Irish Player Transfers, Loans and Contracts - August 2016

Transfers

2nd August 2016

Chris McCann signed a five month loan deal with Coventry City, keeping him at the Ricoh Arena until the new MSL season starts in 2017: http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/signing-loan-chris-mccann-coventry-city-atlanta-3219078.aspx

Having been without a club since his release by York City in January, defender Eddie Nolan signed a one year deal with Blackpool: http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/eddie-nolan-joins-3220294.aspx

3rd August 2016

Having spent his entire career at Aston Villa, academy graduate Ciaran Clark signed a five year deal with Newcastle United: http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20160803/united-complete-clark-capture_2281670_5776745

Graham Stack signed for Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters as a player and coach: http://www.indiansuperleague.com/press-releases/3803-arsenal-invincible-graham-stack-joins-kerala-blasters-for-indian-super-league-2016

4th August 2016

After playing for them on trial during preseason, Noel Hunt signed a one year contract with Portsmouth: http://www.portsmouthfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/pompey-have-signed-former-southend-united-striker-noel-hunt-3224511.aspx

5th August 2016

Following spells in Denmark with Copenhagen and Ipswich, Kevin Foley signed a short term deal with Charlton: http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/charlton-athletic-sign-kevin-foley-transfer-league-one-3227789.aspx

AFC Wimbledon defender Ryan Sweeney signed a three year deal with Stoke City: http://www.stokecityfc.com/news/article/2016-17/sweeney-checks-in-3228590.aspx

6th August 2016

After his release from Fulham, winger Dean O’Halloran returned to Ireland to sign for Bohemians: http://bohemianfc.com/?p=10385

9th August 2016

Burnley’s Ireland U19 striker Khius Metz has gone on loan to Altrincham until January 2016: http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/2016-17/metz-joins-altrincham-3235175.aspx

10th August 2016

Following a brief, but memorable, spell at Hibernian, Conrad Logan has signed a six month deal with Rochdale, where he was on loan in 2014: http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/conrad-logan-goalkeeper-rochdale-afc-dale-3238326.aspx

12th August 2016

Charles Dunne signed a short term deal with Oldham, following his release from Blackpool: http://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/signings-latics-complete-double-signing-3243996.aspx

15th August 2016

Following some bizarre comments on twitter, Marc Wilson left Stoke for Bournemouth, where he previously spent two loan spells, to sign a two year deal: http://www.afcb.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/marc-wilson-afc-bournemouth-stoke-city-3248142.aspx

26th August 2016

After signing a new two year deal with Aston Villa, Kevin Toner has gone on loan to Walsall until January 2017: http://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/kevin-toner-joins-on-loan-3272483.aspx

Shane Duffy signed for Brighton and Hove Albion on a four year deal: http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/shane-duffy-brighton-hove-albion-blackburn-rovers-3273273.aspx

Tommie Hoban and Derrick Williams signed for Blackburn Rovers on a season long loan and a three year contract, respectively: http://www.rovers.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/tommie-hoban-derrick-williams-3273216.aspx

28th August 2016

Ipswich striker Daryl Murphy moved to for Newcastle on a two year deal: http://www.nufc.co.uk/articles/20160828/united-complete-murphy-signing_2281670_5842951

30th August 2016

Following a sucessful trial at Portman Road, Leon Best signed a one year deal with Ipswich Town: http://www.itfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/leon-best-3279875.aspx

31st August 2016

Having been at Derby County for his career to date, Jeff Hendrick broke Burnley’s transfer record to sign a three year deal: http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com/news/article/2016-17/hendrick-signs-for-club-record-fee-3283924.aspx

Adam Barton has moved north of Hadrian’s Wall to sign for Partick Thistle on a three year deal: https://ptfc.co.uk/ptfc-news/adam-barton-signs-three-year-deal/

Eunan O'Kane signed for Leeds on a two year deal: http://www.leedsunited.com/news/article/hlr7k4gvm3841qtqs3gue0dri/title/midfielder-arrives-on-deadline-day

Sean Murray signed for Swindon on a one year deal, with the option of a further 12 months: http://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/murray-is-a-red-3284300.aspx

Loans

2nd August 2016
Nottingham Forest’s 18 year old striker Gerry McDonagh signed for Wrexham on am initial one month loan, that was later extended until January : http://www.wrexhamafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/bradley-reid-returns-to-wrexham-afc-as-clearance-is-gained-3274441.aspx

