Former Northern Ireland star reveals Irish League 'a market we’re always looking at'

Lennon has frequently looked to the Premiership since his appointment at the Scottish Championship club with Northern Ireland U21 ace Shea Kearney joining from Cliftonville last summer and Callumn Morrison returning home from a tough spell at Linfield in January.

Both starred during Dunfermline’s dream run to the Scottish Cup final last season – Lennon’s men lost out 3-1 to Celtic at Hampden Park.

Lennon has once again cast his eye to Northern Ireland’s top flight again this summer with Ballymena United’s Kian Corbally signing a two-year contract at Dunfermline while Crusaders goalkeeper Musa Dibaga has also made a move across the Irish Sea.

With Lurgan native Lennon keen to keep Dunfermline competing for major honours, the 55-year-old is tapping into local knowledge and contacts – and insists he’ll continue assessing the talent available at home.

Corbally, who made 51 league appearances for Ballymena after joining from Wexford in 2025, made his competitive Dunfermline debut in their 3-0 League Cup loss to East Kilbride earlier this month.

The 22-year-old also started in last week’s 4-1 victory over Dumbarton and Lennon is thrilled with his immediate impact.

“Not just Northern Ireland, but the Republic of Ireland is a good market as well,” Lennon told The Courier. “Although, players do have a lot of suitors over there from higher echelons in the game than us.

“We’ve been over looking at players in Dublin and Cork and, obviously, up north as well in the Irish League.

“Kian’s a player that’s been around a little bit in the League of Ireland and had a really good year at Ballymena.

“He’s slotted in very well and brings a little bit of something different to what we had last year. We’re delighted with how he’s done so far.

“It’ll be a transition period for him, no question, coming into full-time football. But he’s settled in very well.

“So, it’s (Irish League) a market that we’re always looking at.”