First Division Season Preview
Credit:
Athlone Town
Athlone struggled last season largely because, after a 3-3 draw at Tolka Park in early August, they scored just 6 more times in the remaining fourteen games. A mildly stubborn defence did alright, except when Dundalk visited, but an improvement is needed this season.
Brendan Place has signed ten players for this campaign. Six new lads: Emeka Onwubiko, Ian Finlay, Jamie Duffy, Alex Reilly, Kevin Williamson, and Damien Rushe. And four players have re-signed: Des Hope, Noel McGee, Anthony Hayes and Robbie Hamm.
Travelling to Mervue to begin the season, it is important Athlone get some goals to build up some confidence.
Who to watch:
Damien Rushe - Returned to the club after spending last season with rivals Longford Town.
extratime.ie prediction: 11th
Finn Harps
Finn Harps are in a dismal state. One extratime.ie reporter’s view on 2008 was short and crisp: ‘Spent a million euro and were relegated’. Their debt now lies close to €500,000 so major financial prudence and/or buying some scratch-cards is the best the club can do.
It’s never easy to adapt to a new division and Finn Harps know that with Shels’, Waterford and Sporting, they face three sides already equipped for the task at hand. It will be important for Paul Hegarty’s side to hit the ground running, the only problem is the team is pretty much a new one.
Massive budget-cuts means the side returns to part-time status and will be largely dependent on local talent. After nearly a dozen players were released, their signings so far are: Mark Forker, Ciaran Coll, Ruairi Harkin (Loan), David McDaid (Loan), Shaun Houston, James Doherty, Ian Rossiter, Oisin McMenamin, Christy Connaghan, Paddy Bonner, and Gary Whorisky. Vinny Sweeney and Damien Whitehead have been on trial during pre-season but there are doubts over the return of record appearance holder Jonathan Minnock.
Who to watch:
A vote of no-confidence in Paul Hegarty was ‘reluctantly’ withdrawn in the clubs AGM not long ago. With such a new squad, and such a massive debt, it may be best not to watch.
extratime.ie prediction: 6th
Kildare County
Thomas Donnelly was appointed manager of Kildare County when the club were preparing for life in the A Championship. But when Cobh didn’t acquire a licence, Kildare took their spot and remain in the First Division.
Poor last season, all signs point to poor this season.
extratime.ie prediction: 12th
Limerick FC
Limerick have not enjoyed the best off-season: Mike Kerley resigned as manager, replaced temporarily by David Mahedy, while two of their brightest talents have left the club in the form of Gary Sheehan and Peter White.
Limerick did quite well last year, finishing well above the danger end of the table, but always 10 or so points from the top four sides. So for the side to push on, the loss of Kerley was hardly in their best interests it seems.
In more positive news, the club has added seven faces to its squad for the new season: John Tierney, Eoin O'Brien, Brendan Daly, Chimka Manjor, Paul Walsh, Brian O'Callaghan and Paul Cummins.
It’s difficult to see Limerick keeping ahead of Monaghan this season, but until a permanent manager is sorted it is difficult to appraise the side.
Who to watch:
Chimka Manjor – Gary Sheehan scored 8 league goals last year, someone has to take that mantle.
extratime.ie prediction: 8th
Longford Town
Longford struggled at the back end of last season, winning only twice in their final ten league games. Only Athlone and Kildare kept them off the bottom and a managerial change has added further pressure on the Midlands side.
Former manager Aaron Callaghan left, claiming there was “a lack of respect”, and Alan Gough has come in. Gough has signed Gary Curran, Colm Jinks, Jason McCartney, and Derek Glynn to help the side to improve on last season’s 8th position.
The budgetary constraints on the side hamper any aspirations of returning to the Premier Division, having been relegated two years back. Pre-season signs aren’t anything to write home about, losing three friendlies against Premier Division opposition, conceding ten, scoring none.
Who to watch:
Derek Glynn – Struggled to get in the Galway team last year. Glynn did, however, still manage to net some crucial goals as Galway beat the drop, none more so than his last minute winner at the Carlisle Grounds in July. His goals are needed.
extratime.ie prediction: 9th
Mervue United
Newbies Mervue may benefit from such a weird state of affairs in the game this year. With the relegated sides so messed up, and Kildare and Athlone still about, there should be plenty of opportunities for goals and points this season.
