A season in the sun

CONSIDERING it began with some fearing a one-horse race and others concerned that not all the horses at the starting gate might even reach the finishing line, the season just ending in the Airtricity League of Ireland can only be judged a raging success.

That’s not to be deliberately blind to the financial worries threatening to cause long-term problems at more than one club but, on the day the First Division takes its final bow of the campaign, it is only right to acknowledge that this has been a year when the league as a whole exceeded all expectations.

Even if, because of their outstanding achievements both at home and abroad, there can be no looking beyond Shamrock Rovers as the team of the season, the Hoops had plenty of competition for plaudits across the two divisions.