Season Preview 2016 - UCD

Manager: Collie O'Neill

Stadium: UCD Bowl

Players in: Brian Shortall (Athlone Town), Cathal Brady (Free Agent), Kieran Marty Waters (Shamrock Rovers), Jason Byrne (Bohemians), George Kelly (Derry City)

Players out: Conor Mackey (Athlone Town), Mick Leahy (Sligo Rovers), Robbie Benson (Dundalk), Jamie Doyle (Shelbourne), Eoin Kirwan (Drogheda United), Chris Mulhall (Limerick), Conor Cannon (Released), Jack Menton (Released), Tom O'Halloran (Released).

Extratime.ie Key Man: Kieran Marty Waters

The Students lost three important attacking players during the off-season in Robbie Benson, Jamie Doyle and Chris Mulhall. As a result a big void has been left in the attacking credentials of the UCD team. Collie O'Neill, faced with this dilemma, has recruited some good experienced players for the new season, but one particular name stands out as a special signing. Kieran Marty Waters has made a move across south Dublin, a move that has even gone slightly unnoticed. Involved in 21 league games last season for Shamrock Rovers, he only started nine of those games and yet managed six league goals. Another two came in Rovers' big 3-0 win in Europe against Progrès Niedercorn. It's partially surprising that Pat Fenlon was willing to let Waters leave, but even more surprising that UCD were able to capture his signature. His goals and creativity will be significant and perhaps even crucial in UCD's promotion push.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Ryan Swan

Not necessarily a surprise name, given that Ryan Swan has already won many plaudits and even interest from England, for his performances during 2015. Swan started 24 league games and scored 12 league goals, while he also scored all three goals UCD managed in Europe. However, Swan's latter season performances in front of goal were a bit disappointing as he managed only two more after UCD's exit from Europe at the end of July. Swan is only 19 years old and is still developing as a footballer and as a goalscorer. He will continue to progress and learn this season and at UCD he is in the perfect environment to prosper. Similar performances can be expected during 2016 and UCD will certainly be relying on Swan's goals as they hope to return to the Premier Division.

How they did last season

League: 3^rd – UCD's season was defined by a slow start and a stuttering end, wedged either side of an outstanding mid-season. From the outset UCD were playing catch-up on Wexford Youths, and the defining moment came in September when the two sides played two back-to-back games and UCD lost both. A promotion play-off defeat against Finn Harps was the end of the road for a disappointing league campaign.

Europe: UCD's summer and season was defined by their European exploits. The major Irish success story in Europe during 2015, UCD defeated F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg 1-0 at home and followed that success by surviving an onslaught with 10 men away from home to win the tie on away goals affter it finished 2-2 on aggregate. Drawn against much bigger opposition, Slovan Bratislava in the second round of the Europa League qualifiers, UCD did themselves proud by narrowly losing 1-0 away from home, conceding very late in the game. The second leg saw the Students' Odyssey, which even Ulysses would have been proud of, come crashing to an end, as Slovan ran out 5-1 winners, finally displaying their obvious superior quality. A great money spinning, heart warming story.

FAI Cup: Second Round – UCD had an embarrassing first hurdle exit at the hands of non-league Sheriff YC, when they bowed out 3-1 at the UCD Bowl on 31^st May.

EA Sports Cup: First Round – The Students also bowed out at the first hurdle here, losing to their south Dublin rivals Cabinteely, again at home, in only their second game of the season.

What to expect this season

UCD are going to go in search of promotion yet again this season and it's impossible to discount their chances. Collie O'Neill has been able to keep the majority of the squad intact and crucially their defence remains strong. It's even fair to say that UCD probably have the best defence in the division and that is their basis for going forward. Defensive organisation will be their key strength and if they can find the right formula for scoring goals and winning games, which seemed to be lacking in 2015, they will have a great chance to win promotion. Limerick will be the team to beat, and with former UCD manager Martin Russell and a number of ex-UCD players at the Munster club, the games between the two should be eagerly contested.

A big advantage this season for UCD will be the fact they won't have any European distractions. UCD's performances in the final months of 2015 showed real signs of fatigue and they seemed to be missing an extra gear when it mattered. Nevertheless the experience undoubtedly helped the Students mature and the effects of this experience could yet be important for the 2016 season. Ryan Swan will be joined by Jason Byrne in attack, a man twice his age, who will surely teach his young partner a thing or two about putting the ball in the back of the net.

Byrne is hoping to break a goal-scoring record he's been chasing for a few years now, and perhaps Kieran Marty Waters will be able to provide the crosses for him to achieve that. UCD clearly have plenty of strength in depth in attack this season, but whether they have the right mix between midfield and attack, and whether they can move on from the loss of Robbie Benson's influence will be crucial. Gary O'Neill has been handed the captain's armband and he'll be an important figure in making UCD a strong promotion-chasing unit.

Title Odds: 6/1

First game: Limerick (Markets Field), Saturday, 5^th March, 6.30pm.