Jim Ervin has used the League of Ireland market to his advantage over the last couple of seasons and he looks to have snapped up another gem in Kian Corbally.
The 21-year-old rose to prominence thanks to a breakout season at Wexford in the First Division, so much so that he attracted interest from clubs in Portugal as well as League One and Two in England.
Corbally though has made the move north and revealed how a conversation with another former United star, who also made a similar journey, convinced him the Showgrounds was the place for him.
"The move came out of the blue as I got a phone call and I did a bit of research and noticed Conor Keeley was here a few years ago," explained Corbally.
"I played with his brother and he told me I'd really enjoy it and it's a good club with great people and to go for it. It was a no-brainer for me."
Corbally has certainly settled right in at Warden Street since his January switch alongside the likes of Patrick McEleney and Success Edogun.
The former St Patrick’s Athletic academy graduate bagged his first goal for his new club on Saturday, a spectacular winner against Cliftonville, and he feels there is more to come from this squad.
"I'm really enjoying football north of the border, it's different," he said.
"I was at St Pats, Wexford and Longford back home but the club really look after me and it's a family club. Long may it continue.
"I travel up one day a week and I stay here from Wednesday until the match day, before I have a three-hour trip back to Dublin.
"I think this opportunity was the next step I needed by coming up here. There's a lot of exposure in the league and the game is growing.
"The lads started the season really well and then went through a rocky patch but over the last few weeks since I signed in January that things are starting to turn.
"You can see what the new signings are doing and there's quite a number of the lads out injured, so the boys have to take their chance when they're playing."
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