The cost of being successful?

June 2nd 2017 is a date that perhaps rubber-stamped a power-shift in Irish football. Champions for the past three seasons Dundalk faced a must win game with runaway leaders Cork City at Oriel Park. The end result was a damaging 3-0 defeat that realistically bought an end to any title hopes for the Lillywhites. It a defeat that felt more too, almost like a shift in power, such was the manner of City's win which opened up an eighteen point lead at the top.

The following morning however bought City back down to earth and that familiar feeling of being successful in Ireland as Seani Maguire, the hat-trick hero in that 3-0 win, had his transfer to Preston North End confirmed. The rumoured fee is €150k with a few additional clauses put in with City at least securing his goal scoring services up to the end of July. This means Maguire will be available for two full Europa league rounds, should City progress, which is worth more than twice the transfer fee.
Having secured Maguire, the league's top scorer this season for a paltry sum, Preston have set their sights on City left-back Kevin O'Connor. The cost of being successful?

Well Dundalk know that themselves. Their European exploits last season put not only the club in the spotlight but the players as well. Centre-back Andy Boyle and flamboyant winger Daryl Horgan both joined Preston on free-transfers after the conclusion of Dundalk's Europa league campaign. That coming a year after losing goal scoring midfield Richie Towell to Brighton.

Unfortunately these transfers are commonplace in the league of Ireland. The major factor behind these is the weak financial positions of all the clubs. Clubs are only in a position to look ahead just one season and thus in the main only offer one year deals to players. Only the likes of City, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers offer anything longer in the main. Promising young players are advised to sign one year deals by agents which strengthen their position in moves across the Irish sea.

Cork City's season has put them in the spotlight and any run in Europe this summer might attract more clubs to the other star performers. For City, such is their lead at the top of the league they realistically have it won which brings its own financial rewards with champions league football. That virtual guarantee should be attractive to potential Maguire replacements.

So far Preston seem to be the only English club looking around the league of Ireland for players on the cheap this summer. In the past players moving to England have had various degrees of success and failure. Brighton for example haven't been able to see the player Towell was at Dundalk while Preston's Horgan and Boyle have settled well.

The cost of being successful in Ireland has always been losing players to British clubs. The lack of revenue dictates that. Even if the league had a solid financial clout it would be in similar situations to many leagues outside of Europe's top three-four where selling players is the norm.
Shelbourne's 2004 European run saw them lose Wes Hoolohan to Scotland's Livingston for £123k. St Pat's lost their prized asset in Chris Forrester, Derry City going back to Niall McGinn and James McClean and of course Cork City who lost Kevin Doyle midway through the 2005 league winning season. The problem even back when the league was healthier is getting decent fees for players.

A stronger contract situation would ensure clubs get a somewhat decent transfer fee but that comes with stronger finances which is also no guarantee as seen in the early 2000s. Club's were in a healthier financial position and had stronger contracts and still lost the likes of Seamus Coleman, James McClean and Shane Long for minuscule amounts.