2018 Predictions

[nigel-harps1954]

Two/three weeks away from each respective season starting point.

Time for predictions.


Premier Division:

1. Dundalk
2. Cork City
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. St Pat's
5. Derry City
6. Waterford
7. Sligo Rovers
8. Bohemians
9. Bray Wanderers
10. Limerick

First Division:

1. Longford Town
2. Finn Harps
3. Galway United
4. Cobh Ramblers
5. Drogheda United
6. Shelbourne
7. Cabinteely
8. UCD
9. Wexford
10. Athlone Town

FAI Cup: Shamrock Rovers
League Cup: Cork City
Play-Off: Finn Harps

First Manager Sacked: Dave Mackey
Top Scorer Premier: Christy Fagan
Top Scorer First: Ciaran O'Connor

[placid casual]

Premier division

1. Dundalk
2. Cork City
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. Derry
5. Sligo
6. St pats
7. Waterford
8. Limerick
9. Bohs
10. Bray* relegated for financial impropriety.

First Division:

1. Galway
2. Finn Harps
3. Cobh Ramblers
4. Longford
5. Cabubteely
6. Shelbourne
7. UCD
8. Drogheda
9. Wexford
10. Athlone Town

FAI Cup: dundalk
League Cup: Derry
Play-Off: Finn Harps

First Manager Sacked: whoever has the misfortune of being the current bray manager
Top Scorer Premier: Ronan Murray
Top Scorer First: Micheal O'Connor

[sbgawa]

Premier Division:

1. Rovers
2. Dundalk
3. St Pats
4. Cork
5. Derry City
6. Waterford
7. Bohs
8. Sligo
9. Limerick
10. Bray

First Division:

1. Finn Harps
2. Galway
3. Longford
4. Cabo
5. Drogheda
6. UCD
7. Cobh
8. Shelbourne
9. Wexford
10. Athlone Town

FAI Cup: Dundalk
League Cup: Cork City
Play-Off: Cabo

First Manager Sacked: Stephen Kenny
Top Scorer Premier: Gary Shaw
Top Scorer First: Marty Waters

[sulywaterfordfc]

Premier Division:

1. Dundalk
2. Cork City
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. St Pat's
5. Derry City
6. Sligo Rovers
7. Waterford FC
8. Bohemians
9. Limerick
10. Bray Wanderers

First Division:

1. Galway United
2. Finn Harps
3. Longford Town
4. Drogheda United
5. Cabinteely
6. Cobh Ramblers
7. UCD
8. Shelbourne
9. Wexford
10. Athlone Town

FAI Cup: St. Pats
League Cup: Derry City

First Manager Sacked: Dave Mackey
Top Scorer Premier: Ronan Murray
Top Scorer First: Ciaran O'Connor

[outspoken]

Premier
1. Dundalk
2. Cork
3. St.Pats
4. Shamrock Rovers
5. Derry
6. Bohs
7. Waterford
8. Sligo
9. Limerick
10. Bray
TOP SCORER: Cummins

First div
1. Harps
2. Shelbourne
3. Longford
4. Galway
5. Cobh
6. Cabinteely
7. Drogheda
8. UCD
9. Wexford
10. Athlone
TOP SCORER: O’Sullivan (Shels)
(Will be Absolutely nothing Between 1st-8th in FD)


FAI cup: Dundalk
EA: Pats
Play offs: Longford
First sacked: Bradley

[micls]

Premier
1. Dundalk
2. Cork
3. St.Pats
4. Shamrock Rovers
5. Derry
6. Bohs
7. Waterford
8. Sligo
9. Limerick
10. Bray
TOP SCORER: Cummins

First div
1. Harps
2. Shelbourne
3. Longford
4. Galway
5. Cobh
6. Cabinteely
7. Drogheda
8. UCD
9. Wexford
10. Athlone
TOP SCORER: O’Sullivan (Shels)
(Will be Absolutely nothing Between 1st-8th in FD)


FAI cup: Dundalk
EA: Pats
Play offs: Longford
First sacked: Bradley

If Cummins is top scorer we'll win the league. That said, I would be shocked if Cummins got more than 15. And you'd hope that wouldn't be top scorer numbers!

[El-Pietro]

I wouldn't be surprised if Cummins wasn't even our top scorer.

