Early shots are fired
Prickly rivalry between Rovers and Dundalk adds spice to new season
QUIPPING that the ‘tea lady’ could pick the team at your main rivals stirred things up just nicely ahead of the League of Ireland kick-off.
Such was the retort from Stephen Bradley, manager of 2020 champions Shamrock Rovers, to a question on the somewhat unconventional managerial reshuffle at Dundalk in recent days.
Bradley’s comments, doubling as a compliment to the depth in quality of the Dundalk squad, came ahead of Friday’s President’s Cup clash between the two in the curtain-raiser to the league which starts in earnest this Friday.
Having been dethroned by the Dublin side, Dundalk had got their retaliation in first, so to speak, when striker Pat Hoban was quoted on the club’s official website, saying Rovers’ title was tainted by being won over a halved season.
‘You’re telling me that winning the league after 18 games is winning a league?’ said Hoban. ‘Come on. Let’s be realistic here.’
On Hoban’s comments, Bradley responded: ‘that shows where Pat is in his head more than anything. Probably a bit insecure to be fair.’
Little love lost, then, before a ball was kicked at Tallaght Stadium as the rivalry between the two looks to get feistier as the season progresses.
The pity being that fans remain excluded under current pandemic restrictions. And whether supporters get back, at all, during the season is uncertain.
Five weeks later starting than last year, the domestic game at elite level goes ahead after the FAI secured additional sponsorships and Government funding.
SSE Airtricity agreed to continue their title sponsorship for another year, extending it to include the
Women’s National League, while Bank of Ireland came on board as associate sponsors.
Including State funding, it represents a €3.6 million package in total, half under-written by the FAI.
Premier Division clubs are receiving €215,000 and those in the second tier €50,000 to get the season up and running.
Affiliation and match official fees are once again being waived while the prize fund has also seen a significant rise to €600,000, the highest in more than a decade.
With no fans admitted, the WATCHLOI services has, after some negotiating, been retained, albeit until the summer. In addition to a new 50-match live broadcast deal with RTÉ, more than 60 matches will be shown on the platform, for which a pass is available at €59.
First Division clubs and WNL matches will also all be streamed on the new LOITV platform with artificial intelligence Pixellot cameras installed in all grounds.
For now, that coverage will have to sate fans who haven’t been present to support their teams in person for over a year.
In conversation with managers and players last week, getting them back at some stage during the season was the over-riding wish.
‘For a whole load of reasons, both theirs and ours, it would be brilliant to see them back,’ stressed Finn Harps’ boss Ollie Horgan.
The league curtain goes up when newly-promoted Drogheda United host Waterford in the teatime kick-off next Friday, followed by Shamrock Rovers beginning their title defence at home to St Patrick’s Athletic.
Despite the loss of key midfielders Jack Byrne and Aaron McEneff, Rovers enter the campaign as warm favourites to retain their crown.
‘There is good competition all over the pitch, so I’m very happy,’ said Bradley of his squad restructuring which saw the arrivals of experienced midfielder Chris McCann and Ireland Under 21 international Danny Mandroiu, with Richie Towell to come in during the summer.
Defenders Sean Hoare and Sean Gannon, plucked from Dundalk, will greatly bolster the team at the other end of the pitch.
‘We know everyone will be gunning for us,’ said Bradley on Rovers’ goal being to retain their title. ‘But it’s a nice challenge and obviously one we’re looking forward to.’
Sprung on the eve of the season, Dundalk’s ‘new coaching structure’ sees Shane Keegan installed as team manager, with final say on team selection, ahead of non-Pro Licence holder Filippo Giovagnoli. With five new overseas signings, the Lilywhites have tweaked their squad and the Extra.ie FAI Cup holders should mount a serious challenge to Rovers.
Keith Long’s Bohemians, who finished second last year, don’t look as strong following the loss of their chief attacking threats Danny Grant and top scorer Andre Wright. Sligo Rovers will strive to build on their fourth-place finish while St Patrick’s Athletic haver recruited well ahead of the new term. Though hampered by Covid last season, Derry City will hope to build on their seventh placing.
Former Ireland star Kevin Sheedy is the star name in the Waterford dugout. Despite a number of young cross-channel arrivals, Blues, along with Finn Harps, Drogheda and Longford Town, will do well to steer clear of the bottom two.