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It been a busy off season for the League of Ireland and Alex Murray takes a look at some of the transfers that have taken place so far.

As always in the winter the short contracts offered by clubs makes for a lot of player movement between clubs and country, the most high profile departures to date being those of Eoin Doyle, Karl Sheppard and Richie Ryan who all left for the Scottish Premier League, while the league’s top scorer last season Eamon Zayed has left for Iran.

Doyle & Co were joined in Scottish shores by one of the league’s brightest manager’s as Pat Felon left Bohemians for Hibernians.

However Fenlon wasn’t the only high profile managerial change during the build up to Christmas as Michael O’Neill, the man who guided Shamrock Rovers to two successive league titles left the club to take over as the National manager of Northern Ireland.

The departure of O’Neill was a big blow to Rovers although the contract rumblings that were a small side show on their European adventures meant that it was always going to be difficult for the former Hibs star to remain in the hot seat.

It was always going to be a big ask of someone to have to fill the shoes of O’Neill and his assistant Jim Magilton, who has also left Irish shores deciding to become the main man with Australian side Melbourne Victory, however their decision to appoint former Derry manager Stephen Kenny represents one of the best bits of business of the off season to date.

Kenny has wasted little time in strengthening his squad, the capture of Daryl Kavanagh, who had a good season with Pats last year, looks set to be a good bit of business.

The former Limerick man should form a deadly partnership with Gary Twigg, providing the Hoops can hold on the Scottish native.

The Rovers midfield will be packed, with the likes of Stephen Rice, Conor McCormack, Ronan Finn all re-signing with Rovers however while the competition for places will be tough, but that is always a good thing. Another good signing is the capture of Colin Hawkins who will bring plenty of experience to the club.

Last season’s league Runners up, Sligo Rovers, made a few good transfers during the months of January and December. They became the first club to sign a player back in December when they announced the signing of Danny North.

North had a magnificent season with Pats last year and alongside fellow new signing Mark Quigley should form a forward line to rival that of Rovers.

Richmond Park and Dalymount Park will a very familiar feels about them this season as the financially-troubled Bohemians virtually swapped squad with St Pats, with six Bohs players leaving for Inchicore and five players going the other way.

The loss of Fenlon aside, Bohemians will also miss the talents of Killian Brennan who has made the move across Dublin to Rovers while big things will be expected of Karl Moore or Sean Stewart.

Pats meanwhile will miss last season’s front pair of Kavanagh and North and with Liam Buckley making wholesale changes, there is an element of the unknown surrounding Pats ahead of the new season.

Inconsistency cost Bray last season, a strong start to the season gave away to a dreadful run of form and the omens ahead of the new season don’t look good with a very season predicted for the Wicklow side.

The loss of Gary Shaw and Conor Murphy is a big blow, softened slightly the return of league of Ireland legend Jason Byrne.

Newly-Promoted Cork City will have big expectations for this season the feeling on Leeside that they could follow in the footsteps of last season’s surprise side Derry and emerge as title contenders.

The signing of Dan Murray is a good bit of business for Tommy Dunne and if the Cork manager can keep hold of Graham Cummins then it could be a big year for the Division one champions.

Last season’s surprise package Derry City should be right up there challenging for the league again as anybody who watches the LOI can testify.

The upstairs move of Declan Devine to manager in place of Kenny is a shrewd move by the club and should ensure continuity. The former Derry player has been involved as an assistant with the club since 2007 before getting his chance this season.

Just like Bohemians, Drogheda United are also in trouble off the pitch and this year will be a big year for Mick Cooke’s side. Having finished second bottom last season they will be everyone’s favourites for relegation but expectations so low there could be an element of surprise to the Louth side, something which Declan O’Brien will bring to the Drogs midfield.

Fellow Louth side Dundalk have made some very good signings, but letting a few experienced players go could turn around and bite them! The signing of Derek Foran and Chris Shields will be massive for Dundalk. But as I said, the loss off Colin Hawkins to Rovers and of Byrne to Bray will prove vital.

The appointment of former Ireland youth manager Sean McCaffrey is a bold move by the Dundalk board and with the emphasis placed solely on youth, there will be a steep learning curve at Oriel Park this season.

Play off winners Monaghan will be a good asset to the Premier Division as will Roddy Collins, their manager. The signings they’ve made have been good and well thought out ones, exemplified by the capture of Conor Murphy from Bray who is sure to have a major impact although the loss of O’Brien will be big.

Shelbourne finished second last year, losing out on the Division One title in dramatic fashion to Cork. Alan Matthews side will look consolidate themselves in the league for the coming season, although with so many local derby’s in the capital, they could make life difficult for those with bigger aspirations.

Another side that will fancy a mid-table finish is UCD and with little movement within the squad Martin Russell’s side will benefit from some stability.  A strong finish to the season has raised hopes ahead of the new season and like Shelbourne I would expect them to make life difficult for the other Dublin clubs in the league.

