Buckle up for another rollercoaster ride
THE SSE Airtricity League Premier Division kicks-off on Friday night with the 2018 campaign looking like it has the potential to be the most competitive in years.
Last season Cork City threw the rule book out the window that a league is a marathon rather than a sprint with their stunning start to the season seeing them finally graduate from the position of bridesmaid to bride.
While they stuttered slightly in the second half of the season, their final tally of 76 points would have been good enough to win all bar three of the eight league titles fought for this decade with only Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk (2011 and 2016) bettering it with 77 points and Stephen Kenny’s side going one better in 2015 with 78. It should be noted, however, that in Rovers’ case that was over a 36 game season.
This season there are 36 games also with each side playing each other four times – twice at home and twice away. With almost every side strengthening, on paper at least, this is likely to lead to a greater competitiveness. So, while in theory there are nine more points to be played for, don’t be surprised if a similar or even smaller points tally wins the league.
Kenny is not a believer in setting points targets but he will appreciate the importance of the head to head battles between the top sides this season.
When he claimed his maiden title at Oriel Park back in October 2014, it was ultimately three wins over Cork that decided the outcome. The Lilywhites continued to have the edge over their opponents the following year and while John Caulfield’s side finally ended their Dundalk hoodoo in 2016, a Daryl Horgan-inspired victory at Oriel Park that October ultimately killed off the Rebels’ title charge.
That win now stands out as the only one Dundalk have managed against Cork in their last 11 meetings in all competitions. While Kenny will no doubt not be losing sleep over defeats in the last three President’s Cup finals, it is a concern that Dundalk have been second best against their nearest rivals in recent matches.
Last season they took just one point from Cork. For all the plaudits Caulfield’s side gained for their stunning start to the season, they only won the league title by seven points – the same number they gained from the side they would ultimately dethrone.
There has been much upheaval at each of the top two in the off-season. While he has been gone since the summer, it remains to be seen whether Cork have found an adequate replacement for Sean Maguire in Graham Cummins. Barry McNamee and Aaron Barry are good additions from Derry but are they an improvement on the departed pair of Stephen Dooley and Ryan Delaney? They’ve added two right backs as well in Colm Horgan and Tobi Adebayo-Rowling but on the
basis of last season and Sunday’s President’s Cup final, Steven Beattie remains their best option there.
At Dundalk, it was a major blow to lose both David McMillan and Patrick McEleney. Between them the pair managed 35 goals in all competitions and that is something that is difficult to replace.
Kenny has turned to 2014 top scorer Pat Hoban and Ronan Murray to primarily fill the void. Certainly if that pair click, they could even be an improvement on what has left. It could be crucial to keep Hoban fit although Murray has at least got off to a good start with his two goals on Sunday giving hope that he can at least match the 17 he hit for a relegated Galway Utd side last season.
Further attacking players are expected to arrive this week but much of Dundalk’s success will depend on how new recruits settle. Bar minor flashes here and there, we’ve yet to see Dylan Connolly show why the club paid a record fee for him last summer and while both Krisztián Adorján and Karolis Chvedukas have looked decent in their brief cameos to date it’s much too soon to say how they will ultimately fare.
With new signings having to settle in at both Cork City and Dundalk, Shamrock Rovers could be the biggest benefactors.
They’ve kept the bulk of last season’s side together while adding experience in the form of Greg Bogler and Joey O’Brien. Question marks remain over their discipline and whether they have a player capable of getting 15-20 goals but if they can improve on the former and fine someone capable of providing the latter they could be in the title mix.
Thereafter, it’s expected to be much more competitive. It’s rare you get an easy game against the likes of Derry City or Bohemians, St Patrick’s Athletic look to be much improved on last year and newly promoted Waterford FC look the strongest side to emerge from the First Division in some time.
Sligo Rovers could be in that mix too but much of their success is likely to depend on how well former Liverpool player Adam Morgan settles.
Off the field matters and sparse recruitment mean that Limerick FC and Bray Wanderers are the most likely of the sides to struggle but nothing is a given in this league.
There will no doubt be many twists and turns ahead.
Real football is back and it feels great!