[sidewayspasser]

Premier Division:
1. Cork City
2. Dundalk
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. St. Pat's
5. Derry City
6. Sligo Rovers
7. Waterford
8. Bohemians
9. Limerick
10. Bray Wanderers (by Asterisk)

First Division:
1. Galway United
2. Longford Town
3. Finn Harps
4. Cobh Ramblers
5. UCD
6. Shelbourne
7. Cabinteely
8. Drogheda United
9. Wexford
10. Athlone

FAI Cup: Dundalk
League Cup: Derry City
Play-off: Longford Town

First sacked: Dave Mackey
Top scorer Premier: Eoghan Stokes (whoever he signs for)
Top scorer First: Ciaran O'Connor (Finn Harps)

[oriel]

Premier Division:

1. Dundalk
2. Cork City
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. Derry City
5. St. Pat's
6. Sligo Rovers
7. Waterford
8. Bohemians
9. Limerick
10.Bray Wanderers

First Division:

1. Galway United
2. Longford Town
3. Finn Harps
4. Cabinteely
5. Cobh Ramblers
6. Shelbourne
7. UCD
8. Drogheda United
9. Wexford
10. Athlone

FAI Cup: Derry City
League Cup: Cork City
Play-off: Finn Harps

First sacked: Tommy Barrett
Top scorer Premier: Ronan Murray
Top scorer First: Ciaran O'Connor (Finn Harps)

Some comments on above, first up I think there is going to be very little between Dundalk and Cork, what I think will swing it back in Dundalk's favour will be the better signings, and the loss of Maguire for Cork. They may not admit but he was the main reason they won it last year, he was absolutely superb, and probably the best 5 or 6 months seen in LOI by any striker in 10-15 years.

Top scorer, I don't see this being either Hoban nor Cummins, I think Murray could sneak it. No one likes to see any manager sacked but I think Limerick might act quickly if their new man doesn't get results, but at the other end Bradley might be under early pressure also.

[El-Pietro]

We will all admit he was the reason we won it! He had probably the single best season by an LOI player ever. We think we've managed to sign well so that we have more attacking strength across the whole team rather than in one player. We won't replace him and we won't have anything like the start we had last year though.

[White Horse]

We will all admit he was the reason we won it! He had probably the single best season by an LOI player ever. We think we've managed to sign well so that we have more attacking strength across the whole team rather than in one player. We won't replace him and we won't have anything like the start we had last year though.

It is a toss up between Maguire and Richie Towell. 27 goals from central midfield takes some beating.

[outspoken]

If Cummins is top scorer we'll win the league. That said, I would be shocked if Cummins got more than 15. And you'd hope that wouldn't be top scorer numbers!

Just feel the goals may be more spread out at other clubs whereas when I look at cork and how they play Cummins looks like being key. I think a low number like 15 could be in or around the golden boot this season.

[patrickccfc]

Premier Division:

1. Cork City
2. Dundalk
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. Derry City
5. Waterford
6. St Pats
7. Sligo Rovers
8. Bohemians
9. Limerick
10. Bray Wanderers

First Division:

1. Longford Town
2. Galway United
3. Finn Harps
4. Cobh Ramblers
5. Drogheda United
6. UCD
7. Cabinteely
8. Shelbourne
9. Wexford
10. Athlone Town

FAI Cup: Dundalk
League Cup: Cork City
Play-Off: Finn Harps

First Manager Sacked: Kieth Long
Top Scorer Premier: Ronan Murray
Top Scorer First: Ciaran O'Connor

[cobhlad]

Premier:
1. Cork
2. Rovers
3. Dundalk
4. Pat’s
5. Derry
6. Sligo
7. Waterford
8. Bohs
9. Limerick
10. Bray
Top Scorer: Ronan Murray

First
1. Longford
2. Galway
3. Harps
4. Drogs
5. Shels
6. UCD
7. Cabo
8. Cobh
9. Wexford
10. Athlone
Top Scorer: Eoin McCormack (Galway)

First Sacked: Mackey
FAI Cup: Dundalk
League Cup: Cork

[El-Pietro]

It is a toss up between Maguire and Richie Towell. 27 goals from central midfield takes some beating.
"midfield". Is Frank Lampard a midfielder too? Nominally a midfielder, but their play was much further forward. I think Seani was much better all around. But I doubt we'll agree on it.

