League of Ireland season preview

After a four-month break the League of Ireland will make an eagerly awaited return on Friday evening when newly-promoted Drogheda United play host to Waterford.

After last season was chopped in half due to the impact of the pandemic, a full 36-match season is the plan for this campaign. The FAI Cup will also be played once again but unfortunately the League Cup will remain on the backburner in order to keep to the schedule.

With Ireland still at the highest level of restrictions supporters won’t be seen in grounds for another while yet so the resumption of WatchLOI, the streaming service, is welcome news. Games are planned to be spread out so fans can watch matches across the league if they wish.

Ten teams once again make up the Premier Division with Drogheda and Longford Town replacing the relegated Shelbourne and Cork City. It promises to be a competitive campaign with reigning champions Shamrock Rovers many people’s pick to win back-to-back titles. Dundalk and Bohemians will be hoping to get close to Rovers while who knows, an unfancied force may come to the fore.

One thing that is for certain is that we are sure to be entertained by the #GreatestLeagueInTheWorld.

Bohemians

Ground: Dalymount Park

Manager: Keith Long

Last Season: 2nd

Transfers in: Tyreke Wilson (Waterford), Thomas Oluwa (Shamrock Rovers), Georgie Kelly (Dundalk), Ali Coote (Waterford), Rory Feely (St Pats), Stephen Mallon (Sheffield United), Bastien Hery (Linfield), Liam Burt (Celtic), Bradley Rolt (Peterborough, loan)

Transfers out: Dinny Corcoran (Drogheda), Michael Barker (Shelbourne), JJ Lunney (Shelbourne), Paddy Kirk (Longford), Danny Mandriou (Shamrock Rovers), Danny Grant (Huddersfield), Andre Wright (Ayr), Katlego Mashigo (Waterford)

Overview: Bohs are a team on the up both on and off the field, reflected by last season’s second-place finish. An 18-year deal with Dublin City University to share and develop training facilities and a clever marketing campaign with Grammy award nominated band Fontaines DC are just two of the examples of the great work going on behind the scenes in Phibsborough.

On the pitch the Gypsies will be hoping to close the gap on bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers while also embarking on a European campaign in the inaugural Europa Conference League.

Stephen Mallon showed glimpses of his talent last season at Derry while Georgie Kelly will be expecting to add goals up front. Bastien Hery is a classy operator at this level and should excite supporters after a spell at Linfield.

Local view: Brian Kelly, Bohemians fan

‘What are your hopes for the new season?’

“I’m hoping that we build on our league performance from last year. We’ve been knocking on the door of the top two for a couple of seasons but never had the consistency to stay with them through a whole season.

“I think we’re capable of giving Dundalk and Rovers a good go, just hoping we can maintain that over a full season. Qualifying for Europe consistently needs to be the goal for us as a club. We’ve no “sugar daddy” so getting the Euro windfall year on year is key to maintaining our growth. I’d also love to see us progress a round or two in the new UEFA Conference League. We were unlucky last season after a great performance so hopefully we can push on from there.”

‘Which player should we look out for this season?’

“A player to watch I think will be Liam Burt. Signed from Celtic he’s got serious pace and can finish. He’s no Danny Grant but I think he’ll be a good replacement!”

Derry City

Ground: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium

Manager: Declan Devine

Last season: 7th

Transfers in: Danny Lafferty (Shamrock Rovers), Danny Lupano (Hull City), David Parkhouse (Sheffield United), Joe Hodge (Manchester City-loan), Will Fitzgerald  (Waterford), Will Patching (Dundalk-loan), Marc Walsh (Swansea)

Transfers out: Stephen Mallon (Bohemians), Ally Gilchrist (Shelbourne), Gerardo Bruna (Shelbourne), Peter Cherrie (Dundalk), Walter Figueira (Sligo), Conor Clifford (Bray), Conor McCormack (Galway), Colm Horgan (Sligo)

Overview: Derry flirted with relegation far too strongly for their liking last season, finishing just one point above the relegation play-off place. Defensively Declan Devine’s men were quite sound and have strengthened by re-signing former Burnley defender Danny Lafferty.

It was in attack that the Candystripes struggled, scoring only 18 goals in their 18 league games. David Parkhouse’s return on a permanent deal is a boost in that regard after his successful loan spell a couple of seasons ago.

The signing of Joe Hodge caused major excitement at the time and it was deemed a major coup with Derry seeing off the likes of Shamrock Rovers in a battle for his signature. Unfortunately Hodge has sustained a back injury and has returned to Manchester for treatment. Hopefully he will return and show City fans a glimpse of his exciting potential.

Local view: Neil Bradley, Derry fan

‘What are your hopes for the new season?’

“I genuinely feel we should be looking upwards towards European contention. With the nucleus of local lads Derry/Donegal natives being the back bone for the first time in a while it feels like fans have been getting what we always wanted-a sense of identity and what it means to play for the shirt.”

