| Will City finally lift the title this season? Source: twitter |
We'll start this post with my team Cork City. A trophy was finally delivered last November with the last-gasp goal from Sean Maguire, who has been retained for this season. That is probably the best news for City as his goal contribution will be vital in closing the gap to Dundalk. There has been a few newcomers with Conor McCormack, Jimmy Keohane, Achille Campion, Ryan Delaney, Shane Griffin and the loan signing of Rimvydas Sadauskas from Stumbras all arriving. These signings add depth to the first team in which most has been retained with the notable departure of Kenny Browne, who was part of the mean defence last season. Another disappointing departure was that of highly rated youngster Chiedozie Ogbene.
Dundalk lost three key players in Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan and Ronan Finn. They were the headline makers last season and the challenge is how can you top those exploits. Replacing Horgan will be difficult but the signings they have made have given them depth to handle the congestion later in the season. Boyle has been replaced by Niklas Vemmelund from Derry City. They remain the team to beat.
Shamrock Rovers over the winter have gone rebuilding. Coach Stephen Bradley has pieced together a team that could be capable of challenging the Dundalk-City duopoly that has formed in the past few seasons. Will a blend of youth and experience be enough for a title? Probably not but I think they'll be closer to the top two than recent seasons.
Derry City will be playing their home games in Buncrana which will be far from ideal for their hopes of getting closer to the top two. If they can find rhythm in their temporary home quick enough they can be a match for anyone in the division.
While the European places are expected to be between Rovers and Derry behind the top two, the likes of Sligo, St Patrick's Athletic and possibly Bray will be looking to muster a challenge. Bohemians also will be looking to improve on last season's mediocre finish. However for many sides, looking up is as important as peering behind. With three being relegated it could be the bottom half of the division involved in the scramble to stay afloat.
St Patrick's Athletic struggled badly last season. They should have enough to avoid any relegation fears but that defence needs improving.
The likes of Galway and the aforementioned Bray Wanderers will be looking to good starts to ease any fears. Bray have assembled on paper a decent squad but a good start is imperative for the perennial strugglers.
Finn Harps will struggle. Last season's lowest scorers need an injection of firepower to have a fighting chance of staying up. Will it be Paddy McCourt that keeps them up?.
The newly promoted pair of Limerick and Drogheda United are probably on paper at least of higher quality than last season's relegated sides Longford and Wexford Youths. This should mean nobody is cut adrift.
The relegation battle will be a fascinating watch and as I've mentioned I think as much as half the league will be at some point involved. In the past few years the point tally of 10th has fluctuated from thirty-two last season to twenty-six in 2014. Potentially we are looking at a tally of between thirty and above being enough to avoid the drop.
- Cork City
- Dundalk
- Shamrock Rovers
- Sligo Rovers
- Derry City
- St Patrick's Athletic
- Bray Wanderers
- Limerick
- Bohemians
- Galway
- Drogheda United
- Finn Harps
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