Q Radio Sport
Title-chasing Linfield have boosted their squad with a deadline day double swoop for players from Scottish and Welsh clubs.
The Blues have brought in defender Ben Hall from Falkirk on a two-and-a-half-year deal and Kieron Evans on loan from Cardiff City.
Former Northern Ireland U21 international Hall has played for Motherwell, Notts County and Partick Thistle.
Just in - Linfield have signed central defender Ben Hall from Falkirk on a two-and-a-half-year deal. The 25-year-old from Fermanagh was an NI u-21 international. Other moves are in the pipeline. #DeadlineDay
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 31, 2022
📸@OfficialBlues pic.twitter.com/CYS79wmdYC
Attacking midfielder Evans joins the Blues until the end of the season.
The reinforcements arrive after Linfield crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Coleraine on Saturday and old rivals Glentoran replaced them at the top of the table.
Other deadline day moves included goalkeeper Sean O'Neill going on loan to Ballymena from Crusaders and striker Cathair Friel from Coleraine to Dungannon, again on loan.
But the big transfer of the day was confirmed earlier in the evening - another Irish League star clinching a contract across the water:
Just in: Oxford United have completed the Deadline Day signing of 21-year-old Oisin Smyth from Dungannon Swifts.
— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) January 31, 2022
The Northern Ireland Under-21 international midfielder joins on a three-and-a-half year deal. @OUFCOfficial @DgnSwifts @smyth_oisin7 pic.twitter.com/aDyW2MZ6Jd
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland defender Ciaron Brown is also now at Oxford - on loan from Cardiff.
And Derry City have signed 24-year-old striker Matty Smith on a two-year contract.
He was top scorer for St Pat's last season as they finished runners-up in the League of Ireland.
Oisin Smyth - off to Oxford from Dungannon Swifts