5th August 2016
Full back Anto Breslin signed a youth loan deal with Tamworth from Wolves: http://www.thelambs.co.uk/news/breslin-signs-on-loan-2672.htm

8th August 2016
John O'Sullivan signed for Accrington Stanley on a six month loan: http://accringtonstanley.co.uk/2016/08/johno-returns-the-reds/

Josh Cullen has returned to Bradford City, where he spent the latter half of last season, for a five month loan: http://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/cullen-returns-3232324.aspx

31st August 2016
Keith Keane signed for Rochdale on loan until January: http://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/keith-keane-rochdale-cambridge-united-loan-3282872.aspx

QPR striker Reece Grego-Cox signed for Newport County on loan until January: http://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/county-sign-striker-reece-grego-cox-on-loan-3283379.aspx

Having fallen out of favour at Everton, Aiden McGeady returned to the Championship to sign a season long loan for Preston North End: http://www.pnefc.net/news/article/2016-17/aiden-mcgeady-deadline-day-preston-north-end-pne-3284951.aspx

Bolton striker Conor Wilkinson signed for Chesterfield on loan until 9th January 2017: http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/young-striker-joins-spireites-3284869.aspx

Contracts

1st August 2016
Wes Hoolahan signed a new contract with Norwich City, keeping him at Carrow Road until 2018: http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/wes-hoolahan-norwich-city-contract-3219551.aspx

5th August 2016
Adam Rooney extended his contract at Aberdeen until 2020: http://www.afc.co.uk/news/8255.php

11th August 2016
After making 200 appearances for Derby in the four years since he signed from Coventry, Richard Keogh signed a new three contract with the rams: http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/richard-keogh-signs-new-three-year-deal-at-derby-county-3241282.aspx

26th August 2016
Before leaving for a five month loan with Walsall, Kevin Toner signed a new two year contract with Aston Villa: https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2016/08/26/toner-pens-new-deal

Meyler's Influence

At a press conference this week, Roy Keane was asked about David Meyler. His former manager was impressed with his recent performances for Hull City, saying "It's no coincidence that every time I see Hull and they're winning games, Meyler's playing for them. He wasn't involved as much during their relegation but he was on their promotion team and he's back now and they're winning games and Meyler tends to be in the team."

Let's take a look at the influence Meyler has on the Tigers' results since signing for them on 8th November 2012, initially on loan before being made permanent the following January. In that time, Hull have played 146 games across all competitions - league, league cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup.

Of those, Meyler has started 97 of these games, leaving 49 games where he didn't start.
Hull won 40 of the 97, drew 18 and lost 39. Of the games where he didn't start, Hull won 15, drew 16 and lost 18.

Laying this out in a table, we can see that Hull are more likely to win if Meyler starts, far less likely to draw, and strangely slightly more likely to lose if he starts

	P	W	D	L
Started	97	41.2%	18.5%	40.2%
Not Started	49	30.6%	32.6%	36.7%

Finally, Keane is correct, Meyler did play less in their relegation season, 2014-15, only starting 19 of their 38 league games!

October 2015 Stats

Irish Abroad players appearance statistics for October 2015: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=10

Wins

The recent resurgence of Championship sides Derby County and Brenford, and St Johnstone from the Scottish Premier League means that a trio of duos from each side have all started four wins in September. Derby defensive pair Richard Keogh and Cyrus Christie, Brentford midfield compatriots Alan McCormack and Alan Judge and St Johnstone's Joe Shaughnessy and Graham Cummins all lining out for four win for their respective sides.

Draws

Cardiff City striker Joe Mason started four draws, just one ahead of fellow Championship player Greg Cunningham. 

Losses

Norwich City's Robbie Brady has the unwanted honour of losing all the games he started in October, losing all four games

Starts/Completed Games

No less than 14 players started all five games available to them in October - Keiren Westwood, Aaron McCarey, Paul McShane, Richard Keogh, Shane Duffy, Cyrus Christie, Daniel Devine, Greg Cunningham, Joe Shaughnessy, Glenn Whelan, Stephen Gleeson, Alan Judge, Joe Mason, Graham Cummins, with ten of these (Westwood, McCarey, McShane, Keogh, Duffy, Shaughnessy, Cunningham, Devine, Whelan and Gleeson) going on to complete 90 minutes in all five games.

Substitutions/Introductions 

Cummins was substituted in all five games he started, while Championship players Matt Doherty, Glen Rea (on loan at Southend) and Samir Carruthers were the most introduced substitute, all three players came off the bench three times.

Stayed on bench

Goalkeeper Jack Bonham and defender Stephen Ward were both left on the bench for all five games in October.