Johnny Glynn, who scored the winner for Galway United in the 91’ Cup Final, manages these lads and with a blend of youngsters who have come up through ranks and a couple of experienced League of Ireland campaigners such as David Goldbey and Ollie Keogh, it just remains to be seen whether they'll be good enough for this level.
David O’Dowd, Nicky Curran, Nigel Keady, Ryan Griffin and Damien O’Rourke have all been signed, however there is no real indication as to how well this side are equipped for the First Division following two narrow pre-season losses to local rivals Galway United.
They open at home against Athlone and it’s quite conceivable that they get a result to kick-start a good year.
Who to Watch:
David O'Brien - uncompromising right back.
extratime.ie prediction: 10th
Monaghan United
Monaghan have been busy bees since finishing last season in 6th place, a distance from the sides below and indeed above.
Signings from the top three sides last year have added a bit of class into a solid side. In have come Aidan Lynch, Shane Grimes and Alan Byrne to tighten up the defence, with David Freeman and Karl Bermingham joining the attack. Aaron McCarey, Seamus Quigley and Niall Flynn have joined the first-team after being promoted from last years under-20’s as Mick Cooke attempts to improve on last season.
Monaghan should really be looking to finish in the top half with the acquisitions Cooke has made, and a position below 6th should be viewed as disappointing.
Who to watch:
David Freeman – A favourite at extratime.ie. Scored 8 last season for Shels’: an ever-present in the side and unlucky to be moved on from Tolka. Goals will be needed at Kingspan Century Park, and Freeman will need to provide them.
extratime.ie prediction: 5th
Shelbourne
Stability has been the issue at Tolka Park since their fall from grace a few years back. Chairman Joe Casey has provided that and Shels’ have signed some key players for the new campaign which have strengthened their squad. Last season’s 93rd minute heart break will be tough to overcome and it will be interesting to see how Dermot Keely’s men begin this campaign.
Last seasons ‘Player of the Year’ David Cassidy has signed from promoted Dundalk and local favourite Ritchie Baker has returned to the club he won a shed load of trophies with. Peter Hynes and Paddy Madden will join Anto Flood up front for the season as Shels’ aim for promotion. Other signings include Keith Murray, Darren Meenan, Derek Doyle, Jordan McMillan, Stephen Quigley, Kevin Doherty and David Crawley.
Who to watch:
David McAllister - Signed permanently following a very impressive loan spell in the latter half of last season.
extratime.ie prediction: 3rd
Sporting Fingal
All eyes are on the Santry outfit this season. As most clubs budgets get cut, Sporting’s expands. Last year, Liam Buckley was given around a month to assemble a squad to compete in the First Division following Kilkenny’s departure. The haste which was required ultimately cost his side promotion as a slow start was never fully recovered.
This season is completely different though. Buckley has enjoyed a successful off-season, in that he has signed a raft of last season’s top-flight players: added to that a substantial pre-season regime with a set-up to rival any side in the Premier Division and Sporting look set to push on.
In have come Stephen Paisley, Shaun Williams, Shaun Maher, Shane McFaul, Ross Gaynor, Robert Bayly, Gareth Whelan, Gary O’Neill, Eamon Zayed, Alan Kirby, Darren Quigley and James Hussey.
Who to watch:
Gary O’Neill, Alan Kirby, Eamon Zayed, Stephen Paisley….It’s tough to pick out one to watch with this crowd. The squad is a disgustingly-long mile ahead of any other in the division. All eyes will thus be on Liam Buckley to guide them to promotion.
extratime.ie prediction: 1st
Waterford United
Waterford were far too close to promotion last year for a club with such financial difficulties. However, this season, again, extratime.ie predict a good run from the Blues.
Gareth Cronin resigned following the end of last season, with Stephen Henderson replacing him following Cobh’s relegation from the Premier Division to the A Championship.
Kevin Murray, John Kearney, Alan Carey and Graham Cummins have followed Henderson from Cobh as Waterford build a side more than capable of challenging for the top spots this year.
Mick Devine, Seamus Long, Declan Woodgate, Paul Carey, and Kevin Burns have also signed, however, John Hayes decision not to play at the RSC this year still remains odd. Being lined up as the new captain, his absence may prove crucial.
