2007 Favourites

**don ramo** · 18/02/2007, 12:02 PM

whos favourites to win the league this year, with shells in dire straits, bohs got money, derry got fenlon, cork rebuilt, and a **** load of players headin abroad

**holidaysong** · 18/02/2007, 12:06 PM

As much as it pains me I can see Drogheda winning it.
The Louth Double - Drogheda for the premier and Dundalk for the First Division.

**don ramo** · 18/02/2007, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by holidaysong

As much as it pains me I can see Drogheda winning it.
The Louth Double - Drogheda for the premier and Dundalk for the First Division.

could happen, but cobh i think will win the first hopefully anyway, cork city wont so theres no cork double, but it would be nice to see.

**DmanDmythDledge** · 18/02/2007, 12:29 PM

I'd say Drogs and Dundalk will be the two champions.

**Aaron** · 18/02/2007, 12:37 PM

And i'll say Derry and Harps will win the two respective leagues, with Bohs winning the cup and Drogheda winning the league cup

**micls** · 18/02/2007, 1:00 PM

I think Derry will win the league...Drogheda have the better squad but don't think Doolin has a league title in him.

Hopefully a good competitive year anyway

**monkey magic** · 18/02/2007, 1:20 PM

anyone else think athlone are gonna give the first a real lash this year - some good signings (the sligo lads etc) and a renewed sense of purpose with the new ground an all.. would welcome a midlands derby in 2008 meself( be that in the first or the premier

) has to be derrys year for the title, dont think anyone would begrudge them it either.

**holidaysong** · 18/02/2007, 1:25 PM

If it means Drogheda not getting it then I wouldn't begrudge Derry anything! And yeah Athlone have made a few nice signings and the new ground should attract a few new fans for the first few games anyway.

**dcfcsteve** · 18/02/2007, 1:36 PM

I think Drogheda will do it this year. I think we've slipped behind a bit - we're in need of a quality, experienced first string keeper and someone who's a natural poacher who can sniff goals out of nowhere.

Bohs will finish in a Euro slot (prob 4th), and Pats will surprise a few people and push Bohs all the way.

**Paddyfield** · 18/02/2007, 1:47 PM

Derry or Drogs for the Premier

Dundalk or Athlone for the First Div.

Longford for relegation.

Shels for Leinster Senior League.

**wws** · 18/02/2007, 2:49 PM

I'd rate last seasons top 4 as more or less equal at the end of last season (minus Shels now obviously)

That leaves Drogs as the sole full time outfit who haven't weakened and have strengthened since than. Made consistent progress as a FT set up in recent years and brought in players - they're more than likely stretched financially so its now or never for them in my opinion.

Cork are a shadow of their team last season and will be playing off the fumes of previous seasons - with the dregs left and the quality all but gone. I think they might struggle. Some seriously quality players have left. You can't replace that level of talent from within in one season.

Derry - question marks over the goal keeper position - the most obvious 'best of the rest' team but stand still and the improving outfits like Drogs bypass you. Pipped at the post two years in a row I sense that they've run out of steam a bit - maybe Fenlon will rejuvenate them - can't see it myself as he wont have the luxury of spending millions on the down payment for Tolka on players that he enjoyed at Shels. They'll defo challenge but my hunch is its not their year.....again.

Bohs - the joker in the pack - a hybrid of last season's failure of a Bohs squad and last season's relative failure of a Sligo side does not a league winner make. He talks big Connor - the Bohs fans wont suffer the shoite talk if results don't match the PR spinning he's engaged in preseason at Dalymount. They could go either way - again my gut feeling is this mish mash wont deliver and bohs fans will turn on Connor sharpish.

Shamrock Rovers - Scully has talked up his chances saying they're out to win it. Bit of bravado no doubt but bravado and their enthusiasm can only go so far for covering the gaps in quality in the squad. Their fans have elevated Scully to hero status on the back of their First Division showing, be interesting to see their reaction to the inevitable 'tricky patch' in the premier where their new opponents dont have the obligatory 4 or five 'fat blokes' that the likes of Dundalk et al field.

St Pats. Some say we're value but I dont rate our chances at all. The manager doesnt know his own best defensive line up. We've lost the core of our goal threat last season, Keego and Molloy and replaced them with.....Gary O Neill - he hasnt even netted in 3 moderate friendlies and without a quality foil he might struggle to match his shels tally. I dont like the Ndo signing - flatters to deceive and will not deliver over a season - smells of looking for a final pay cheque. Kirby looks good in preseason but good as he is he's no league winner. If we can use the element of surprise to rip up the Setanta Cup (no northern opposition will know much about us) we could have some nice momentum going into the league which may improve our chances - but overall we're nothing more than average.

**Tis-smeee** · 18/02/2007, 3:16 PM

Premier - Cork

First Division - Waterford

**Dodge** · 18/02/2007, 3:20 PM

Originally Posted by wws

Gary O Neill - he hasnt even netted in 3 moderate friendlies and without a quality foil he might struggle to match his shels tally

He scored against Kildare. And he only played a half in each of the 3 games.

**wws** · 18/02/2007, 3:21 PM

fair enough he scored against kildare - i still cant see us scoring anwhere near enough to challenge or be considered 2007 favourites

**bohs til i die** · 18/02/2007, 3:34 PM

I think it all comes down to Derry's signings. I feel Drogheda have too many strikers and it could be a problem. Derry's other big advantage is a title winning manager.

I think Bohs should be able to get 3rd as Pats havent replaced their strike force and Cork havent replaced any of the players they lost, O'Flynn is always injured, O'Donovan will go to the UK at some stage and Horgan is in the States apparently.

**Dodge** · 18/02/2007, 3:35 PM

I agree. Its between Derry and Drogs. I can't see anybody else that far ahead of us mind you. Cork's defence is gone, lacking real alternatives upfront with O'Flynn finished IMO. Bohs new squad conssits mainly of a no more than decent SLigo team from last year and one or two untested players (The signing of Crowe and Heary being the exception obviously)