League of Ireland 2015 Preview

1. Dundalk FC
2. Shamrock Rovers

3. 

   Richie Towell will again carry the banner for Dundalk

   St Patrick’s
4. Sligo Rovers
5. Cork City
6. Derry
7. Limerick
8. Galway United
9. Drogheda United
10. Bohemians FC
11. Bray Wanders
12. Longford Town
    
    

   5 clubs  in Dundalk, Shamrock, the Saints, Sligo and Cork all will be fighting for the 3 guaranteed international spots. I give the edge to Dundalk to repeat.

                Dundalk FC are the reigning League of Ireland Champions. The 2014 season was a banner year at Oriel Park. This was Dundalk’s  10^th  Championship. Their popular MF Richie Towell is back after tryouts abroad. Towell is probably the best midfielder in the league. Dundalk did lose their top goal scorer in Pat Hoban and hope that the young  Kurtis Bryne (24)  and David McMillan (26) can play more minutes and score more goals than last year. They each scored 7 goals last year. Dundalk had the most goals with 73 goals for and the least scored upon with only 24.( +49) so they were the only club to be able to absorb the loss of Hoban. They replenished their defense and add to their MF with the signing of attacking MF Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers) from the hoops, Shane Grimes  DF from Drogheda, DF Paddy Barrett  from Galway and MF Jack Kelly from Bray. I see Dundalk in the running for the Title and another European placement with the replacements they have added. They will need in playing in the Champions League later this year.

                St Patrick’s Athletic        The start of last year they were the reigning Champions. They lost too much ground to Dundalk and Cork City at the beginning of the year and finished a disappointing 3^rd place. They did however end the season on a very high note winning the FAI Cup. This qualified them for the 2015-16 Europa League and the valuable money they get for playing in each round.  The most controversial personal change was losing Kevin Fahey to cross town rivals, Shamrock Rovers. It is my guess that St Pat’s will compete for the league based on the fact that they have the deepest fire power up front. They have Chris Fagan returning who won the scoring title last year (he Tied Pat Hoban), with 20 goals. Then there is MF-FW Conan Byrne who almost won the scoring title with 18 goals. Either one of these players can do it again. The Saints can also insert the imposing 6’3’’ Ciaran Kilduff (Shamrock Rovers). Kilduff  will want to prove to the Hoops that is was a mistake to not sign them. The saints also have the talented 5’11’’ Chris Forrester. Forrester will roam the Left midfield along with attacking MF Killian Brennan. The MF is deep enough to withstand the rigors of the League, Setanta Cup, FAI Cup and the European trip. I see the Saints at least getting another European spot and compete for the title all year long. This team

Stephen McPhail

                Staying it Dublin, I believe the Shamrock Rovers have done enough in the off season to create a strong, veteran team on paper. Pat Felton has the most senior and experienced team in the league. The hoops placed a disappointing 4^th place but their cross town rivals saved their Europa League spot by beating Derry City in the FAI Cup final. The hoops new midfield will be orchestrated by veterans Stephen McPhail(Sheffield Wednesday) and Kevin Fahey (St Patrick’s Athletic). Both of these grizzled veterans will control the middle and connect with the speedy Gary McCabe on the outside. McPhail played in Cardiff City for 7 years. They will try to find the rugged Danny North (Sligo Rovers) up front as much as possible.  I expect Danny North to compete if not win the scoring title. The Hoops could do some damage in their European endeavors this year and gain valuable $ by advancing in the Europa League.  The Rovers I believe will challenge for Title and at least place in the European spots.

Morten Nielson -Sligo  hmmmm

                Do not count Sligo Rovers out of the running. They have the diverse internationals on their team that should start. These players are at all key positions. They have the gigantic 6’4’’ FW Morten Nielson from Denmark. Did Sligo get him for more than just his scoring skills? Is he the Christiano Ranaldo for the League of Ireland. MF Sander Puri from Estonia, and 2 English lads in DF Jeff Henderson and GK Richard Bush. Look for the 23 year old Wearen to attack up the middle and try to feed Nielson as much as possible. Sligo will be in the mix until the end, they do not have international games to tier their club.

The 34 year old Colin Healy at Cork

                Cork City are the club with an awesome stadium and terrific fan support. They had a terrific year last year placing 2^nd in the league. The title come down to the last game of the season at Dundalk. They signed native son and international player Liam Miller ,who has been playing abroad since his youth career,most notably Hibernian, Sutherland, Perth Glory and Celtic. He will be matched in the middle with another veteran Colin Healy(34 yrs old). This veteran midfield matches the hoops in experience and quality.  They will have a veteran defender in  27 years old Alan Bennett (AFC Wimbledon).   They will try to feed their very young forwards that are just loaded with potential. Up front O’Sullivan (31yrs) is the veteran who should guide Sheppard and O’Shea  to the long haul of the league games. 

             

The middle of the pack. 
Derry City, Galway United, Limerick FC, Bohemians, Drogheda United,

                Derry City is just to interesting not to mention simply because they have currently have 13 Northern Irish born players on the candy stripers. Starting with the 32 year old Englishman Anthony Elding who can carry a club when he is hot. He is the league's look-a-like for Viktor Krum. Now if Elding can be as good as Krum was in quittich then Derry City will be in business.

Anthony Elding

B McNamee and  will lead the attack in the middle. There will be times, maybe for a string of games that there will be more Northern Irish players playing than Irish born players. Hopefully they can capture the Brandywell faithful attention and compete for a European spot. Placing in the top 3 spots is the goal......if not they could revert to last years strategy of playing their best players for the FAI Cup.

Galway United started out poorly in the First Division last year. However the organization and the team really came together at the end. The placed in 3rd and won the all important game against Dublin power Shelbourne. This gave Galway the right to play the Premier League side UCD --aka the Students. Galway won both games to gain promotion and the celebration was on. This year the task is much more daunting. They do have a young American Striker in Jack Keegan but he is no Landon Donovan. United's faithful will rely on youth because of budget constraints. This however gives the young kids a chance to play ....

     Galway just signed Sam Oji. He will add muscle to the much needed help to the Tribesmen back line. 

Bohemians FC  This old soldier has 11 League Championships. They will rely on another old soldier in Jason Bryne who is 197 goals playing in the League of Ireland. Shit I can't even count that high. well This soldier will be playing in front of the Bohemian faithful who are a very passionate group. they will appreciate Bryne's efforts and they will also rely on youth to help them through. 

Limerick FC 

Has the best crest. Yup that's all I have. Their main rival is Cork City in the because they are the 2 biggest urban areas in Munster. Cork is twice it size population wise but Boston-NY rivalry has a huge population difference.  

Drogheda United

Trying to avoid Regulation Bray Wanders Longford Town.