Who to watch:
Kenny Browne – The 22-year-old has been an ever-present at Waterford since 2006 and has developed into one of the best young defensive players in the league. His decision to turn down the money men at Santry shows his dedication to the cause. His performances this season should be impressive.
extratime.ie prediction: 2nd
Wexford Youths
Mick Wallace’s side ‘enjoyed’ the worst defensive record last season, so arresting that development was a primary concern ahead of 2009. Still a relatively new side, the set-up in Wexford is admirable; with the obvious ethos of youth streaming through the side. A couple of signings were made, however, again local talent will be the key factor in their progression.
Packie Holden has been signed as a goalkeeper, David Breen as a defender (Both from Waterford) and another local lad Tim McGrath, also a defender. Gary Sheehan and Peter White have come in from Limerick too. Wexford are a team dedicated to the development of younger players and they are not afraid to throw them into the first team: However Holden, Breen and McGrath are already proving a major hit at the club.
A strong preseason (3 draws against Premier Division sides) looks to have given the impetus for the side to continue their improvement from 9th two years ago to 7th last year. Throw in the League Cup Final last year and the signs are good for the Youths.
Who to watch:
Keith Kearney. The 20-year-old can play on the right wing or at right back. He played a few games last year but with the added experience he could really push on this year. If it goes bad for him, Gary Sheehan’s goals should be rather important.
extratime.ie prediction: 7th
UCD
Like Finn Harps, UCD may well find things a bit too difficult in the First Division. The three likely lads of Sporting, Shels and Waterford could well out-muscle the two relegated sides in the push for promotion.
A lot of changes have gone on at the college club, with budget cuts the theme of pre-season. Pete Mahon left as manager, being replaced by Martin Russell, who is charged with the task of getting his young side back into the Premier Division.
Chris Mulhall and Ciaran Kilduff have signed from Shamrock Rovers, Luke Hardy arrived from Longford Town and James Timmons has signed for the club for the third time.
Who to watch:
Ciaran Kilduff – Kildare were beyond rubbish last season; however Kilduff impressed more often than not. His pace and goals should be integral to UCD’s campaign, having already opened his account in his friendly debut a week ago.
extratime.ie prediction: 4th
Athlone struggled last season largely because, after a 3-3 draw at Tolka Park in early August, they scored just 6 more times in the remaining fourteen games. A mildly stubborn defence did alright, except when Dundalk visited, but an improvement is needed this season.
Brendan Place has signed ten players for this campaign. Six new lads: Emeka Onwubiko, Ian Finlay, Jamie Duffy, Alex Reilly, Kevin Williamson, and Damien Rushe. And four players have re-signed: Des Hope, Noel McGee, Anthony Hayes and Robbie Hamm.
Travelling to Mervue to begin the season, it is important Athlone get some goals to build up some confidence.
Who to watch:
Damien Rushe - Returned to the club after spending last season with rivals Longford Town.
extratime.ie prediction: 11th
Finn Harps
Finn Harps are in a dismal state. One extratime.ie reporter’s view on 2008 was short and crisp: ‘Spent a million euro and were relegated’. Their debt now lies close to €500,000 so major financial prudence and/or buying some scratch-cards is the best the club can do.
It’s never easy to adapt to a new division and Finn Harps know that with Shels’, Waterford and Sporting, they face three sides already equipped for the task at hand. It will be important for Paul Hegarty’s side to hit the ground running, the only problem is the team is pretty much a new one.
Massive budget-cuts means the side returns to part-time status and will be largely dependent on local talent. After nearly a dozen players were released, their signings so far are: Mark Forker, Ciaran Coll, Ruairi Harkin (Loan), David McDaid (Loan), Shaun Houston, James Doherty, Ian Rossiter, Oisin McMenamin, Christy Connaghan, Paddy Bonner, and Gary Whorisky. Vinny Sweeney and Damien Whitehead have been on trial during pre-season but there are doubts over the return of record appearance holder Jonathan Minnock.
Who to watch:
A vote of no-confidence in Paul Hegarty was ‘reluctantly’ withdrawn in the clubs AGM not long ago. With such a new squad, and such a massive debt, it may be best not to watch.
extratime.ie prediction: 6th
Kildare County
Thomas Donnelly was appointed manager of Kildare County when the club were preparing for life in the A Championship. But when Cobh didn’t acquire a licence, Kildare took their spot and remain in the First Division.
