Surprises, shocks and twists: the opening series of games
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It has been a fairly interesting and some may say surprising first series of games. What’s not
surprising to many is that after the first round of games Shamrock Rovers, last year’s champions,
occupy first place in the Airtricity Premier Division whilst Shelbourne, my favourites for the First
Division title, lie top of the First Division Table.
However, there have been a few surprises thrown in the mix after the first series of games, Bray Wanderers being the prime example. They have certainly turned a few heads on their way in the Premier Division table. It may have come as a shock to many to see them flying high this year, but not me. In Pat Devlin, they have one of the best managers and tacticians in the league.
I remember when he came in last year and Bray were really struggling to hold onto their top flight status. I was with Sporting Fingal at the time and having previously beaten them fairly easily in three previous outings in the season, our fourth encounter proved very tough. We were extremely lucky to have gotten a 2-2 draw from the game having being down 1-0 and 2-1 in the game. It was then when I knew that Bray had come a long way under Pat in such a short time after he took over and it was inevitable that they were going to be very strong this year.
Obviously Pat is working off a shoestring budget but what he does have is hungry, determined and very a talented bunch of players. They have some great young players in Jake Kelly, Shane O’Neill, John Mulroy, Dean Zambra and in Gary Dempsey they possess one of the best midfielders in the league. You can’t talk about Bray without mentioning Danny O’Connor who is for me up there for player of the year at such an early stage.
Many people expect Sligo Rovers to challenge Shamrock Rovers for the title this year and some have been put off by their slow start and say they have no chance. Mark my words, Sligo will challenge strongly this year and have as good a chance as Shamrock Rovers in winning the league. They have been very unlucky in quite a few games and with that bit of luck they could easily have been top of the league. Once they start being more prolific in front of goal, they will undoubtedly go on a winning streak of games and will prove very hard to beat.
Dundalk and St Pat’s are two top teams who have not got off to the start many would have been expecting. Dundalk seem to have made Oriel Park a bit of a fortress this year but have struggled away from home a little bit. If they want to be challenging at the top end of the table they will need to change their fortunes away from home but I have no doubt they will.
St Pat’s have also not made a great start but in the last couple of weeks, things seem to be turning around for the better for them. They have some extremely talented players, Shane McFaul and Daryl Kavanagh for example, and it was only a matter of time before things started to click for them. My top team tip for the second round of games is St. Pats. I feel that they will go on a strong run over this series of games and climb up the table into a challenging spot for first place.
In the Airtricity First Division, Shelbourne are flying high and to be honest that comes as no surprise. They have five players whom I played with last year with Sporting Fingal and to be honest all five are by far Premier Division standard players. Stephen Paisley is a top centre defender who could play at any Premier Division club and has a wealth of experience. Lorcan Fitzgerald was immense for Sporting Fingal and proved his talent with a goal from left back in Europe last year against Portuguese side Maritimo. Conan Byrne is without doubt one of the best right wingers around and not only scores a hatful of goals but also sets up so many (he put many on a plate for me last year)!! Colm James and the youthful and energetic Kevin Dawson are two players whom again can easily occupy a spot in many Premier Division teams and will prove great value to the Shelbourne midfield.
With the acquisition of those players, I cannot see beyond Shelbourne this year and I imagine they will continue their great start. However, Cork City have also started strongly and have a very good squad of players that will push Shelbourne all the way. I think Waterford and Limerick will put together a better round of results in the 2nd series of games.
I cannot talk about the First Division without mentioning Roddy Collins’ Monaghan. Roddy has gone To Monaghan, and without being able to bring in any one new, has produced an excellent first series of results. He is a top, top manager and someone I respect a lot. A lot of managers take over a new club and straight away bring in players of their choice but Roddy has not been able to do that and has worked with the squad he inherited from the previous manager.
He has proved just how good he is by keeping them in touch at the top of the table when, to be honest, no one really expected Monaghan to be in touching distance this year. It is also great to see my old friend and strike partner Declan O’Brien back to his deadly self. Give him half a chance and he will punish you; he is one of the best finishers around and I am delighted to see him back to his best. When on top form, he is another player who can easily slot into any team in the country.
