with the vacant Sunderland job.
