Although as usual, and to be expected, there is little or no talk about the First Divison. Not surprising as it normally does nothing to stimulate even the most ardent of LOI fans. But - the graveyard is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in years with both the Premier League Champions and the Playoff Winners bizzarely playing in it this season.
The teams I think should be challenging:
Dundalk have added some decent signings like Vinny Perth and Anto Flood to an already strong squad and have managed to hold onto Philly Hughes. Hammered Derry 4-0 in pre-season. Other sides may also find their artificial surface difficult to cope with. The bookies and many peoples favourites.
Athlone have also strengthened well with some good signings like Ronan Frawley, David O'Dowd and Mixie Harty from neighbours Galway. Also managed to get striker Paul McTiernan from Sligo and experienced midfielder Davy Byrne from Longford. Playing their first season in their new stadium, their crowds will be up with the whole town behind them. Won't be far away.
Shelbourne really hard to know what kind of Shels team will take to the field, if at all. But they have brought in Dermot Keely to try and resurrect his old club and already, some decent fringe players from Bohs, Derry and Pats rumoured to be on the way to join with the experienced Alan Moore and Jim Crawford.
Finn Harps have recruited ex player and ex Derry assistant, Paul Hegarty to manage them after a disastrous stint by ex-boss Anthony Gorman. Already he has transformed the team with some very good signings from Derry and the Irish League. Central midfielder Tony Shields from Limavady was probably one of the best midfielders in the Irish League and a major coup for Harps. Other notable signings are ex-Glentoran stars Shaun Holmes and Stephen Parkhouse and John O'Loughlin from Cliftonville. Also managed to keep Conor Gethins and Chrissy Breen. Well organised under Hegarty, will definitely be at the business end of things come the end of the season.
The rest:
Kildare: Lost Cooling which will be a major blow. Can't see them improving much on last year.
Cobh: Have also lost too many of their good players from last term to Waterford and will struggle to make an impact.
Monaghan: If pre-season is anything to go by, could surprise a lot of people. Good wins over Premier sides Galway and Sligo and with Willie Doyle in the side, could cause a few upsets along the way.
Kilkenny: Will most likely be another struggle for the Cats.
Limerick 37: Very hard to judge as brand new club made up nearly entirely of junior players.
Wexford Youths: Like Limerick, an unknown quantity as this is the first year in the senior ranks. Again, made up mostly of junior players from the local area but with Pat Dolan involved, anything is possible.
My (severely biased) predictions: Harps to win league - Athlone to win playoffs against Waterford. Dundalk to run out of gas after a good start
{Although as usual, and to be expected, there is little or no talk about the First Divison. Not surprising as it normally does nothing to stimulate even the most ardent of LOI fans}
Dry your eyes mate, your kindly uncles at walkthechalk.com have not forgotten you. Check this out.
1.Dundalk
2.Athlone Town
3.Shelbourne
4.Finn Harps
5.Cobh Ramblers
6.Kildare County
7.Limerick 37
8.Monaghan United
9.Wexford Youths
10.Kilkenny City
Cmon County!
Shels
Harps
Athlone
Dundalk
Kildare
Ramblers
Wexford
Kilkenny
Limerick
Mons
Finn Harps (Shields is a class act)
Athlone
Dundalk
Kildare
Shelbourne
Mons
Limerick
Cobh
Klikenny
Wexford
1. Shels
2. Dundalk
3. Athlone town
4. Kildare
5. Cobh
6. harps
7. mons
8.Wexford
9. Limerick
10. Kilkenny
Dundalk
Athlone town
Finn Harps
Kildare
Cobh
Shels
Monaghan Utd
Limerick 37
Wexford Youths
Kilkenny
Its going to be very tight, very hard too call how Limerick, Wexford will fare and I think Shels will get off to a slow start that will cost them.
__________________
Last edited by steno; 27/02/2007 at 7:28 PM.
Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer.
Where do you like - cuckcoo land?Originally Posted by feo123
Trying to anticipate the FAI's next fudge here, it's possible that Shels may get hit with a points deduction instead of EXPUNGEMENT if their appeal goes badly (too late to get another team in). With a better budget than most clubs and an experienced manager, they may be confident of overhauling a headstart of 8 points or so.
