It had been expected for a number of days, but on Monday morning, it was confirmed that English Championship club Preston North End are officially signing two of Dundalk's star players.
Recent Irish squad call ups Daryl Horgan and Andy Boyle will leave the League of Ireland champions now that their Europa League heroics have concluded and attempt to make their mark on the far side of the Irish Sea.
Preston is the hometown club of Off The Ball's Kevin Kilbane and the 110 time Ireland cap gave his take on how Horgan and Boyle will do at Deepdale.
"I think it's the perfect club for them, I really do," he said, before touching on the example of Richie Towell who left for high flying Brighton last season, but has found senior game time harder to come by.
"If Richie Towell had gone to a Preston or perhaps gone to a Barnsley, who had just come up to the Championship, I think he could have had maybe 20-30 games under his belt."
And Kevin feels that Preston's manager Simon Grayson will give Boyle and Horgan the chance to show their talents.
"I think Simon Grayson will give these two lads a chance," he said.
"I think there's potential for them to go into that side, play games. They're going to a good, solid club where everything is done right. Alan Kelly's in there as well. There's a good Irish contingent that's in the club anyway which will certainly help and I think it's a great move for them both. Touch wood, they'll get Preston in and around the playoff spots because I think they've got potential to do that."
Among the Irish players already at Preston are Ireland winger Aiden McGeady and Galwegian full-back Greg Cunningham, both of who have impressed at the club this season according to Kevin.
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