Dingle best placed to dethrone Killarney Celtic

PREMIER A

Killarney Celtic, Killarney Athletic, Castleisland, Dingle Bay Rovers, Listowel Celtic, Fenit Samphires, Tralee Dynamos, Mitchels Avenue, Tralee Celtic PREMIER A will be very competitive with any of four or five teams in with a chance of making it to the decider.

Without a doubt Killarney Celtic will be clear favourites and that is not surprising after their great exploits last year completing the league and cup double and also doing very well in both the FAI Junior Cup and the Munster Junior Cup. They have a new management team this season in Brian Spillane and Peter McCarthy and with people of this calibre at the helm prospects for the season appear to be very optimistic. They have acquired a few good new players also and that will enhance the team significantly. Celtic have been knocking on the door of success in the FAI Junior Cup in recent years and were unlucky to be beaten on penalties in the semi-final to Sheriff YC three years ago. They also got to the semi-final of the Munster Junior Cup last year and that is a competition they would dearly like to win.

Their fellow townies, Athletic, scaled huge heights two years ago winning Premier A and the Greyhound Bar Cup titles. However their form slipped last season and they were unable to make the league final and they lost to Celtic in the Greyhound Bar Cup final.

Manager Stuart Templeman and his assistant Alan O’Connor will have their homework done and will be aiming to feature in the title race. They are still a very formidable side and will be in the pecking order when it comes near the conclusion of the league programme.

Of course Dingle Bay Rovers will also be fancying their chances of doing well for the new season after going down to Killarney Celtic in last year’s Premier A final. They have been engaged in getting the services of players from other clubs over the past couple of years but it has not helped them add to their silverware collection. They play most of their games at Mounthawk Park as it suits their style of play.

Fenit have flattered to deceive over the past two season’s being in the title race until the latter stages but losing those vital games that could secure them a place in the final. They should feature prominently in the title race but need to strengthen their side if they are to go all the way.

It will be interesting to see how Castleisland will get on this year with Edmond Hartnett returning to the fold as manager after a six-year rest with his understudy former Kerry footballer Mike McCarthy. Exciting times lie ahead for the club with their new all weather pitch scheduled to open in November. Castleisland are always a side that got on well in heavy conditions and it will be interesting to see how they will cope with the new all weather surface pitch. The new boss has acquired a number of new players and will be hoping his side can be in the mix in the title race.

Tralee Dynamos will be hoping to improve on last season’s performances and if they can secure some new players they could do much better this season.

Everyone involved in the game will be watching how newly promoted Tralee Celtic and Mitchels Avenue will fare and they will be hoping to hold their own in the top tier of the KDL.

Tralee Celtic have enjoyed a phenomenal amount of success over the past 4 years coming all the way up from Division 2B winning the league title each season right up to Premier A. They have a good panel of players but will have to strengthen it up a bit to stick the pace at this level. However they should be able to secure enough points to stay in the division.

Meanwhile the side they beat in last year’s League Final, Mitchels Avenue, are also heading into uncharted waters and need to strengthen their panel of players to survive at this level. They have a new manager on board with Joe Browne teaming up with Barry O’Sullivan. They are good enough to survive in this division and a few good early results could set them on their way.

Listowel Celtic showed inconsistent form last season and will be hoping to steady the ship but unless they can get back some of the players they lost to other clubs they will find it hard to get into the title race. They play a nice brand of football but need a few influential players to steer them back into a title chasing position. Prediction for the final: Killarney Celtic v Dingle Bay Rovers