SIGNATURESCOPE
Harps have the strongest first division team ever I would say. It is better than most premier division teams. They will walk it.
Why do people think Athlone will push for it? What is the basis for this?
As for Shels it would be a miracle if they don't finish bottom.
1st Harps
2nd Dundalk
3rd Monaghan
Good to see us been written off.
I really don't get some football fans though......why predict Shels to win the league when they have two senior players?
Even if they pull in a full squad in time for the new season, surely they'll be made up mostly from junior sides and U21s.
1. Harps
2. Athlone
3. Dundalk
4. Kildare
5. Cobh
6. Shels
7. Monaghan
8. Wexford Youths
9. Limerick 37
10.Kilkenny
Well they made some of the decent signing. Benefitted well from Galway and Sligo going full time and Davy Byrne from Longford.Harps have the strongest first division team ever I would say. It is better than most premier division teams. They will walk it.
Why do people think Athlone will push for it? What is the basis for this?
As for Shels it would be a miracle if they don't finish bottom.
1st Harps
2nd Dundalk
3rd Monaghan
Everyone needs something to believe in, I believe I'll have another beer.
I quite fancy the new Wexford team to give a good account of themselves,with Mick Wallace & Pat Dolan on board who knows.
1 . Dundalk
2 . Harps
3 . Wexford
1. dundalk
2. cobh
3. harps
4. kildare
5. mons
6. killkenny
7. athlone
8. shels
9. lim37
10.wexford
dont think our team is as weak as first thought really, though given what players we lost we would proably win this year with last years squad, athlone i dont think will do that well (as they say what is it based on), shels have no squad might get some players in mid seaosn and make a push up the table but more than likely not, dundalk have the strongest squad without doubt and can only lose it themselfs really, harps may jump us depending on how the new players settle, but id say the top three will be the top three just maybe not that order, same goes for the bottom two
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
Realistically it'll be closer to the bottom three than the top three that we'll be! For this season at least, as most of the players were playing junior soccer up to and including this season.....
I'll go for Harps, Dundalk, Athlone.
Writing off Athlone and putting Mons in third in the same breath
Harps - "The strongest first division team ever"
Is there something in the water in Ballybofey
Why is Cobhs squad seven places stronger than Limericks?
Anyway for what it's worth:
1. Dundalk
2. Harps
3. Athlone
BIG GAP
4. Limerick
5. Cobh
6. Mons
7. Kildare
8. Wexford
9. Kilkenny
Left Shels out for now as that could go either way
Why is Cobhs squad seven places stronger than Limericks?
Anyway for what it's worth:
1. Dundalk
2. Harps
3. Athlone
BIG GAP
4. Limerick
5. Cobh
6. Mons
7. Kildare
8. Wexford
9. Kilkenny
Left Shels out for now as that could go either way
thats mainly the fact you have half a junior side as most of limerick fcs players were snapped up while danny was in court, and you dont really know our squad we only lost two regulars, our reserve keeper, a defender come striker who wasnt here half of last season as he was on loan, and a striker who didnt play much, with the divisions top scorer of two year ago back from injury to and have got players in on loan from bohs and city
Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.
OK, my turn!
First of all it's great to see us out of the bottom 2!
1. Dundalk - strongest squad in the division
2. Shelbourne - big budget, a lot will depend on whether they are in touch by the transfer window
3. Finn Harps - will improve on last season. Breen and Gethins both back (I think)
4. Cobh Ramblers - have been in contention the last few seasons but failed to last the pace
5. Limerick 37 - seems to be the nucleus of Limerick squads over the past few seasons so should be competitive
6. Athlone Town - McTiernan a great signing, some other good signings
7. Monaghan United - important that Doyle and Farrell can avoid injury
8. Kildare County - under Ryan they are a physical side with no plan and very hard to watch
9. Wexford Youth - it's a big step-up and a long season
10. Kilkenny City - another season of struggle for the Cats
I'll go for
1. Finn Harps
2. Athlone
3. Dundalk
4. Shels
5. Limerick 37
6. Cobh
7. Mons
8. Kildare
9. Kilkenny
10. Wexford
Posting Permissions
Quote
Bookmarks