Pic: These Irish lads duped loads of people into believing a Donegal man signed for Exeter City today

These lads win Transfer Deadline Day.

Even Jim White himself would be hard pressed to argue that Transfer Deadline Day today has been anything but a damp squib.

The comings and goings at Chelsea – which were well flagged in advance – were about the height of it, but the best story of all involved a Donegal man whose entirely fabricated move earned loads of attention, including from Sky Sports themselves... we think.

In an attempt to knock a bit of craic out of Deadline Day, a few mates of Buncrana man Kieran ‘Crock’ McDaid decided to create a buzz around an entirely fake story that he was on his way to Exeter City.

Massive congrats to @KieranMcDaid_MJ on his move to @OfficialECFC , could never hack the GAA so had to resort to that foreign sport #ECFC — MF (@MattyFlanMan) February 2, 2015

Rumour has it from Ireland exeters #TransferDeadline signing @KieranMcDaid_MJ is the next Zidane? — scottkilker (@Scottkilker) February 2, 2015

Before long, some Exeter City fans began to get excited about the prospect of actually signing somebody and the lads who were in on it, as well as Kieran himself, did nothing to discourage the notion that he was on his way to England.

Kieran McDaid for Buncrana Hearts FC this season:

Appearances: 6

Goals: 5

Assists: 4

MOTMs: 2#ecfc — Oli (@ODernie) February 2, 2015

Big thanks to all @BuncranaHearts for all they've done, looking forward to my next opportunity with @OfficialECFC #ECFC — Kieran McDaid (@KieranMcDaid_MJ) February 2, 2015

Probably in their wildest dreams the lads who came up with the prank never thought it would make it all the way to Sky Sports, but this screenshot - which we're not entirely sure is legitimate, but really hope it is - would suggest that it did.

Some Exeter fans, meanwhile, were keen to congratulate Kieran on his move and wish him well at his new club.

@KieranMcDaid_MJ welcome to Exeter fella. Mice first name by the way ;) — Keiran (@ecfc32) February 2, 2015

With the prank having exceeded the lads' wildest expectations, it was time to reflect on a job well done...

Well played lads, very well played indeed.

Hat-tip to Gary Regan for sending this one our way