| A season full of promise
With the new Eircom League about to kick-off DAVID THORPE looks at
the 12 teams participating and analyses their chances for success in the
2006 season.
Cork City
Players In:
Players Out: Liam Kearney
 Manager:
Damien Richardson
Home Ground: Turners Cross
Without a significant signing in the close season the Turners Cross outfit
may find it hard to juggle League and European football, it will be a
remarkable acheievment if they win the league again.
Derry City FC
Players In:
Players Out:
 Manager: Steven Kenny
Home Ground:The Brandywell
The Candystripes will have the benefit of a full season with the services
of the outsanding Paddy McCourt, a factor which could push them closer
to the league title, the excellent Steven Kenny has restored confidence
and this could be a big year for the Foylesiders.
Shelbourne
Players In: Sean Dillon, Greg O’Halloran, Liam Kearney
 Players
Out: Wes Hoolohan, Glen Fitzpatrick.
Manager: Pat Fenlon
Home Ground: Tolka Park
Shels have spent big in the summer and will be hoping to challenge for
the title as well as have a good run in Europe. Some useful additions
to the squad and should at least match last year’s position
Drogheda United
Players In: Shane Barrett
 Players Out:
Manager: Paul Doolin
Home Ground: Oriel Park
The Drogs surprised everyone with their excellent form last season, including
winning the FAI Cup.
It’s hard to know how much further they can progress but they should
be thereabouts
Bohemians FC
Players In:
 Players Out:
Manager: Gareth Farrelly
Home Ground: Dalymount Park
The Phibsborough side will be hoping for a marked improvement on last
season, when they failed to achieve any level of consistency.
Financial constraints mean they can’t compete off the field with
their rivals and European football or a cup run might be the best they
can hope for.
Longford Town
Players In: Robbie Martin
 Players Out: Shane Barrett
Manager: Alan Matthews
Home Ground: Flancare Park
The enduring fairytale of Irish soccer will continue to finish in the
upper reaches of mid-table and challenge in the cups. An excellently run
club where stability is the watch word, and likely to remain so for the
coming season.
UCD
Players In:
 Players Out: Tony McDonnell
Manager: Pete Mahon
Home Ground: Belfield Park
Any season in which the students are not fighting relegation is a triumph,
they were safe by the time the summer sun came out last year and have
retained most of that squad so should be capable of repeating that performance.
Bray Wanderers
Players In:
 Players Out:
Manager: Pat Devlin
Home Ground: Carlisle Grounds
Another side for whom mid-table means respectability rather than mediocrity,
they have retained last season’s squad and should finish in about
the same place.
St. Patrick’s Athletic
Players In: Trevor Molloy
 Players Out:
Manager: John McDonnell
Home Ground: Richmond Park
The Inchicore Reds will be disappointed with their low league position
last season. The signing of Trevor Molloy will boost them significantly
and they might advance towards a European place.
Waterford United
Players In: Jimmy Fyffe
 Players Out:
Manager: Mike Kerley
Home Ground: RSC
After flirting with relegation for much of last season they achieved
a solid mid-table spot. Mike Kerley is busily restructuring the squad
and they should be much better than relegation fodder
Sligo Rovers
Players In:
 Players Out:
Manager: Sean Connor
Home Ground: The Showgrounds
Promoted as runaway champions from Division One, they may struggle with
largely the same squad in the top flight, any position better than relagtion
would be a success
Dublin City
Players In:
 Players Out:
Manager: Dermort Keely
Home Ground: Dalymount Park
Promoted via the play-offs, Dermort Keely’s men may find themselves
out of their depth with bookies offering 66/1 on a surprise league victory
for the Vikings. Since their inception Dublin City have made steady progress
and though they will find it difficult survival in the top flight is not
beyond them.
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