ALL WHITE FOR GARETH

McConaghie - who can play at either full-back or centre-half - has agreed to join the Whites from Limavady United.

The move will see the 22-year-old reunited with former manager Tommy Wright who was in charge of Ballymena United when McConaghie was there.

McConaghie leaves Limavady having enjoyed an excellent season under the guise of Roesiders manager Oran Kearney and his assistant Trevor McKendry.

He scooped both the Player of the Year and Supporters Player of the Year gongs after numerous outstanding performances at the back as well as weighing in with eight goals.

His consistent form caught the eye of several top flight managers but it was Wright who won the race to snap up the slick defender.

Despite Limavady’s best efforts to hold onto McConaghie - who recently turned out for the Northern Ireland Junior side - he felt it was a good time to make the step-up to the Premiership.

“The first I knew about it was when the manager rang Oran to ask if he could speak to me,” McConaghie told Times Sport.

“I was a bit surprised to start with but I went and met Tommy and the meeting went well. I signed there and then."

For McConaghie it will now be a case of swapping the Championship grounds he has played at over the past two years with Limavady for venues such as Windsor Park, the Oval and Solitude.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“Hopefully I’ll go straight into the first team but I know I have to work hard and earn my place.

“I know Tommy from being at Ballymena and he is a really good manager who I’m looking forward to working under again .

“I really enjoyed my time at Limavady but I just felt the time was right to take the chance and test myself at the higher level.”