Season Preview 2008: Kildare County

After impressing in their opening three seasons in League of Ireland football, for Kildare County, the senior soccer experience has gone terribly sour in the past three years. Within one win of the playoff spots on three successive occasions between 2002 and 2004, they have failed to build on that promise and have found themselves in the bottom half of the standings ever since.

Despite their continued failure to make a genuine assault on promotion, however, manager John Ryan has yet to come under serious pressure. Since being appointed as boss, Ryan has led the Thoroughbreds to positions of eighth, seventh and seventh in the table, and this year doesn’t appear to be any brighter for County or their small band of followers.

With an average gate of less than 200, Kildare are in serious need of a successful season to remain afloat. However, based on last year’s performances and the failure of Ryan to acquire any top class players in the close-season, another difficult campaign appears to await the club.

Add to that the loss of left-back Darren Stapleton, County’s best player in 2007, to Premier Division Shamrock Rovers, Alan Byrne to Shelbourne and Philip Byrne to Sporting Fingal, and it becomes an even bleaker picture.

Last year, County finished just one point above Monaghan United, with the only other two teams below them being newcomers Wexford Youths and perennial strugglers and since deceased Kilkenny City.

There was little difference in their form at and away from their Newbridge home, as 22 points at Station Road was added to 17 accumulated on the road. Their defence was the main root of their problems as it was the worst in the division - bar Kilkenny - with a massive 62 goals conceded. Now with Stapleton and both Byrnes departing, and a subsequent failure to add steal to their backline, Kildare appear likely to continue on their gradual descent.

Dundalk, Shelbourne, Waterford United, Sporting Fingal and Limerick 37 have all been tipped to finish in the top half. Other clubs Longford Town, Athlone Town and Monaghan United are all also stronger than Kildare on paper, while Wexford Youths are likely to be a different proposition in their second season, leaving County in grave danger of ending the year as table proppers - a position which this season comes with the prize of a possible relegation to the A-League.

County began life in the league with a spring in their hoof six years ago, however, they have been in decline for a number of seasons now, and their inability to generate money to pump into a promotion push could well see them lose their league status come November. Whether or not that happens will depend largely on the performance of Ryan in the dugout. Unfortunately for them, the former striker’s managerial record to date suggests it could be a very long and painful year ahead for Kildare.

Verdict: Expect County to struggle badly, with Ryan among the favourites to suffer the first managerial chop of 2008. Table proppers.

CLOSE-SEASON TRANSFERS

Players In: Ciaran Kilduff (Shamrock Rovers - Loan), Charlie Treacy (Drogheda United), Michael Comerford (Kilkenny City), Barry Slattery (St Patrick's Athletic), Willie Tyrrell (Kilkenny City), John Brophy (Shelbourne).

Players Out: Darren Stapleton (Shamrock Rovers), Alan Byrne (Shelbourne), Steve McCrossan (Monaghan United), Ian Malone (Monaghan United), Darragh Hanaphy (Monaghan United), Philly Byrne (Sporting Fingal), Eoghan Carew (Released), Fiachra McArdle (Sporting Fingal), Dean Barrett (Longford Town).

Complete 2008 Squad: Craig Berrigan, Cathal Brady, John Brophy, Colin Cassidy, Barry Clancy, Alan Clarke, Michael Comerford, Stephen Cooling, Paul Donnelly, Philip Gorman, Eoin Kavanagh, Ciaran Kilduff, John Maher, Craig Mooney, Thomas Morgan, Austin O’Neill, Ger Robinson, Michael Roche, Barry Slattery, Charlie Treacy, Willie Tyrell.