‘Which player should we look out for this season?’

“David Parkhouse will be key in how many goals he can get for us.”

Drogheda United

Ground: Head in the Game Park (United Park)

Manager: Tim Clancy

Last season: 1st (First Division)

Transfers in: Darragh Markey (St Patrick’s Athletic), Dinny Corcoran (Bohemians), Gary Deegan (Shelbourne),  Daniel O’Reilly (Shelbourne), Colin McCabe (Shelbourne), Dane Massey (Dundalk), Ronan Murray (Sligo Rovers)

Transfers out: Stephen Meaney (Athlone Town), Richie O’Farrell (Bray Wanderers), Adam Wixted (Athlone Town), Luca Gratzer (Cabinteely)

Overview: Drogheda make their return to the Premier Division for the first time in four years after clinching the First Division title on the final day of last season. They have since acquired some solid top level experience, bringing in Dinny Corcoran and Gary Deegan while Dane Massey brings title winning pedigree after a trophy-laden seven years at rivals Dundalk.

It should be acknowledged that Drogheda have gone down a very admirable route when it comes to stadium naming. League of Ireland clubs aren’t awash with money and it would have been easy to bring in a sponsor to stump up cash. Instead Drogheda held a draw in which the winner could chose a charity to name the stadium after.

Therefore this season United Park will be known as Head in the Game Park. This is a charity aimed at promoting mental health awareness in football. Hats off to all involved.

Local view: Gerard Grimes, Drogheda fan

‘What are your hopes for the new season?’

“Newly promoted side so stay in the division really.”

‘Which player should we look out for this season?’

“Mark Doyle is probably the obvious one. 13 goals in both the last two seasons largely playing from left wing, but done it in the reduced 18-game season last year compared to a full season year before, was PFAI First Division POTY last year too and our own Fans Player of the Year aswell.”

Dundalk

Ground: Oriel Park

Manager: Shane Keegan

Last season: 3rd

Transfers in: Ole Erik Midtskogen (KI Klaksvik), Alessio Abibi, Raivis Andris Jurkovskis (FK Liepaja), Sonni Ragnar Nattestad (B36 Torshavn), Sam Stanton (Phoenix Rising), Peter Cherrie (Derry City), Junior Ogedi Uzokwe (Sligo Rovers), Jesus Chino Perez

Transfers out: Josh Gatt, Sean Hoare (Shamrock Rovers), Sean Gannon (Shamrock Rovers), Jimmy Corcoran, Nathan Oduwa, Gary Rogers (retired), John Mountney (St Patrick’s Athletic), Dane Massey (Drogheda United), Stefan Colovic (FC Cuckaricki), Jamie Wynne (Cork City), Will Patching (Derry City – loan), Andrew Quinn (Bray Wanderers – loan)

Overview: It’s all change at Oriel Park as the decade’s most successful club look to get back to the top of the pile. Experienced heads such as John Mountney and Sean Hoare have departed while Gary Rogers has hung up his gloves. Sean Gannon leaving to join Shamrock Rovers is a big blow as the full-back has been a star performer over the years.

A lot of Dundalk’s new signings have come from outside of Ireland which renders them unknown quantities although fans will be aware of Ole Erik Midtskogen from the Europa League battle with KI. Junior Ogedi Uzokwe is a former Golden Boot winner from two seasons ago.

The Lilywhites will enter the Europa Conference League this season and who would bet against them making a third group stage appearance in European competition.

Local view: James Rogers, local journalist

‘What are your hopes for the new season?’

“I think given Dundalk’s recent successes and budget you’d have to hope they’d be contesting for the title again. They’ve taken a bit of a gamble in going outside the league to strengthen so it will be interesting to see how that works out but I think anything less than a solid title challenge will be deemed a failure.”

‘Which player should we look out for this season?’

“Much was made about Sean Gannon’s departure after seven seasons at Oriel Park having firmly established himself as the best right-back in the league but his replacement Raivis Jurkovskis, a Latvian international, has looked a really good replacement in pre-season and it will be interesting to see how he kicks on this season.

“He seems to be good defensively and offers a real threat going forward. Young Ryan O’Kane also looks a real prospect but may find minutes hard to come by once Michael Duffy returns to the side from injury.”

Finn Harps

Ground: Finn Park

Manager: Oliie Horgan

Last season: 8th

Transfers in: Ryan Rainey (Bonagee United), Conor Barry (Galway United), Will Seymore (Sligo Rovers), Ethan Boyle (Linfield), Luke McNicholas (Sligo Rovers – loan), Niall McGinley (Dungannon Swifts), Ryan Shanley (Hibernian – loan), Tunde Owalabi (Hamilton)

Transfers out: Sam Todd (UCD), Gareth Harkin, Tom McDermott

Overview: It’s all about survival once more for the men from Ballybofey but in Ollie Horgan they have a manager well used to performing against the odds.

