New Season, Same difference

As the new season approaches rapidly lets look to see who looks most likely to collect the spoils...

Centremid's Premier Division Betting Guide

2/1 Drogheda
5/2 Bohemians
9/2 Cork City
6/1 St Pats Ath
7/1 Derry City
16/1 Shamrock Rovers
40/1 Sligo Rovers
66/1 Galway Utd
100/1 Finn Harps
150/1 Bray Wanderers
200/1 UCD
200/1 Cobh Ramblers

Drogheda Utd

They have trimmed the squad if anything but have retained the quality they possesed throughout the team and with Fabio to come back in they have a formidable attack. They retirement of Simon Webb is one notable detraction, if not for his football ability then for his personality, a loss to the game.
Verdit: Would be champions?

Bohemians

Again a trimming of a bulging squad but Pat Fenlon has brought back to the league on its most potent finishers in Jason Bryne. Added to that the craft of Killian Brennan and the steel of Ken Oman, Bohemians are genuine challengers this year.
Verdict: Title Conteders?

Cork City

An Enigma of a club, Damien Richardson departs the club after two seasons of sucess. Alan Matthews has managed a bit of a coup bringing in last years top goalscorer Dave Mooney and shed legend "Georgie Boy" O Callaghan to his spiritual home. Undouted class on the ball, a nut without it.
Verdict: European spot.

St Pats Ath

Another club that has been busy in the close season. Out go a sizeable number of players including the retirement of Colm Foley, another excellent servant of the league. Bobby Ryan is probably the pick of their signings.
Verdict: Futher away than last years 2nd place, outside chance of Europe.

Derry City

Return of the prodical son or a rehashing of past glories? The Fenlon & Robertson experiments failed when the dressing room was lost. Thats one thing Setphen Kenny will have plus some of the best young footballers in the county in Darren Quigley and Conor Salmon, a testatement to Pete Mahon on one level. Derry have lost quality in other areas though with departure of Ken Oman and Killian Brennan back to Dublin.
Verdict: League Cup Winners.

Shamrock Rovers

Probably the pick of the non fulltime clubs, Pat Scully is proving himself to be an excellent manager, particularly in the way he has dealt with Ger Rowe recently. Again there has been a trimming of the squad to some extent but with the likes of Dessie Baker & Darragh Maquire throwing on the hoops this year, quality has been maintained.
Verdict: Outisde chance of a European spot.

Sligo Rovers

Sligo had a horrid finish to last season picking up just 1 point from their last 7 games after a pretty decent spell midway through. Hard to know what to expect this season. Couple of intersting signings in Anto Murphy & Alan Moore, but the loss of Adam Hughes to Drogheda is big. Possilby a season of struggle for the bit'o'red.
Verdict: 7th-8th - Cup Run.

Galway Utd

Goals seem to on the agenda with Galways signings bringing in a talented if not firey Jay O Shea from Bray & Mark Leech from Drogheda. Only Waterford scored less goals in the top flight last year. If Galway can put some home form together this year it could be an interesting battle for bragging rights out west.
Verdcit: Push for a top six spot.

Finn Harps

A good late surge saw Finn Harps claim their place with the elite after putting Waterford to the sword in the play off. The signing of Gary Beckett from Derry interests me the most. His goals dried up somewhat but he is such an intellegnet player, his experince will be invaulable to a side hoping to establish themselves as a Premier Club.
Verdict: Outside of the relegation zone.

Bray Wanderers

A very talented, if young side. Eddie Gormley has got Bray playing attractive attacking football and with most of his young players tied down with long term contracts Eddie is building for the future. However he has made a couple of good signings in Gavin Whelan and Andy Myler. Partiularly Myler as his experience and strength will help to bring on young players, something that wouldnt have been lost on Gormley.
Verdict: Top 8 finish.

Cobh Ramblers

Quiet enough on the transfer front last seasons First division champs will probably feel better the devil you know. They will look to Davin O Neill to continue in the rich vien of form he showed last year.
Verdict: Should be safe enough, maybe a cup run.

UCD

They have lost a lot of talent this years with Darren Quigley & Conor Salmon going north to Derry, added to this the considerable loss of Tony McDonnell to retirment and its looks to be a long season for UCD.
Verdict: Unless Pete Mahon can magic something it looks like relegations for UCD.