Didn't see a thread so why not start one off.
Our youngest got a Man U trip in Feb as part of his presents, then I took him back to earth today telling him we are looking to book into Jacksons Hotel, Ballybofey for Finn Harps away on 21-Feb, he's on the ticket, that will put manners on him.
Been before once in 2016, its a great hotel, love Ballybofey, always find it funny, the journey Dundalk to there, about 10k outside of 'the town' you are in the North and for 90% of the journey until you cross the River Finn, always a great trip, really nice town, and a rare benefit of relegation, back to places not been to in years.
Longford will be another, but won't stay over, can drive back. Was going to do stop over in Athlone in May, but hotel prices mental as BH weekend, think our closest away trip is Bray now, then prob Longford !
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
It's really hard to know what to expect from Bohs next season.
Positives this off season
1. A lot of dead weight out of the squad, still some left to be trimmed imo but a lot of progress made in the last 2 windows trimming a bloated and overpaid squad. We're also moving on from bad players a lot more quickly which is needed
2. Players signed have a lot of LOI experience and some leadership potential which has been missing from the squad since Detser hung up the boots
3. Whelan is the type of goalscorer we missed all last season, if he can hit the ground running and have an injury free season it could be something that moves us up towards the euro places.
4. I think some of the signings in the July window last year will improve this season with LOI experience under their belt. Kavanagh at CB looks a steal but he did have his couple of moments that were very much "welcome to men's football". The last player I remember who started like that for Bohs was Dan Casey and he was a very good player at this level. Smith was very solid at RB for us until he was injured, I think he'll be one of the better full backs in the league this year and lastly Meekison seemed to find his feet playing wide right for us. There were shades of how Coote played that role for us when he was here, if Meekison can continue to grow in that role it could be a really nice front three of him, Whelan and Rooney (although I do think Rooney is a very limited player).
Negatives
1. What does our defence look like? Kavanagh and Smith will likely be starters but I don't trust Cian Byrne as the 2nd CB and Cornwall may not be fit for the start of the season so need something there and there is currently no LB at the club.
2. How many midfielders is too many? Currently there is Bucko, Morahan, Clarke, Devoy, Tierney and James McManus. I don't know what the situation with Flores and McDonnell is. I had assumed they were out of contract at the end of the season but maybe I was mistaken. If they aren't they are likely some of the higher earners on the squad (especially Flores) and may not even see the bench nevermind the starting 11.
3. Oh Captain my Captain! Bucko will be the club captain by default (I don't think he should be, I don't rate his leadership) he may not start every game because he's returning from a serious injury and had been underperforming before that, next in line was likely Cornwall but again may not be fit for the start of the season. But your point above is a positive about leadership potential! Yes it is a potential positive but as I am currently working in a company with a bit of a power struggle between 3 people of a similar level I can tell you that it leads to confusion and an unwelcome distraction. It's why there's only 1 pope, there needs to be a clear leader. If that doesn't happen organically it could become a problem especially in a tight league like I think this year's will be.
4. Coaching. I'm still not sold on Reynolds and Co as the right coaching team to turn this around but they are building the squad the right way imo.
To early to tell for us. Kenny and Farrugia look to be gone and I don't see any ready made replacements. Farrugia was injured as much as he played so while he is a huge loss for big games we are used to being without him. Kenny goals will be hard to replace. Other then that we need a new keeper and some youth in the team.
Dundalk will be the runaway winners. Athlone and Cobh might take top 3. Treaty, Kerry and Longford will want to be in playoff shake up but no sign yet that either will be.
https://foot.ie/forums/117-Kerry-FC
A Championship: 4 years - 8 first teams - 0 financially ruined. First Division '14: 7 first teams.
Opportunity lost for new clubs/regions to join the LoI family.