Goals

Robbie Keane scored four goals in October - two at home and two away, but strangely none of these led to a single win for LA Galaxy. However Alan Judge's three goals, and David Meyler's two goals, both led to two wins for the midfielders' respective club sides.

Discipline

Sean Dillon, James McClean and Alan McCormack all received two booking during October.

Irish Player Transfers - Summer 2015

TRANSFERS 

Stephen Dawson signed for Scunthorpe United on a two year deal: Article
Donal McDermott signed a one year contract with AFC Rochdale: Article
Keith Keane signed a two year deal with Cambridge United: Article
Kevin Doyle signed for Colorado Rapids on a two and half year deal: Article
Roy O’Donovan signed a two year deal with Central Coast Mariners: Article
Darren Randolph signed for West Ham on a free transfer: Article
Graeme Cummins signed a one year contract with St Johnstone: Article
Barry Corr signed a two year deal with Cambridge United: Article
Alex Pearce signed a three year contract with Derby County: Article
Aidan White signed for Rotherham United on a one year deal: Article
Callum Reilly signed for Burton Albion on a two year deal: Article
Jake Carroll signed for Hartlepool United: Article
David van Zanten signed for Airdrieonians FC: Article
Bradley Garmston signed for Gillingham on a three year deal: Article
Jimmy Ryan signed for Fleetwood Town on a two year deal: Article
Stephanie Roche signed for Sunderland Ladies: Article
Sam Foley signed for Port Val on a two year deal: Article
James McClean signed for West Bromwich Albion on a three year deal: Article
Robbie Kiernan signed for Rangers on a two year deal: Article
James Berrett signed for York City FC on a two year deal: Article
Shamir Fenelon signed for Crawley Town on a one year deal: Article
Shane Byrne signed for Nuneaton Town: Article
Adam Barton signed for Portsmouth on a two year deal: Article
Danny Rogers signed for Falkirk on a season long loan: Article
Stephen Quinn signed for Reading FC on a three year deal: Article
Padraig Amond signed for Grimsby Town FC on a one year deal: Article
Paul McShane signed for Reading on a three year deal: Article
David Mooney signed for Southend United on a two year deal: Article
Graham Carey signed for Plymouth Argyle on a one year deal: Article
Cillian Sheridan signed for Omonia Nicosia: Article
Michael Doyle signed for Portsmouth FC on a one year deal: Article
Eddie Nolan signed for York City FC on a one year deal: Article
Graham Burke signed for Notts County on a two year deal: Article
Mark O'Brien signed for Luton Town on a two year deal: Article
Colin Doyle signed for Blackpool FC on a two year deal: Article
Shay Given signed for Stoke City on a two year deal: Article
Damien Duff signed for Shamrock Rovers on an 18 month deal: Article
Darren O’Dea signed for Mumbai City: Article
Enda Stevens signed for Portsmouth FC on a two year deal: Article
Joe Shaughnessy signed for St Johnstone on a two year deal: Article
Anthony O’Connor signed for Burton Albion on a two year deal: Article
Kieran Sadlier signed for Peterborough United: Article
Ian Morris signed for St Patrick’s Athletic: Article
Greg Cunningham signed for Preston North End on a two year deal: Article
Alan Dunne signed for Leyton Orient on a two year deal: Article
Sean McGinty signed for Aldershot Town on a one year deal: Article
Robbie Brady signed for Norwich City on a three year deal: Article
Sean Maguire signed for Dundalk: Article
Noel Hunt signed for Southend United on a one year contract: Article
Paul Corry signed for Northampton Town on a 12 month deal: Article
Jonathan Douglas signed for Ipswich on a one year deal: Article
Gavin Gunning signed for Oldham on a short term contract: Article
Kane Ferdinand signed for Dagenham & Redbridge on a initial one month deal: Article
Sean St Ledger signed for Colorado Rapids: Article
Brian Murphy signed for Portsmouth until January: Article
Conor Clifford signed for Boreham Wood: Article
Noe Baba signed for Birmingham City: Article
Paul Heffernan signed for Queen of the South until January 2016: Article
Keith Treacy signed for Drogheda United until the end of the season: Article
Mark Yeates signed for Oldham on a short term deal: Article
Jon Daly signed for Raith Rovers until January 2015: Article
Barry Maguire signed for Sarpsborg 08 FF: Article
Owen Garvan signed for Colchester United until January 2016: Article
Stephen McLaughlin signed for Southend United on a three year deal: Article
Chris Forrester signed for Peterborough United on a three year deal: Article
Ben McLaughlin signed for Derry City: Article
Eoin Doyle signed for Preston until the end of the season: Article
Joseph O’Cearuill signed for Staines Town FC
Sam Berry signed for Ilkeston FC
Bobby Moseley signed for Stoke City

