one season and 30 June of the following year. In Hynes' case, he had already played for both Dundalk and Newry City between 1 July 2006 and his signing for Derry City in February 2007. The Football Association of Ireland argued that, as they ran a league with an unconventional Summer season, such a state of affairs ought to be permissible for players playing in the League of Ireland. With two weeks of the league season completed the association had yet to come to an agreement with FIFA. The player's clearance eventually came on 5 April. When Hynes was finally granted eligibility to play for Derry he struggled to make an impact with the candystripes. He was loaned out during the July transfer window to UCD for whom he made 8 appearances. Hynes parted ways with Derry City at the end of the 2007 season to join new League of Ireland franchise Sporting Fingal who were making their debut in the 2008 First Division. Hynes was a regular figure in the Sporting Fingal squad where he formed a successful partnership with Robbie Doyle. In all competitions Hynes contributed 11 goals in 38 games alongside numerous assists for the new league outfit as they finished 3rd in the First Division. Hynes fell out of favour towards the end of the season with Sporting and could not agree a contract for the 2009 season. He did not wait long to find a new club as he signed for Shelbourne on 23 December 2008. Hynes made his Shelbourne debut on 6 March 2009 during a 2–1 victory over Wexford Youths at Tolka Park. On 13 April 2009, he scored his first Shelbourne goal during a League of Ireland Cup first-round tie against his former club Dundalk at Tolka Park, a match Shelbourne won 3–0. Hynes finished the 2009 season as a First Division runner-up with Shelbourne and scored 6 goals in 33 league and cup appearances over the course of the season for Shels. He departed Shelbourne at the end of the season and he signed for Longford Town on 11 January 2010 and spent one season with the midlands club. On 14 January 2011, it was confirmed that Hynes would be signing for Limerick. On 14 December 2011, Hynes signed for Drogheda United where he spent two seasons. The highlight of this time was being part of the victorious League of Ireland