Major transfer’s so far:

Bohemians FC

In: Dwayne Wilson (Waterford United) Sean Stewart (Pats) Neil Harney (Pats) Karl Moore (Unattached, previously at Shamrock Rovers) Dinny Corcoran (Drogheda) Evan McMillian (Pats) John O’Connor (Pats) Derek Pender (Pats) David Rogers (Drogheda United) David Scully (AUL Team) Keith Ward (Dundalk)

Out: Glen Cronin (Shelbourne) Robert Bayly (Monaghan United) Ger O’Brien (Pats) Barry Murphy (Pats) Mark Rossiter (Pats) Christy Fagan (Pats) Gary Burke (UCD) Anto Flood (Southend United) Killian  Brennan (Shamrock Rovers) Chris Forrester (Pats)

Shamrock Rovers

In: Graham Gartland (Free transfer from St. Johnstone), Colin Hawkins (Free Transfer, last club being Dundalk FC), Conor Powell (Free Transfer, last club being Bohemians FC), Killian Brennan (Free Transfer, last club being Bohemians FC) and Daryl Kavanagh (Free Transfer, last played for Pats last season)

Out: Robbie Hughes (Free Transfer), Craig Hyland (Longford) , Pat Flynn (Pats) , Pat Sullivan (Free agent) Karl Sheppard (Reading FC) , Dan Murray (Cork City)

Sligo Rovers

In: Danny North (Free Transfer, previously at St.Pats) Mark Quigley (Free Transfer, previously at Dundalk) Boco ( Free Transfer, previously in East Asia) Ross Gaynor (Free Transfer, previously at Dundalk) Gary Rogers (Free Transfer, previously at St.Pats) Lee Lynch (Free Transfer, previously at Drogheda United)

Out: Richie Ryan (Dundee United) Daryl Hogan (Cork City) Eoin Doyle (Hibernian) Mattew Blinkhorn (York City) Brendan Clarke (St.Pats) Derek Foran (Dundalk) Conor Powell (Shamrock Rovers) John Russell (St.Pats)

Bray Wanderers

In: Jonathan Kelty (Arklow Town) Adam Hanlon (Arklow Town) Jason Byrne (Dundalk)

Out: Gary Dempsey (Waterford United) Gary Shaw (Longford Town) Conor Murphy (Monaghan United) Derek Pendergast (Drogheda United) Chris Shields (Dundalk) Shane O’Neill (Dundalk)

Cork City

In: Kevin Murray (Waterford United) Daryl Hogan (Sligo Rovers) Kevin Burns (Waterford United) Dan Murray (Shamrock Rovers)

Out: Vicent Escude-Candau (Released) Peter Krzanowski (Released) Greg O’Halloran (Released) Clarke Keltie (Released)

Derry City

In: Simon Madden (Dundalk) Rory Patterson (Linfield)

Out: Stuart Greacn (Glentoran) Gareth McGlynn (Released) Eamon Zayed (Released) Emmet Friars (Dungannon) Ruairi Harkin (Coleraine)

Drogheda United

In: Sean Brennan (Monaghan United) Ryan Brennan (Monaghan United) Shane Grimes (Monaghan United) Gabriel Silva (Monaghan United) Derek Pendergast (Bray Wanderers) Declan O’Brien (Monaghan United) Dean Marshall (UCD) Peter Hynes (Limerick)

Out: Lee Lynch (Sligo Rovers) Dinny Corcoran (Bohemians FC) David Rogers (Bohemians FC)

Dundalk FC

In: Garry Shananan (Newcastle West) Chris Shields (Bray) Derek Foran (Sligo Rovers) Shane O’Neill (Bray) John Mountney (Mervue)

Out: Dean Bennett (Sloihull) Mark Quigley (Sligo Rovers) Shane Guthrie (Limerick) Ross Gaynor (Sligo Rovers) Greg Bolger (Pats) Colin Hawkins (Shamrock Rovers) Kieth Ward (Bohemians FC) Jason Byrne (Bray Wanderers)

Monaghan United.

In: Chris Bennion (Pats) Michael Schilngermann (Athlone Town) Robert Bayly (Bohemians) Conor Murphy (Bray Wanderers) Darragh Reynor (Nottingham Forrest)

Out: Declan O’Brien (Drogheda United) Sean Brennan (Drogheda United) Shane Grimes (Drogheda United) Gabriel Silva (Drogheda United) Ryan Brennan (Drogheda United)

Shelbourne FC

IN: Paddy Kavanagh (Free agent) Glen Cronin (Bohemians FC) Brian Shortall (Pats)

Out: Karl Bermingham (Longford Town) David McGill (Longford Town) Coln James (Longford Town) Chris Mulhall (UCD)

St Patricks Athletic

IN: Ger O’Brien (Bohemians FC) Brendan Clarke (Sligo Rovers) Barry Murphy (Bohemians FC) Mark Rossiter (Bohemians FC) Chrisy Fagan (Bohemians FC) Pat Flynn (Shamrock Rovers) Kenny Browne (Waterford United) Darren Meenan (UCD) Greg Bolger (Dundalk) James Chambers (Scotland, Free agent) John Russell (Sligo Rovers)

Out: Danny North (Sligo Rovers) Gary Rogers (Sligo Rovers) Noel Haverty (Longford Town) Shane McFaul (FC Haka) Brian Shortall (Shelbourne) Sean Stewart (Bohemians FC) Neil Harney (Bohemians FC) Daryl Kavanagh (Shamrock Rovers) Evan McMillian (Bohemians FC) John O’Connor (Bohemians FC) Derek Pender (Bohemians FC)

UCD AFC.

In: Gary Burke (Bohemians FC) Chris Mulhall (Shelbourne)

Out: Darren Meenan (St.Pats) Dean Marshall (Drogheda United)