[El-Pietro]

Just feel the goals may be more spread out at other clubs whereas when I look at cork and how they play Cummins looks like being key. I think a low number like 15 could be in or around the golden boot this season.
I think we will have a number of players who score between 10 and 15 (I hope as high as 15, I suspect closer to 12) including Cummins. Sheppard, MacNamee, Buckley and Sadlier are all candidates for similar numbers depending on how many games they get. I think we will play around Cummins and he will end up creating goals more than he scores them.

[Ezeikial]

"midfield". Is Frank Lampard a midfielder too? Nominally a midfielder, but their play was much further forward. I think Seani was much better all around. But I doubt we'll agree on it.

Lol - sometimes all I can do is chuckle at you self confessed hubris

I don't know about Lampard but RT played central midfield for Dundalk

[micls]

I'm loving the predictions of us winning the league Cup. Haven't won it since 1998. Well overdue!

[oriel]

"midfield". Is Frank Lampard a midfielder too? Nominally a midfielder, but their play was much further forward. I think Seani was much better all around. But I doubt we'll agree on it.

As a striker Maguire was the best I have seen last season since Crowe late 00's and Jason Byrne mid OO's, before this it was probably Liam Coyle in his treble winning season of 88/89 and well before that it was possibly Michael O'Connor (Athlone) early 90's. If you are looking at the impact any of these players had and over a short period of 5 months I would say Maguire then was probably the best. Towell would absolutely warrant a mention though with his 2 in row titles compared to one for Maguire.

You could extend this out to the greatest LOI player in the modern era, too many to mention from Jackie Jameson, Barry Kehoe, Liam O'Brien, Pat Byrne, Paul Doolin, the list will go on.

[TonyD]

Interesting to see that
common consensus has us finishing between third and sixth. I'd tend to agree. I think (hope) that we'll be greatly improved on last season, first half of the season particularly. Centre back area is untried, and Christy Fagan will have to get back to his best, while at midfield I think we'll be ok.

[total hoofball]

1. Dundalk
2. Shamrock Rovers
3. Cork City
4. St. Patrick's Athletic
5. Derry City
6. Bohemians
7. Sligo Rovers
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Limerick
10. Waterford


1. Cobh Ramblers
1. Drogheda United
1. Finn Harps
1. Galway United
1. Longford Town
1. Shelbourne
1. UCD
8. Cabinteely
9. Wexford
10. Athlone Town


I'm going for 7 way tie for the First Division title as there is next to nothing between those 7 teams in strength, should be fascinating competitive division though none of them will be good enough to beat a Premier Division team in a play-off

Getting sacked: Reynolds, Mackey, Barrett, Lyttle, Heary

[blueblood]

Jaysus be careful there's a lot of mention of the unmentionables in these comments ye''ll all be get solicitors letters!!!

[dong]

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. St Pats
3. Cork City
4. Derry City
5. Dundalk
6. Waterford
7. Bohemians
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Sligo Rovers
10. Limerick

Dont know enough about the comings at most first division teams but here goes:

1. Galway Utd
2. Finn Harps
3. Drogheda
4. Cobh
5. Longford Town
6. Cabinteely
7. Shels
8. Wexford
9. Athlone
10. UCD

[mcgonigle]

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. St Pats
3. Cork City
4. Derry City
5. Dundalk
6. Waterford
7. Bohemians
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Sligo Rovers
10. Limerick

Dont know enough about the comings at most first division teams but here goes:

1. Galway Utd
2. Finn Harps
3. Drogheda
4. Cobh
5. Longford Town
6. Cabinteely
7. Shels
8. Wexford
9. Athlone
10. UCD

Or the Premier by the looks of things!

[mcgonigle]

"midfield". Is Frank Lampard a midfielder too?

Yes, of course he was, what a bizarre thing to ask. I'm really interested in how you explain that he wasn't.

[El-Pietro]

Frank Lampard didn't do any actual midfield work. Hes a deep lying forward. He lines up as a midfielder but didn't have the responsibility.

[mcgonigle]

Define midfield work? Are you saying Lampard never did any defending or just rarely? Roy Keane rarely got in the oppositions box and scored goals, was he a midfielder or a defender?

[Ezeikial]

Frank Lampard didn't do any actual midfield work. Hes a deep lying forward. He lines up as a midfielder but didn't have the responsibility.