Harps will have been disappointed to have lost Sam Todd to UCD but are boosted by the return of Ethan Boyle from Linfield. Boyle is a combative defender who’ll add steel to the backline.

Mark Timlin will also feel like a new signing after missing all of the last campaign through injury. The Buncrana man will be looking to bounce back and will act as a goal threat from the wings for Horgan’s side.

Local view: Ethan Lee, Finn Harps media officer

‘What are your hopes for the new season?’

“With the majority of last season’s squad back, and a few new faces in tow the hope is to once again avoid the relegation playoffs and hopefully move up the table. While we finished the 2020 season very well and pulled off ‘the great escape’, there was also a feeling around the squad that they were better than where they ended up.

“Given the number of new players in the squad, time to gel was key and the pandemic obviously impacted this. Once the lads bedded in, the results began to follow with the club actually sitting third in a form table for the last ten games of the season. A good, full season with as few injuries as possible and fans back in grounds at some point. Too much to ask?”

‘Which player should we look out for this season?’

“A player to look out for is new signing Tunde Owolabi. The striker netted 35 times in 41 games for FC United of Manchester last season before their season was cut short by COVID-19. He began the 2020/21 season with Hamilton Academical, but was released by mutual consent in February having made only seven appearances. If he can find his feet in Ireland quickly, he could give the club that cutting edge in the final third that can vault a team up the table.’

Longford Town

Ground: Bishopsgate

Manager: Daire Doyle

Last season: 4th (First Division, playoff winners)

Transfers in: Callum Thompson (Bray Wanderers), Paddy Kirk (Bohemians), Aaron Dobbs (Shelbourne), Conor Davis (Cork), Aaron Robinson (Bluebell United), Aaron Bolger (Cardiff City), Michael Kelly (Cabinteely), Aaron O’Driscoll (Mansfield Town)

Transfers out: James English (Ayrfield United), Eric Abulu (Ballymun United), Dylan Hand (Athlone Town), Niall Barnes (Cabinteely), Adam Evans (Warrenpoint Town)

Overview: ‘De Town’ are back in the Premier Division for the first time since 2016 after last season’s play-off victory over Shelbourne.

The Midlands based club will be up against it in order to ensure it’s not just a one season stay due to limited finances compared to other clubs. This is reflected in the new signings in the transfer window and manager Daire Doyle will be hoping he has got the Conor Davis who did well at UCD rather than the one that disappointed at Derry.

Survival is clearly the main aim in what fans will hope is the first stage in re-establishing themselves in the top division.

Local view: Kieran Burke, founder of ‘Between the Stripes’

‘What are your hopes for the new seaon?’

“Hopes are survival. We’ve probably got the smallest or second smallest budget in the division but we’ve got lots of potential and young players who can grow into this level so anything above the bottom spot would be the goal but in saying that it will be very difficult to stay up via the play-offs given the quality in the first division.”

‘Which player should we look out for this season?’

“Aodh Dervin 100%. Very lucky to keep a hold of him but he’s going right to the top. An incredible engine but lots of quality on the ball too.”

Shamrock Rovers

Ground: Tallaght Stadium

Manager: Stephen Bradley

Last season: 1st

Transfers in: Sean Hoare (Dundalk), Chris McCann (Oldham Athletic), Sean Gannon (Dundalk), Daniel Mandroiu (Bohemians)

Transfers out: Greg Bolger (Sligo Rovers), Sean Callan (Bray Wanderers), Danny Lafferty (Derry City), Thomas Oluwa (Bohemians), Jack Byrne (APOEL Nicosia), Kian Clarke (Bray Wanderers), Brandon Kavanagh (Bray Wanderers – loan), Aaron McEneff (Hearts)

Overview: Rovers are the defending champions for the first time since the 2012 season and judging by the moves on the transfer front, Stephen Bradley is looking to make it back-to-back titles.

Sean Hoare and Sean Gannon are brilliant signings while Danny Mandriou has bags of potential despite not featuring as much last season for Bohs.

The Hoops will be back in the Champions League and the July incomings of Richie Towell and Graham Burke will be important in this regard. The other nine teams will be hoping Rovers aren’t clear at the top by then as those two will add a massive amount of quality.

Dundalk striker Pat Hoban stoked the fire ahead of this season by claiming he would not have celebrated Rovers’ title success last season. This will have irked the Hoops fans to a degree and we should look out for that fixture once fans can eventually make their return.

Local view: Craig Giltrap, Shamrock Rovers fan

‘What are your hopes for the new season?’

“My hopes for this season is to win our 19th league title. We have brought in more quality over the off season with Gannon and Hoare coming in from dundalk, Mandriou from Bohs and McCann from England.

“The signing of Richie Towell on a pre contract is big because before he left for England he was one of the best players the league had seen in years. So I’m confident that we could win the league again but everybody will be out to get us this year as champions.”

Sligo Rovers

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