Former Ireland striker Noel Hunt has added highly-rated Boys in Green prospect Mark O’Mahony to his Reading squad ahead of next season’s push for promotion to the Championship.
O’Mahony has joined on a season-long loan deal from Premier League side Brighton.
The 19-year-old spent last season at Portsmouth and scored three goals in 13 appearances, while he has one goal in four outings for the Seagulls.
Hunt, a former Ireland international, took charge of Reading last December after Ruben Selles’ departure to Hull City.
He said: “Mark is a young hungry striker who wants to come in and develop at our club. He's young and he wants to learn his trade after having a successful loan deal last year at Portsmouth in the Championship.
“He learnt plenty whilst playing at that level, which will stand him in good stead for the upcoming season. He's another player who has come through a really strong Academy, and will be a great addition to our squad.”
O’Mahony moved to Brighton after impressing at Cork City, where he made 12 first-team appearances in the 2022 campaign, including 11 in their First Division title-winning campaign.
The former Carrigaline schoolboy star has capped 11 times for Ireland at Under-21 level, and has been named FAI Under-17 (2021) and Under-19 (2023) Player of the Year.
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