Mick signs another Irish starlet?

The BBC are reporting that Mick McCarthy has signed another young Irish starlet.

Hot on the heels of last week's signing of Billy Dennehy from Shelbourne, it looks like the gaffer has also been successful in securing the services of 17 year old Robbie Weir from Larne.

Stoke, Rangers and Fulham had also expressed an interest in signing the youngster but it seems that Sunderland has been his final choice.

Weir had a trial with Sunderland back in December and his manager at Larne, Jimmy McGeough, expressed his unhappiness at Weir's absence from his side, and said he would prefer it if club scouts travelled to Larne to assess his player's potential.

''I have expressed my opposition to these run of trials - I'm not sure it proves anything. He's a great prospect and one who'll learn his trade in senior football here.''

But McGeough seems to have changed his tune since then, saying recently, "It would be great to see him making it."