The first series of games have thrown up a few surprises; let’s see how the next round of games goes. I predict another few surprises, but who and what will they be?
However, there have been a few surprises thrown in the mix after the first series of games, Bray Wanderers being the prime example. They have certainly turned a few heads on their way in the Premier Division table. It may have come as a shock to many to see them flying high this year, but not me. In Pat Devlin, they have one of the best managers and tacticians in the league.
I remember when he came in last year and Bray were really struggling to hold onto their top flight status. I was with Sporting Fingal at the time and having previously beaten them fairly easily in three previous outings in the season, our fourth encounter proved very tough. We were extremely lucky to have gotten a 2-2 draw from the game having being down 1-0 and 2-1 in the game. It was then when I knew that Bray had come a long way under Pat in such a short time after he took over and it was inevitable that they were going to be very strong this year.
Obviously Pat is working off a shoestring budget but what he does have is hungry, determined and very a talented bunch of players. They have some great young players in Jake Kelly, Shane O’Neill, John Mulroy, Dean Zambra and in Gary Dempsey they possess one of the best midfielders in the league. You can’t talk about Bray without mentioning Danny O’Connor who is for me up there for player of the year at such an early stage.
Many people expect Sligo Rovers to challenge Shamrock Rovers for the title this year and some have been put off by their slow start and say they have no chance. Mark my words, Sligo will challenge strongly this year and have as good a chance as Shamrock Rovers in winning the league. They have been very unlucky in quite a few games and with that bit of luck they could easily have been top of the league. Once they start being more prolific in front of goal, they will undoubtedly go on a winning streak of games and will prove very hard to beat.
Dundalk and St Pat’s are two top teams who have not got off to the start many would have been expecting. Dundalk seem to have made Oriel Park a bit of a fortress this year but have struggled away from home a little bit. If they want to be challenging at the top end of the table they will need to change their fortunes away from home but I have no doubt they will.
St Pat’s have also not made a great start but in the last couple of weeks, things seem to be turning around for the better for them. They have some extremely talented players, Shane McFaul and Daryl Kavanagh for example, and it was only a matter of time before things started to click for them. My top team tip for the second round of games is St. Pats. I feel that they will go on a strong run over this series of games and climb up the table into a challenging spot for first place.
In the Airtricity First Division, Shelbourne are flying high and to be honest that comes as no surprise. They have five players whom I played with last year with Sporting Fingal and to be honest all five are by far Premier Division standard players. Stephen Paisley is a top centre defender who could play at any Premier Division club and has a wealth of experience. Lorcan Fitzgerald was immense for Sporting Fingal and proved his talent with a goal from left back in Europe last year against Portuguese side Maritimo. Conan Byrne is without doubt one of the best right wingers around and not only scores a hatful of goals but also sets up so many (he put many on a plate for me last year)!! Colm James and the youthful and energetic Kevin Dawson are two players whom again can easily occupy a spot in many Premier Division teams and will prove great value to the Shelbourne midfield.
With the acquisition of those players, I cannot see beyond Shelbourne this year and I imagine they will continue their great start. However, Cork City have also started strongly and have a very good squad of players that will push Shelbourne all the way. I think Waterford and Limerick will put together a better round of results in the 2nd series of games.
I cannot talk about the First Division without mentioning Roddy Collins’ Monaghan. Roddy has gone To Monaghan, and without being able to bring in any one new, has produced an excellent first series of results. He is a top, top manager and someone I respect a lot. A lot of managers take over a new club and straight away bring in players of their choice but Roddy has not been able to do that and has worked with the squad he inherited from the previous manager.
He has proved just how good he is by keeping them in touch at the top of the table when, to be honest, no one really expected Monaghan to be in touching distance this year. It is also great to see my old friend and strike partner Declan O’Brien back to his deadly self. Give him half a chance and he will punish you; he is one of the best finishers around and I am delighted to see him back to his best. When on top form, he is another player who can easily slot into any team in the country.
The first series of games have thrown up a few surprises; let’s see how the next round of games goes. I predict another few surprises, but who and what will they be?
