In the second article on the movement of players in Open Competitions, we focus on internal transfers between clubs. The total number of players who moved club in 2016 was 67, substantially down on the figure of 108 between 2014 and 2015. A small number [9] left a club in 2014 and re-joined in 2016.
Over the three years for which we have data the figures [excluding students in Trinity whose end year affiliation is what counts] show that 2,923 players had a single club, the number who were in two clubs [including some who left and re-joined a club in 2016] was 193 and 14 turned out for three clubs. The total number involved in transfers out of 3,130 who participated in OC during this period is 6.6%.
While the figures may be a little higher than in past decades [nobody really knows as there is no reliable data] the level of internal movement does not seem excessive and most players remain loyal to the club they grew up in or initially joined. The impact on individual clubs may, however, be more significant. The table below breaks down the transfers by club.
| Transfer OUT | Transfer IN | |||||||
| 2014 | 2015 | Total | 2015 | 2016 | Total | NET GAIN | Returnees | |
| Adamstown | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
| AIB | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Ashbourne | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Bagenalstown | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Balbriggan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| Cabinrteely | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Carlow | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Castleknock | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Civil Service | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Clondalkin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Cork | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Dundalk | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Dundrum | 2 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 7 | -2 | 0 |
| Dublin Fire B | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greystones | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| Hamverstown | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| Evening Herald | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 | 0 |
| The Hills | 6 | 4 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | -5 | 0 |
| Knockharley | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| Laois | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -5 | 0 |
| Leinster | 5 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | -2 | 0 |
| Longford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Lucan | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| Malahide | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 0 |
| Merrion | 9 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Mullingar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North County | 6 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 6 | -1 | 0 |
| North Kilkdare | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 1 |
| Pembroke | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Phoenix | 5 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
| Ringcommons | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Railway Union | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -3 | 1 |
| Rush | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Sandyford | 9 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | -11 | 0 |
| Slieve Bloom | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Swords | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Clontarf | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Terenure | 13 | 1 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 3 | -11 | 0 |
| Trinity | 3 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -4 | 1 |
| Tyrrelstown | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Wexford | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -4 | 0 |
| Wicklow | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 1 |
| YMCA | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
On its own the level of transfers between clubs does not raise issues of concern. Some clubs appear to be experiencing difficulties in holding onto members and this is something that they no doubt will be seeking to address. Combined with the much greater numbers giving up and taking up the sport each year, however, it shows the challenge facing all clubs in assessing their likely playing strength the following year when trying to decide how many teams to enter in competitions.
* Returnees are those who played for a club in 2014, left to join another club the following year and then returned in 2016. They are included as Transfers IN within the main table.