Jackson's has changed ownership since then, now owned by the Gallen family. Who also at the time had (and still have today) the villa rose hotel just a few minutes walk from Jacksons, they also bought Henneys bar on Navenny steest and completely renovated it. Its less than a minute walk from Finn Park great spot for pre-match pints usually has a decent entertainment too if your planning on having a few drinks in town afterOriginally Posted by oriel
54 Crew-Finn Harps FC Supporters Club
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So what you're telling us is that Balybofey has been bought up by the one family since Dundalk last visited
Thanks Neish, good info, been to Ballybofey twice, once DFC trip, another random social thing, always loved it.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Really not so sure about that LG, remember this is all new to the club, 9 new grounds, a whole new squad, new Mgt Team, will be thinking club / team should progress in 2025, but this is very much still re-set mode.
Long road ahead, but definitely looking a lot brighter.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Harps should propose a land swap deal for Finn Park to be developed by the Gallens in lieu of a new stadum on a greenfield site still in the traditional catchement, somewhere like Stranrolar!So what you're telling us is that Balybofey has been bought up by the one family since Dundalk last visited
Treaty's two trips to Longford are on the same day as Treaty's senior women at home.
Massive bug bear of mine.
I stayed in the same hotel 10 years before that in 2006, when our final game of the season was postponed to a 3pm kick off the next day due to a waterlogged pitch. We won 1-0 to finish 2nd to Rovers and go on to beat Waterford in the promotion/relation playoff in that infamous season of the Galway DVD.
Saw this posted a few days ago which is a handy indicator of where everyone is at, albeit maybe a few days out of date. Pats and Shels looking the best prepared thus far, if and when Hoare comes in you'd imagine Pats are done and Shels maybe could do with one more at the back? They're quite top-heavy but I can see the logic if the plan is to fully utilise the squad, five subs etc.
Will be interesting to see how the rest of the teams fill out. Looks like there'll be quite a bit hinging on the UK/international marker in January given the dearth of options from within the league. Rovers and Derry certainly have the scope to make big moves, just unclear what they'll be outside of certain re-signings and the odd rumour such as Whyte. Galway and Waterford are particularly light while Bohs seem to have a lot of tidying up still to do despite the basis of a good side. Cork wouldn't fill me with huge confidence currently, especially as Drogs have done a good job thus far of maintaining the squad that finished the season. Sligo as has become the case now are a tough one to call but their incomings don't really jump out at me.
So so hard to sign consistently from Britain, as Dundalk have found out. Definitely some gems there for LOI and just a higher quantity of players available compared to the domestic market, but for anyone decent pedigree for this level, they will also have options in the UK. There just so many clubs in League 1,2 and Conference, to compete with for players.
Saw this posted a few days ago which is a handy indicator of where everyone is at, albeit maybe a few days out of date. Pats and Shels looking the best prepared thus far, if and when Hoare comes in you'd imagine Pats are done and Shels maybe could do with one more at the back? They're quite top-heavy but I can see the logic if the plan is to fully utilise the squad, five subs etc.
Will be interesting to see how the rest of the teams fill out. Looks like there'll be quite a bit hinging on the UK/international marker in January given the dearth of options from within the league. Rovers and Derry certainly have the scope to make big moves, just unclear what they'll be outside of certain re-signings and the odd rumour such as Whyte. Galway and Waterford are particularly light while Bohs seem to have a lot of tidying up still to do despite the basis of a good side. Cork wouldn't fill me with huge confidence currently, especially as Drogs have done a good job thus far of maintaining the squad that finished the season. Sligo as has become the case now are a tough one to call but their incomings don't really jump out at me.
Dundalk found you can get very raw players that still need a hefty wage (Muller and Annesley were apparently among the highest earners at Dundalk last year for example), and are more than likely happy to go back over the water after a year or two, meaning its all development and no pay-off. That is coupled with the greater gamble if they have the bottle to come to a league like this and really 'buy-in' to it all.
Surely time to roll out the predictions?
