Ronan Boyce explains reasons for switching Derry City for St Patrick's Athletic

The 'Journal' exclusively revealed on Thursday the 24 year-old was edging towards a shock switch to Derry's rivals in Inchicore and after announcing his Brandywell exit on social media on Saturday, he was later unveiled as Kenny's latest signing. He follows in the footsteps of New Zealand striker Max Mata who joined Kenny's troops earlier in the week and who was also understood to have been on Derry City's radar. City boss Tiernan Lynch claimed Boyce was offered a new contract once his deal expired on November 30th but the wheels were already in motion for a move to the Saints. Boyce was free to speak to other clubs from the summer months onwards but the Donegal man insists he waited until the end of the season before he opened talks 'out of respect' to Derry having progressed through the club's academy structures before making his first team debut against Cork City back in September 2019. He earned his first professional contract with the club in January 2021 and played 175 times for the Candy Stripes, scoring an impressive 16 goals from defence. The right-back, who was named in the 2021 PFA Ireland Premier Division Team of the Season, was delighted to have joined St Pat's after speaking with former Ireland boss Kenny and Sporting Director, ex-Derry full-back Ger O'Brien. "I'm buzzing to be here, it's a really exciting opportunity for me to join the club and I can't wait to get going," said Boyce. "I waited until the season ended before I did anything just out of respect. "As soon as I had a conversation with Stephen and Ger it was very exciting for me. They told me what's going on here and what the plans are for the future and I was very excited by it and I'm delighted to get here now. "Pat's play football the right way, they've always done that. I know Stephen before and I know his teams and his St Pats team play good football and I can't wait to be on board and playing. "I think I'm at a good age now (24)," added Boyce who won the FAI Cup with Derry back in 2022. "I've played a lot of games in the League and I just want to kick on personally and help St Pat's achieve success." It's a massive club. It's one of the biggest clubs in the country." Having tasted success and challenged for the league title over the past few seasons with the Candy Stripes, joining a team with eyes on silverware was a key reason behind his surprise move. "That's the reason I came down here is to try to compete at that top end again and bring success to Pats. As a player, when you achieve success you're hungry for more, you just want it again. So I'm here to compete at the top again and achieve success with Pats and compete in Europe again and be at the right end of the table." Leaving Derry City wasn't an easy decision for Boyce who claims it was a 'huge honour' to represent the Foylesiders, adding the club has 'shaped me into the person I am today' and gifted him some of the best days of his life. "I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved at Derry City Football Club for the past eight and half years. To all the managers, my teammates, coaches, volunteers, staff behind the scenes and especially the fans. “I have a lot to thank the club for. The club has shaped me into the person I am today and it has been a massive part of my life, from joining the club at 16 years of age to the academy to making my debut and to playing 175 times for the club in two cup finals and playing in Europe, was a huge honour for me and something that I’m proud of and take great pride in.

"It has brought me some of the best days of my life as well as my family, and for that I will always remember and be grateful for. It was a massive decision for me but it’s something I thought long and hard about but I feel it’s the right time for me to move on. I will always keep an eye on the club as I believe I have made friends for life from it and it has some special people involved in it, and I wish everyone all the best. Thanks for everything.” St Pat's manager, Kenny was delighted to welcome Boyce to the club and hopes he can add goals to the team from an attacking full-back position. "We welcome Ronan to the club. He has already achieved a lot, playing in two FAI Cup finals and has been involved in a team at the top of the table from when he came through the Academy at Derry City. "Ronan has a good attitude, to have already made 175 senior appearances at the age of 24 is significant. We need to add goals to our team, and Ronan has scored 15 times as an attacking full-back which is a high number, his numbers are good in terms of goals and assists and he's 6'1 so he can be important for us in both boxes as a defender and as an attacker." Sporting Director Ger O'Brien added: "It's really good for us to get Ronan signed. He's been a top player in the League since making his debut for Derry in 2019 and we look forward to seeing him in St Patrick's Athletic colours. He's someone with a really positive attitude, and is a very good character who we are very happy to have added to the group." Derry boss Lynch meanwhile had made an attempt to resign the player and thanked the defender for his efforts during 2025. “Ronan is the type of player that gives you everything when he pulls on the shirt, and we know how much this club means to him. “He goes about his work without any fuss and is a really popular lad among the players, staff and very much among our supporters as well.

“From a personal perspective, I want to thank Ronan for all his efforts since I came here and to wish him every success in his career going forward.” Boyce made 33 appearances in all competitions for Derr last season, scoring twice and emerged a key player under Lynch. He became the fifth Derry defender from the team that finished last season to move on, following in the footsteps of captain Mark Connolly, Shane Ferguson, Hayden Cann and Sam Todd who joined rivals Bohemians last month.