Team guide Ones to watch
BOHEMIANS
Last season: 6th Manager: Keith Long (since October 2014)
Winter business:
Another tough winter for Bohs with Shane Supple’s retirement piling on the pain from the departures of first-team regulars Dan Casey, Dan Kelly, JJ Lunney and Ian Morris. Long also lost some peripheral squad members and has primarily recruited players coming back from England.
One to watch: Conor Levingston (Wolves), Danny Mandroiu (Brighton), Luke Wade-Slater (Stevenage) and goalkeeper James Talbot (Sunderland) will have to hit the ground running. However, rising star Andy Lyons could move across the water in the summer. He’s a promising full-back who trained with Wolves over the break.
Prediction: 8th
CORK CITY
Last season: 2nd Manager: John Caulfield (since November 2013)
Winter business:
Uninspiring with Kieran Sadlier, Steven Beattie, Jimmy Keohane, Barry McNamee and Damien Delaney are amongst a sizeable contingent who departed for new challenges. Caulfield has recruited young players with Casey’s capture from Bohemians and Garry Comerford’s arrival from Waterford two notable arrivals. A lot will be expected of Brighton loanee James Tilley as they lack fire-power.
One to watch: There’s a buzz around left-full Ronan Hurley although his path to regular football could be blocked with Shane Griffin sticking around and Kevin O’Connor set to return from Preston. A formation tweak is possible to accommodate their personnel.
Prediction: 3rd
DERRY CITY
Last season: 8th Manager: Declan Devine (since November 2018)
Winter business: Only a handful of players have been retained as Devine returns for a second stint. Bringing Barry McNamee back from Cork was a priority, but the loss of the Hale brothers (Rory and Ronan) to Crusaders and Aaron McEneff to Shamrock Rovers leaves them relying on some unknown quantities. David Parkhouse (Sheffield United) and Josh Kerr (Brighton) are on loan until July. Argentina midfielder Gerardo Bruna has an interesting CV.
One to watch: Jamie McDonagh is one of the few survivors from the 2018 squad and the versatile right-sided player had attracted interest from both sides of the border. The 22-year-old featured with the impressive Northern Irish U-21 side.
Prediction: 6th
DUNDALK
Last season: 1st Manager: Vinny Perth (Head coach since December 2018)
Winter business: For the first time in recent years, Dundalk kept their star players but then lost Stephen Kenny. Ronan Murray and Dylan Connolly departed while Stephen O’Donnell retired to join the backroom staff but Perth has brought in Daniel Kelly from Bohs and looked outside the league to bring in the talented Sean Murray and Jordan Flores. Aaron McCarey will provide competition for Gary Rogers.
One to watch: Murray is fascinating and a fully-fit Patrick McEleney will thrill – the prolific Pat Hoban will relish the service – but Michael Duffy was close to an Ireland squad under Martin O’Neill. It’s a massive year for the winger.
Prediction: 1st
FINN HARPS
Last season: 2nd (First Division) Manager: Ollie Horgan (since November 2013) Winter business:
It’s tough for a part-time side such as Harps to compete – especially given their location – and Horgan has looked outside the locality to bring in Raff Cretaro (Sligo) and Longford duo Sam Verdon and Daniel O’Reilly. Aussie Harry Ascroft comes in from Malta while Sam Todd has signed on a permanent basis from Derry – but the Candystripes did snap up the long-serving Ciaran Coll.
One to Watch: Caolan McAleer was part of the Harps side that was relegated in 2017 and chose to move on to Sligo Rovers. However, Harps’ return to the top flight has tempted him back to Finn Park and his proven top-flight quality will be an asset. Mark Timlin will also relish a Premier Division return.
Prediction: 10th
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Last season: 3rd Manager: Stephen Bradley (since November 2016)
Winter Business: Midfielders were the talk of Tallaght with Jack Byrne’s shock return to Ireland following on from Aaron McEneff’s capture from Derry. That allowed Aaron Bolger to join Cardiff. Gavin Bazunu has also left for his new life at Manchester City. Bradley’s main challenge has been to find a striker and Austrian Orhan Vojic is on trial.
One to Watch: All eyes will be on Byrne, and McEneff could ignite too, but the forgotten man is Trevor Clarke. A knee injury wrote off 2018, a year that the left-footer started as arguably the most exciting talent in the league. The 20-year-old must kick on now.
Prediction: 2nd
SLIGO ROVERS
Last season: 7th Manager: Liam Buckley (since October 2018)
Winter business: Mikey Drennan and Rhys
McCabe were captured by St Patrick’s Athletic but the arrivals of Ronan Murray and John Dunleavy from Dundalk and Cork respectively bring experience to Buckley’s dressing-room. His other main recruits have come from outside the country with Bermudan captain Dante Leverock and Jamaican attacker Romeo Parkes relocating.
One to Watch: Local man John Mahon made a big impression under Gerard Lyttle last term and he’s expected to take another step forward this campaign. The strapping centre-half has the profile to attract cross-channel interest.
Prediction: 7th
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
Last season: 5th Manager: Harry Kenny (since October 2018)
Winter business: The return of prodigal son Chris Forrester from Aberdeen sent the excitement levels around Inchicore soaring. New boss Kenny had already been given the support to recruit Mikey Drennan and Rhys McCabe, Shamrock Rovers duo Gary Shaw and Brandon Miele, Waterford centre-half Dave Webster and promising Limerick midfielder Cian Coleman. Conan Byrne has dropped down a division to Shels.
One to Watch: Forrester is worth the admission fee. The Saints made efforts last term to re-engage with their community and the return of the skilful crowd favourite should help their cause locally. They need to get back into Europe. Prediction: 4th
UCD
Last season: 1st (First Division) Manager: Collie O’Neill (since December 2014) Winter business:
Less was more for the students as the priority was holding on to as many players as possible. Daire O’Connor and Greg Sloggett were tempted by full-time offers at Cork and Derry respectively but O’Neill has kept the rest of his group together and added Irish underage international Richie O’Farrell from St Pat’s.
One to Watch: There’s a host of promising young talents to choose from with Gary O’Neill a classy captain, Liam Scales a highly-rated defender and Conor Davis a tricky attacker but Stephen Kenny really rates powerful left-sided attacker Neil Farrugia who should do well in the top flight.
Prediction: 9th
WATERFORD
Last season: 4th
Manager: Alan Reynolds
(since January 2017)
Winter Business: The Blues didn’t have players on long contracts and lost out to rivals as they hesitated, with Bastian Hery and Izzy Akinade the only established players that were tied down. Damien Delaney brings experience while Shane Duggan (Limerick), JJ Lunney (Bohs) and Karolis Chvedukas (Dundalk) strengthen midfield but the departed Dave Webster (Pat’s) and Paul Keegan (Bray) were vocal in the dressing-room.
One to Watch: Hery is a terrific player, while Reynolds is still working to finalise his group but another interesting capture is ex-West Brom and Inverness youth Zack Elbouzedi. The wide man was involved with the home-based U-21 squad and looks capable of making an impact.
Prediction: 5th