Over the years, the natural progression for players operating in the League of Ireland has been to move across the water to English clubs. Over the past 12 months we've seen a number of the league's elite move across Europe, but one thing which isn't as common, is a Leinster Senior League player to find himself on the cusp of a move to the Championship.
That is until now, with The Irish Sun reporting that St. Francis' defender Divin Ismala is close to joining Mick McCarthy's Blackpool after impressing the former Ireland boss while on trial at the club.
The 19-year-old, who trained with Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers during pre-season, has been with the Leinster Senior League outfit since U16 level.
One man who recently swapped Irish football for Championship minutes is Andy Lyons. The former Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers' full back has enjoyed a great start to life with Blackpool and Ismala will be hoping to follow in the steps of his compatriot.
Other players who left the Leinster Senior League for England
Although it is very rare for a player to jump from Leinster Senior League football to a professional outfit in England, it has been done before by Dean Kelly, a former teammate of St. Francis' Director of Football Simon Madden at Shamrock Rovers.
5 October 2014; Dean Kelly, Shamrock Rovers, shoots to score his side's first goal despite the attempts of Derry City's Barry McNamee and Barry Molloy. FAI Ford Cup, Semi-Final, Shamrock Rovers v Derry City. Tallaght Stadium, Tallaght, Co. Dublin. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
While Kelly was playing with Crumlin United back in 2010, Oldham Athletic signed the attacker on a six-month deal after impressing manager Paul Dickov while on trial at the club.
Kelly was released by Oldham in January 2011, but went on to enjoy a successful career in the League of Ireland. He enjoyed two stints at Shamrock Rovers, where he won a Premier Division title in 2011, and also spent time at St. Patrick's Athletic, Shelbourne, Longford Town and Bray Wanderers.
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