LOANS

Jack Byrne signed for SC Cambuur on a season long loan: Article
Liam McAlinden signed for Shrewsbury Town on a six month loan: Article
Conor Wilkinson signed for Barnsley on loan until January 2016: Article
Michael Harriman signed for Wycombe Wanderers on loan until the end of January 2016: Article
Conor Sammon signed for Sheffield United on loan until the end of the season: Article
Sean Murray signed for Wigan on a one month loan: Article
Glen Rea signed for Southend United on loan until January 2016: Article
Eoghan O’Connell signed for Oldham Athletic on loan until January 2016: Article
Connor Smith signed for Stevenage on a one month loan: Article
Josh O'Hanlon signed for Chester FC on a one month loan: Article
Shamir Fenelon signed for Whitehawk FC on a one month loan: Article

OTHER 

Kevin Feely cancelled his contract with Newport County and is leaving football for full time education: Article
Daniel Kearns cancelled his contract with Carlisle United: Article

Irish Abroad player statistics for 2014/15 season

Appearance data for 2014/15: http://irish-abroad.appspot.com/MonthlyStats?month=14
The Champions League marks the end of the season for the major European football leagues, so we've compile the appearance data for Irish players in England, Scotland and the MLS since 1st July 2015.
Richard Keogh started all but one of Derby County's 54 games, their 3-0 win over Brighton in December was the only game the centre half failed to line up for the rams. For any player, let alone a defender, that's an impressive statistic. Keogh went on to win 26 of the 53 games he started, which along with Aberdeen's Adam Rooney is the most of any Irish player. Of the players who started more than 45 games, only goalkeeper David Forde had started 100% of his club's games, the Galway player started all 50 of 50 games for Millwall. Unfortunately, Millwall's relegation and early exit from both cups meant that Forde also lost the most games, finishing on the losing side 25 times over the course of the season. Ireland and Sunderland captain John O'Shea started the highest number of draws, with 18 of his 43 games finishing all square.
Midfielder Wes Hoolahan was substituted by Norwich managers 28 times in the 31 games he started for Norwich, 90.3%, the next highest percentage of substitutions for a player with over 25 starts is David McGoldrick who was substituted 23 times from 26 starts - 88.4%.
Unsurprisingly, a goalkeeper was the most unused substitute, with Brentford's Jack Bonham remaining on the bench 47 times. He did, however, make one start for the bees, starting in goals for their 2-0 loss in the third round of the FA Cup against Brighton. The combined total of the two highest outfield players, Joey O'Brien (27) and Daniel Devine (28) only just exceeds Bonham's total!Eoin Doyle scored found the back of the net 31 times for two teams in 2014/15, 26 goals for League One side Chesterfield, but only 5 goals after transferring to Championship side Cardiff City - all five of which came in the last eight games of the season. Doyle also scored the most penalties, finding the back of the net nine times from twelve yards. Seamus Coleman was the top scoring defender, with five goals, while recent international debutant Harry Arter matched Jeff Hendrick's total goals from midfield - both Championship player scored nine goals.
Arter also received the most bookings in the season, the London born midfielder was shown the yellow card 13 times in 2014/15, only one ahead of fellow midfielder James McClean.

Premier League minutes 2013/14 and 2014/15

Finally, after the list of players who started in the Premier League, we've compiled the total appearances by Irish players over the last two seasons.
Although the total number of starts is down slightly in 2014/15, the number of substitute appearances is up with a slightly higher total number of appearances.

2013/14

Player	Starts	Intro.	Total
Damien Delaney	37	0	37
Seamus Coleman	36	0	36
John O'Shea	32	0	32
James McCarthy	31	3	34
Marc Wilson	29	3	32
Glenn Whelan	28	3	31
David Meyler	27	3	30
Jonathan Walters	26	5	31
Shane Long	26	4	30
Ciaran Clark	23	4	27
Steven Reid	16	0	16
Stephen Ireland	14	10	24
Joey O'Brien	13	4	17
Robbie Brady	11	5	16
Wes Hoolahan	10	6	16
Damien Duff	9	6	15
Anthony Pilkington	9	5	14
Paul McShane	9	1	10
Keiren Westwood	9	0	9
Aiden McGeady	4	12	16
Stephen Quinn	4	11	15
Robert Elliot	2	0	2
Owen Garvan	1	1	2
Darron Gibson	0	1	1
Paddy McCarthy	0	1	1
Jack Grealish	0	1	1
Total	406	89	495

