Boreham Wood have re-signed midfielder Daryl McMahon from Conference South rivals Ebbsfleet United, three years after he left Meadow Park.

The 31-year-old left the Wood in 2012 and re-joins on a two-and-a-half-year contract. McMahon since taken in stints with Eastleigh, Dover Athletic and Ebbsfleet, twice reaching the Conference South play-off final without winning promotion.

Speaking to the club's site, Wood boss Ian Allinson said of his latest addition: "I needed someone with experience with my young squad and Daryl is that man.

"Having played against us recently, I know he comes to me in good form. I saw at first hand that he is match fit and having played for me, he knows how I will want him to play.

"The signing of Macca has come out of the blue. It was an unexpected bonus and I must thank my chairman for backing me once again. There are obviously no guarantees in football but if this goes well, Daryl could well help get us over the finish line."

Chairman Danny Hunter added: "Daryl has always, in his absence, been a good friend to the club. He is a true football man from top to bottom and is in our opinion, one of the best and most creative midfield players in this league.

"He works hard, he's a leader, he's good in the changing room, he can spot a pass, he can score a goal and he is a threat at set pieces.

"We believe that Daryl will be a great signing for us. He knows our club, he is well thought of here and it took less than two minutes after learning of his availability to ring our gaffer Ian Allinson. It took Ian less than 60 seconds to tell me what he thought and it took us both less than 30 seconds to convince Daryl to come here and try and help us win this league."

Dublin-born McMahon began his career with Premier League outfit West Ham United but failed to make a first-team appearance during his two years at Upton Park.

After a brief stay at Port Vale in 2004, McMahon joined Leyton Orient and made more than 60 league appearances before leaving for Stevenage in January 2007.

At Boro, McMahon won the 2007 FA Trophy, adding to the League Two promotion secured with the O's in 2006.

And after moving to Cambridge United in 2009, McMahon suffered the first of four play-off final defeats, the second coming the following year with Farnborough of the Conference South.

McMahon's next stop was Boreham Wood, where he took up a player-coach role on a two-year deal before leaving for Eastleigh for an undisclosed fee seven months later.

He was again a play-off final loser with Dover Athletic in 2013 before coming up short at the final hurdle a year later with the Fleet.

In 2000, McMahon represented the Republic of Ireland's Under-16s at the European Championships and has scored once in four appearances for his country.