Define midfield work? Are you saying Lampard never did any defending or just rarely? Roy Keane rarely got in the oppositions box and scored goals, was he a midfielder or a defender?


Lampard is irrelevant. Richie Towell played central midfield

[oriel]

Interesting to see that
common consensus has us finishing between third and sixth. I'd tend to agree. I think (hope) that we'll be greatly improved on last season, first half of the season particularly. Centre back area is untried, and Christy Fagan will have to get back to his best, while at midfield I think we'll be ok.

Only my view but I don’t see Pats finishing any higher than 5th and even though I have that as my prediction I think they might be challenged by the likes of Sligo, Bohs and Waterford if they settle. It’s going to be very tough on any side who lose 2 or 3 in a row and more so in a 10 team division. Having a quality squad will be key, 36 games is a long season.

[osarusan]

When Dundalk beat us 3-1 towards the end of the 2015 season, Towell pretty much went wherever he wanted. Sometimes he was picking up the ball from the defenders to start attacks, but was also the player who got onto the end of a McMillan knock-down to equalise.

[oriel]

When Dundalk beat us 3-1 towards the end of the 2015 season, Towell pretty much went wherever he wanted. Sometimes he was picking up the ball from the defenders to start attacks, but was also the player who got onto the end of a McMillan knock-down to equalise.

'That's why you're (were) champions'

[MattB11]

Premier
1 Cork
2 Dundalk
3 Rovers
4 Derry
5 Waterford
6 Pats
7 Bohs
8 Sligo
9 Limerick
10 Bray

First
1 Galway
2 Longford
3 Harps
4 UCD
5 Cobh
6 Shels
7 Drogs
8 Cabo
9 Wexford
10 Athlone

[oriel]

1. Shamrock Rovers
2. St Pats
3. Cork City
4. Derry City
5. Dundalk
6. Waterford
7. Bohemians
8. Bray Wanderers
9. Sligo Rovers
10. Limerick

Dont know enough about the comings at most first division teams but here goes:

1. Galway Utd
2. Finn Harps
3. Drogheda
4. Cobh
5. Longford Town
6. Cabinteely
7. Shels
8. Wexford
9. Athlone
10. UCD

You do realise that both Dundalk and Cork have not finished outside the top 2 since 2013? Even 2013 Dlk finished 3rd. Your top 2 is just mental by the way.

[Redzer]

You do realise that both Dundalk and Cork have not finished outside the top 2 since 2013? Even 2013 Dlk finished 3rd. Your top 2 is just mental by the way.
And I'm hoping his bottom 2 are mental also!!!

[Redzer]

1. Cork City
2. Dundalk
3. Shams
4. Derry City
5. St Pats
6. Sligo Rovers
7. Bohemians
8. Waterford
9. Bray Wanderers
10. Limerick

1. Finn Harps
2. Drogheda
3. Galway Utd
4. Cobh
5. Longford Town
6. Cabinteely
7. Shels
8. Wexford
9. Athlone
10. UCD

[monkey9]

1. Dundalk
2. Cork
3. Shams
4. St Pat's
5. Waterford
6. Derry
7. Sligo
8. Bohs
9. Bray
10. Limerick


1. Longford
2. Galway
3. Finn Harps
4. Cobh
5. Shels
6. Cabinteely
7. Drogheda
8. UCD
9. Wexford
10. Athlone

[Mr A]

I wish people would stop being so positive about Harps. It offends and appalls me.

[Charlie Darwin]

Lampard is irrelevant. Richie Towell played central midfield
Towell spent half the game receiving the ball short from his centre halves. Not sure how anyone could describe him as a striker.

[Nailor]

1. Cork
2. Dundalk
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. Derry
5. Waterford
6. St Pats
7. Limerick
8. Bohs
9. Sligo
10. Bray


1. Harps
2. Galway
3. Longford
4. Drogs
5. Shels
6. Cobh
7. Cabinteely
8. UCD
9. Wexford
10. Athlone

[Terry]

1. Dundalk
2. Cork
3. Shamrock Rovers
4. St Pats
5. Derry
6. Sligo
7. Bohs
8. Limerick
9. Waterford
10. Bray
Top Scorer: Ronan Murray

1. Galway
2. Longford
3. Drogheda
4. Finn Harps
5. Shels
6. UCD
7. Cabinteely
8. Cobh
9. Wexford
10. Athlone
Top Scorer: Eoin Mc Cormack

[EatYerGreens]

I must have missed something, as I don't get why everyone is placing Pat's so high.

