Here we go again

The 2012 season has begun and Friday night fever has finally returned. For the players all the grueling hours on the training pitch and gym are rewarded and for fans, the massive gap vacated on Friday nights by the off-season is once again filled.

As I made my way to Belfield on opening night for the game against Cork City I was filled with excitement and optimism for the beginning of the new season. From the stewards to the match officials, from the players to the managers, the fans and the match day atmosphere, it felt great to be back

The off-season is a peculiar time of year for everyone involved with the league. With so many players out of contract at the end of every season, there is always speculation and rumors as to where players will ply their trade next season.

With my contract expiring at the end of the 2011 season, it was my first time involved in this roller coaster time of year. Towards the end of November and beginning of December my phone started to ring with calls of interest and enquiry from managers in the league. Over the two months I sat down with a number of different managers and each pitched their ambitions for the new season and how they saw me fitting into their plans.

It seemed to me that the more managers I met the more confused I became! With each manager able to offer you something different and with so many different questions running through your head, it is very difficult to pick out which mold best suits you. To make matters worse I had Christmas exams fast approaching and 35% of my Commerce degree on the line.

However by the end of January I finally made my way around to making my decision. After all the hustle and bustle of the off-season, I decided that the best move for me was to stay with UCD for another year.

For us, last season saw a lot of new faces on the scene for UCD, with most experiencing their first taste of first team action. For the majority, last season was a learning curve - getting used to the speed of the game, the players and the league.

This season everyone seems to be more familiar with the system and style of football that we hope to play, so I believe we could shock a few people with how well we could do. With the core of the team staying together and with Martin as always bringing a few young gems into the mix, hopefully we can push further up the table.

In terms of the other teams in the league, it is hard to look past Shamrock Rovers in terms of who will be crowned champions. With so much experience and depth in the squad they are in my opinion clear favorites. Sligo (as they proved against us) and Derry may run them close but the losses of key players such as Richie Ryan, Daniel Lafferty, Eamon Zayed and James McClean may prove pivotal.

So with the 2012 season already under way, I think it’s going to be as intriguing as ever. Can Irish teams and in particular Shamrock Rovers repeat their success in Europe of previous years? With so much young talent now in the league, will be the next young player to cross the water? And who will eventually be crowned champions?

One thing is for sure: it’s going to be a long, exhilarating and nail-biting season for everyone involved.