Poor last season, all signs point to poor this season.
extratime.ie prediction: 12th
Limerick FC
Limerick have not enjoyed the best off-season: Mike Kerley resigned as manager, replaced temporarily by David Mahedy, while two of their brightest talents have left the club in the form of Gary Sheehan and Peter White.
Limerick did quite well last year, finishing well above the danger end of the table, but always 10 or so points from the top four sides. So for the side to push on, the loss of Kerley was hardly in their best interests it seems.
In more positive news, the club has added seven faces to its squad for the new season: John Tierney, Eoin O'Brien, Brendan Daly, Chimka Manjor, Paul Walsh, Brian O'Callaghan and Paul Cummins.
It’s difficult to see Limerick keeping ahead of Monaghan this season, but until a permanent manager is sorted it is difficult to appraise the side.
Who to watch:
Chimka Manjor – Gary Sheehan scored 8 league goals last year, someone has to take that mantle.
extratime.ie prediction: 8th
Longford Town
Longford struggled at the back end of last season, winning only twice in their final ten league games. Only Athlone and Kildare kept them off the bottom and a managerial change has added further pressure on the Midlands side.
Former manager Aaron Callaghan left, claiming there was “a lack of respect”, and Alan Gough has come in. Gough has signed Gary Curran, Colm Jinks, Jason McCartney, and Derek Glynn to help the side to improve on last season’s 8th position.
The budgetary constraints on the side hamper any aspirations of returning to the Premier Division, having been relegated two years back. Pre-season signs aren’t anything to write home about, losing three friendlies against Premier Division opposition, conceding ten, scoring none.
Who to watch:
Derek Glynn – Struggled to get in the Galway team last year. Glynn did, however, still manage to net some crucial goals as Galway beat the drop, none more so than his last minute winner at the Carlisle Grounds in July. His goals are needed.
extratime.ie prediction: 9th
Mervue United
Newbies Mervue may benefit from such a weird state of affairs in the game this year. With the relegated sides so messed up, and Kildare and Athlone still about, there should be plenty of opportunities for goals and points this season.
Johnny Glynn, who scored the winner for Galway United in the 91’ Cup Final, manages these lads and with a blend of youngsters who have come up through ranks and a couple of experienced League of Ireland campaigners such as David Goldbey and Ollie Keogh, it just remains to be seen whether they'll be good enough for this level.
David O’Dowd, Nicky Curran, Nigel Keady, Ryan Griffin and Damien O’Rourke have all been signed, however there is no real indication as to how well this side are equipped for the First Division following two narrow pre-season losses to local rivals Galway United.
They open at home against Athlone and it’s quite conceivable that they get a result to kick-start a good year.
Who to Watch:
David O'Brien - uncompromising right back.
extratime.ie prediction: 10th
Monaghan United
Monaghan have been busy bees since finishing last season in 6th place, a distance from the sides below and indeed above.
Signings from the top three sides last year have added a bit of class into a solid side. In have come Aidan Lynch, Shane Grimes and Alan Byrne to tighten up the defence, with David Freeman and Karl Bermingham joining the attack. Aaron McCarey, Seamus Quigley and Niall Flynn have joined the first-team after being promoted from last years under-20’s as Mick Cooke attempts to improve on last season.
Monaghan should really be looking to finish in the top half with the acquisitions Cooke has made, and a position below 6th should be viewed as disappointing.
Who to watch:
David Freeman – A favourite at extratime.ie. Scored 8 last season for Shels’: an ever-present in the side and unlucky to be moved on from Tolka. Goals will be needed at Kingspan Century Park, and Freeman will need to provide them.
extratime.ie prediction: 5th
Shelbourne
Stability has been the issue at Tolka Park since their fall from grace a few years back. Chairman Joe Casey has provided that and Shels’ have signed some key players for the new campaign which have strengthened their squad. Last season’s 93rd minute heart break will be tough to overcome and it will be interesting to see how Dermot Keely’s men begin this campaign.
Last seasons ‘Player of the Year’ David Cassidy has signed from promoted Dundalk and local favourite Ritchie Baker has returned to the club he won a shed load of trophies with. Peter Hynes and Paddy Madden will join Anto Flood up front for the season as Shels’ aim for promotion. Other signings include Keith Murray, Darren Meenan, Derek Doyle, Jordan McMillan, Stephen Quigley, Kevin Doherty and David Crawley.