[pineapple stu]

Or UCD so low.

Or arguably Cork so high, given how wojus they were once Maguire left. I think Pat's are so high because they finished the season strongly and seem to have built on that in pre-season in fairness.

[nigel-harps1954]

Pat's have signed very well since last summer. The guts of a whole new team signed since last July really. I think they've the strongest squad now outside Cork and Dundalk, but it all depends on how well it all comes together for them. European qualification is a distinct possibility for them this season in my view.

UCD are a bit of an unknown quantity this year, and the division is fairly equal from 1st to 8th. They could finish 2nd as easily as they could finish 8th. First Division this year is all about who gets off to the strongest start and has momentum from day one, similar to what Cork done last year in the Premier.

[pineapple stu]

We shouldn't be an unknown quantity as I think we've only lost two players in pre-season, which is quite good for us. One of those only played a few games last year.

I agree it looks a very tight division though.

[outspoken]

We shouldn't be an unknown quantity as I think we've only lost two players in pre-season, which is quite good for us. One of those only played a few games last year.

I agree it looks a very tight division though.

How will the colllingwood cup etc effect UCD’s start to the season? Keeping Kelly is huge I see he’s banging them at the moment

[pineapple stu]

Same as it always does - we always play it. It's good pre-season practice, but we may have a weakened team out v Shels if there's a clash.

[oriel]

I must have missed something, as I don't get why everyone is placing Pat's so high.

You've missed nothing, even @loitransfers have them 3rd in their prediction, this is madness to suggest both Rovers and Derry will miss out on 3rd at the expense of Pats. I have them as 5th and even that was the ultimate max and it took me a while to pick them ahead of Sligo / Waterford / Bohs.

[outspoken]

You've missed nothing, even @loitransfers have them 3rd in their prediction, this is madness to suggest both Rovers and Derry will miss out on 3rd at the expense of Pats. I have them as 5th and even that was the ultimate max and it took me a while to pick them ahead of Sligo / Waterford / Bohs.

Derry have lost McNamee tho, 10 goals last season. Great boost that Nicky Low is back on loan but still a huge loss. Pats look loaded in the attacking areas with good experience in midfield. Back 4 is a worry but when you look at how many games rovers lost last season and where they finished the gap between the likes of rovers, Derry and Pats is fairly minimal.

[kksaints]

You've missed nothing, even @loitransfers have them 3rd in their prediction, this is madness to suggest both Rovers and Derry will miss out on 3rd at the expense of Pats. I have them as 5th and even that was the ultimate max and it took me a while to pick them ahead of Sligo / Waterford / Bohs.

Must say even as a Pats fan I'm surprised people have predicted us to finish in the top 5. While we look stronger than the start of last season there is still a lot of young players with us. Although I do think the gap between the top 4 and the rest will close this season. Cork and Dundalk haven't improved in the off season and Derry have signed quite a few gambles and Gavin Peers who was poor for us last season.

Anyway predictions

Premier Division
1st Cork
2nd Dundalk
3rd Shams
4th Waterford
5th Derry
6th St Pats
7th Bohemians
8th Sligo
9th Limerick
10th Bray

First Division
1st Drogheda United
2nd Galway United
3rd UCD
4th Finn Harps
5th Longford
6th Shelbourne
7th Cobh Ramblers
8th Cabinteely
9th Wexford
10th Athlone

FAI Cup Dundalk
EA Sports Cup St Pats

[ArFella]

Premier Division:

1. Louth Lillywhites franchise
2. Cork
3. Shams
4. Derry
5. Waterford
6. Pats
7. Bohs
8. Sligo
9. _______
10. Bray

First Division:

1. Athlone
2. Athlone
3. Athlone
4. Athlone
5. Athlone
6. Athlone
7. Athlone
8. Athlone
9. Athlone
10. Drogheda

FAI Cup: N/A (no winner declared and competition abandoned as Cork and Dundalk make final for 4th consecutive year)
League Cup: Cork City
Play-Off: FD team lose to PD team

First Manager Sacked: The foreman of Bray Coastal Properties Ltd.
Top Scorer Premier: Sean Maguire probably
Top Scorer First: The ghost of Jason Byrne