2014/15

Player	Starts	Intro.	Total
John O'Shea	37	0	37
Seamus Coleman	34	1	35
Jonathan Walters	28	4	32
Damien Delaney	28	1	29
James McCarthy	27	1	28
Glenn Whelan	26	2	28
Marc Wilson	25	2	27
Ciaran Clark	22	3	25
Richard Dunne	22	1	23
David Meyler	19	9	28
Paul McShane	19	1	20
Stephen Quinn	17	11	28
Robbie Brady	17	10	27
Shane Long	16	16	32
Stephen Ireland	11	6	17
Aiden McGeady	10	6	16
Jack Grealish	7	10	17
Stephen Ward	7	2	9
Joey O'Brien	6	3	9
Darron Gibson	3	6	9
Shay Given	3	0	3
Robert Elliot	3	0	3
Steven Reid	1	6	7
Reece Grego Cox	1	3	4
Kevin Doyle	0	3	3
Kevin Long	0	1	1
Total	389	108	497

Premier League Debuts

With U19 striker Reece Grego-Cox making his debut last weekend as a late substitute for QPR against Tottenham, we wondered who the last Irish player to make his professional debut in the Premier League was?
With ever reducing numbers of Irish players moving to English clubs, we were not surprised to find out that the last Irish player to make his debut in the top division in England was former U21 defender Derrick Williams, who came on for Aston Villa in a 1-1 draw with Cox's team QPR in April 2012.

We had to go back to August 2009 to find the last current Irish international to make their debut in the Premier League. Ciaran Clark was given his first start by current Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, again for Aston Villa, in a 2-0 home win against Fulham.

Note: we specifically looked for players who made their debuts in the Premier League, not players who made their debuts for Premier League clubs, but in other competitions, e.g. Anthony Forde made his debut for then Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2011 as a substitute in the League Cup against Northampton, but didn't make his first Premier League appearance until the following November, again as a substitute against Chelsea

3x3 Reds

The three red cards shown yesterday to Irish players Jack Grealish, Tommy Hoban and Lee Frecklington was the third time this season that three Irish players have been sent off in England. Previous to the current 2014/15 season, it had only happened at most twice in a single season
On the 28th December 2014, Hull City's Stephen Quinn, Southend United's Cian Bolger and Millwall's Shaun Williams were all shown red cards by the referee, while on two months earlier Willams was again given an early bath, alongside Birmingham City's Darren Randolph and Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney.

Irish Player Transfers - January 2015 Window

Permanent deals

• Seamus Conneely to Accrington Stanley on an 18 month contract: Report
• Lee Lynch to Hamilton Academical until May 2016: Report
• Noel Hunt to Ipswich town until the end of the season: Report
• Ryan Manning to QPR on a two and a half year deal: Report
• Kevin Foley to FC Kobenhavn: Report
• Will Hayhurst to Notts County on an 18 month deal: Report
• David Connolly to AFC Wimbledon: Report
• Mikey Drennan to Shamrock Rovers on a two year deal: Report
• Liam Miller to Cork City: Report
• Paul Heffernan to Dundee FC: Report
• Anthony O'Connor has signed for Plymouth Argyle: Report
• Brendan Moloney to Northampton Town on a three and a half year deal: Report
• Rhys Murphy has signed for Oldham Athletic on a two and a half year deal: Report
• Eoin Doyle has signed for Cardiff City on a three and a half year deal: Report

Loans

• Ben McLauglin to AFC Telford on a one month loan: Report
• Liam McAlinden to Fleetwood town on loan until the end of the season: Report
• Conor Sammon to Rotherham United on loan until the end of the season: Report
• Bradley Garmston to Gillingham FC on a one month loan: Report
• Paddy Kenny to Ipswich Town on a four month deal: Report
• Leon Best to Brighton and Hove Albion on loan for the rest of the season: Report
• Sean Maguire to Accrington Stanley on loan for a month: Report
• Kenneth McEvoy to Colchester United on loan until the end of the season: Report
• Philip Roberts to Alloa Athletic on loan until the end of the season: Report
• Conor Wilkinson to Oldham Athletic on loan until the end of the season: Report
• Keith Andrews to MK Dons on loan until the end of the season: Report
• Conor Clifford to Barnet FC on a short term loan: Report