Who to watch:
David McAllister - Signed permanently following a very impressive loan spell in the latter half of last season.
extratime.ie prediction: 3rd
Sporting Fingal
All eyes are on the Santry outfit this season. As most clubs budgets get cut, Sporting’s expands. Last year, Liam Buckley was given around a month to assemble a squad to compete in the First Division following Kilkenny’s departure. The haste which was required ultimately cost his side promotion as a slow start was never fully recovered.
This season is completely different though. Buckley has enjoyed a successful off-season, in that he has signed a raft of last season’s top-flight players: added to that a substantial pre-season regime with a set-up to rival any side in the Premier Division and Sporting look set to push on.
In have come Stephen Paisley, Shaun Williams, Shaun Maher, Shane McFaul, Ross Gaynor, Robert Bayly, Gareth Whelan, Gary O’Neill, Eamon Zayed, Alan Kirby, Darren Quigley and James Hussey.
Who to watch:
Gary O’Neill, Alan Kirby, Eamon Zayed, Stephen Paisley….It’s tough to pick out one to watch with this crowd. The squad is a disgustingly-long mile ahead of any other in the division. All eyes will thus be on Liam Buckley to guide them to promotion.
extratime.ie prediction: 1st
Waterford United
Waterford were far too close to promotion last year for a club with such financial difficulties. However, this season, again, extratime.ie predict a good run from the Blues.
Gareth Cronin resigned following the end of last season, with Stephen Henderson replacing him following Cobh’s relegation from the Premier Division to the A Championship.
Kevin Murray, John Kearney, Alan Carey and Graham Cummins have followed Henderson from Cobh as Waterford build a side more than capable of challenging for the top spots this year.
Mick Devine, Seamus Long, Declan Woodgate, Paul Carey, and Kevin Burns have also signed, however, John Hayes decision not to play at the RSC this year still remains odd. Being lined up as the new captain, his absence may prove crucial.
Who to watch:
Kenny Browne – The 22-year-old has been an ever-present at Waterford since 2006 and has developed into one of the best young defensive players in the league. His decision to turn down the money men at Santry shows his dedication to the cause. His performances this season should be impressive.
extratime.ie prediction: 2nd
Wexford Youths
Mick Wallace’s side ‘enjoyed’ the worst defensive record last season, so arresting that development was a primary concern ahead of 2009. Still a relatively new side, the set-up in Wexford is admirable; with the obvious ethos of youth streaming through the side. A couple of signings were made, however, again local talent will be the key factor in their progression.
Packie Holden has been signed as a goalkeeper, David Breen as a defender (Both from Waterford) and another local lad Tim McGrath, also a defender. Gary Sheehan and Peter White have come in from Limerick too. Wexford are a team dedicated to the development of younger players and they are not afraid to throw them into the first team: However Holden, Breen and McGrath are already proving a major hit at the club.
A strong preseason (3 draws against Premier Division sides) looks to have given the impetus for the side to continue their improvement from 9th two years ago to 7th last year. Throw in the League Cup Final last year and the signs are good for the Youths.
Who to watch:
Keith Kearney. The 20-year-old can play on the right wing or at right back. He played a few games last year but with the added experience he could really push on this year. If it goes bad for him, Gary Sheehan’s goals should be rather important.
extratime.ie prediction: 7th
UCD
Like Finn Harps, UCD may well find things a bit too difficult in the First Division. The three likely lads of Sporting, Shels and Waterford could well out-muscle the two relegated sides in the push for promotion.
A lot of changes have gone on at the college club, with budget cuts the theme of pre-season. Pete Mahon left as manager, being replaced by Martin Russell, who is charged with the task of getting his young side back into the Premier Division.
Chris Mulhall and Ciaran Kilduff have signed from Shamrock Rovers, Luke Hardy arrived from Longford Town and James Timmons has signed for the club for the third time.
Who to watch:
Ciaran Kilduff – Kildare were beyond rubbish last season; however Kilduff impressed more often than not. His pace and goals should be integral to UCD’s campaign, having already opened his account in his friendly debut a week ago.
extratime.ie prediction: 4th
About Gordon Hunt
Gordon Hunt is one of extratime's Dublin based reporters. Having worked with the site since it's inception, Gordon's name is carved into the foundations of extratime's tower block. View Full Profile