I'm of course looking through Pats-tinged glasses, but it's hard not to be optimistic when you consider we've retained everyone involved in the run of beating every other team at the end of last season and improved the quality of the back-ups. It's very hard to know what to make of Shamrock Rovers - obviously Europe has given them a war-chest but so far they don't look to have strengthened when you consider the players they've lost. Duff will have Shels fired-up again but they don't have the quality and the league won't be won by default again this year. Derry continuing to sign sunset players, not sure that'll work. That's probably still the top 4 though. Cork and Drogheda (not helped by distraction of Europe) will struggle, Sligo have been weakened significantly and could be down there too. Waterford, Bohs and Galway will give everyone tough games but won't be in the shake-up at either end.
1 Pats
2 Shams
3 Shels
4 Derry
5 Waterford
6 Bohs
7 Galway
8 Sligo
9 Drogs
10 Cork
My opinion,others are available.
1:Shels
2 Derry
3 Pats
4 Rovers
5 Bohs
6 Waterford
7 Sligo
8 Galway
9 Drogs
10 Cork.
Hopefully Rovers can win the cup to bookend this Bradley era,which I believe is coming to a conclusion.
Shels are a tough nut to crack imo, and duffer will carry on the siege mentality at tolka which worked so well last year.
derry got rid of their weak link in the off season and could really flourish at home.
Can see cork struggling this season as the gap between premier and 1st division is a bit of a chasm.
Some reverse psychology there? No way can I see Rovers finishing below Shels and Derry.
PREMIER
1. Pats
2. Derry
3. Rovers
4. Shels
5. Sligo
6. Bohs
7. Cork
8. Waterford
9. Drogheda
10. Galway
FIRST
1. Dundalk
2. Athlone
3. Cobh
4. UCD
5. Wexford
6. Finn Harps
7. Bray
8. Kerry
9. Longford
10. Treaty
Premier
1. Pats
2. Rovers
3. Shels
4. Derry
5. Bohs
6. Galway
7. Sligo
8. Waterford
9. Drogheda
10. Cork
First Division
1. Dundalk
2. Athlone
3. UCD
4. Wexford
5. Cobh
6. Finn Harps
7. Bray
8. Kerry
9. Treaty
10. Longford
I'm finding it harder this year than ever to really predict who will do well. Every club seems to have pros and cons at the moment.
Bohs lack depth in many key positions and quality starters in a couple.
Rovers seem to be going through a bit of a rebuild and have signed some good players but also lot of good players have left
Shels won the league last year but limped over the line. Their defence worsened after Molloy left and I don't know if they have addressed that and in fairness it's easier said than done losing a player of that quality.
Pats look well set up injuries are the big concern there is injuries as a few of their key defenders have a bit of an injury history.
Sligo again have to replace key players and finding a good keeper may be the biggest challenge.
Galway again will be solid defensively but what options do they have up front that are better than last year?
Waterford are another team who struggled at the end of the season, it was a bit of a trademark of Keith Longs Bohs teams as well. Large squad turnover would be the biggest concern there.
Drogheda Lost their best striker and some other good squad players. The switch to full time will have an impact it should be positive but you really don't know for sure. The added European games may also present a challenge for a squad with limited experience.
Cork defence is suspect but should score goals with their strikers. Be fun to see if they can balance that out.
Derry new manager, same attempt at shortcuts to win the league. I'm not convinced by the age profile of their squad and there's also the concern that it does actually take time to adjust to the league. Better players than what they have signed have come to the league and struggled at the end of their career (Duff being the big example and I think that experience lead him down the road of signings players who are experienced in the league which helped get them Europe and win the league imo).
With all that absolute nonsense said.
1. Pats
2. Shels
3. Rovers
4. Bohs
5. Waterford
6.Derry
7. Drogheda
8. Sligo
9. Galway
10. Cork
The tile should be between pats and shamrocks, shels never replaced molloy, big weakness imo. Third and fourth should be between them and Derry but I think bohs and Waterford might with a couple of new signings each, put it up to them.
I feel Sligo Galway and drogs might struggle over the course it the season, drogs being best equipped to join the four team scrap above them, I think cork will struggle to make a mark, they look like they need to sign a whole defence really.
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