Who can stop Dundalk three in a row?
BOHEMIANS
With their Dalymount Park home and debt position secure, Bohs can begin concentrating on regaining former glories.
Still, success may have to wait, as for all the stability Keith Long brought last season in his first year at the helm, depth to the squad remains a challenge. Mark Quigley’s return to the club will be a plus only if he rediscovers some consistency in his game.
Matching or exceeding last year’s fifth place finish would represent a feat for the Gypsies.
Kurtis Byrne
Having played second fiddle at Dundalk to Pat Hoban and then David McMillan in their last two title-winning seasons, Byrne should enjoy being the main man at Dalymount.
BRAY WANDERERS
Another club with a dose of off-field strife in the recent past, Bray have proved the surprise recruiters in the off-season.
Captain David Cassidy may have departed but his loss has been more than compensated by the arrivals of Mick Daly, Ryan Brennan and the experienced Conor Kenna.
Investment brings with it expectation, and a vast improvement on last term’s eighth-place finish is necessary for the season not to be considered one of underachievement.
Dylan Connolly
Homesickness following the arrival of his new baby contributed to the speedy winger cutting his time at Ipswich Town short and Mick Cooke’s swift move could in time be deemed one of the shrewdest this year.
With pace to burn, the Ireland U21 international is a vital outlet and will be integral if Bray are to reap a return on the largesse shelled out on wages.
CORK CITY
Will 2016 by the year they finally usurp rivals Dundalk for the title?
If last week’s President’s Cup joust was anything to go by, then definitely. John Caulfield’s decision to ring the changes was much-needed, adding vitality to a team long criticised as being one-dimensional. Players such as Sean Maguire and Stephen Dooley will aid the process.
Recruiting St Pat’s duo Kenny Browne and Greg Bolger could be the main difference, though, given the experience the pair have of clinching titles.
A big campaign ahead, then, for City and Caulfield. The manager can’t crib about a lack of budget.
Greg Bolger
Gone is local lad Liam Miller yet into his midfield place has come a more than able deputy in the New Ross man. Steely in the tackle and lethal from long-range, keeping Bolger fit and free of suspension is essential to the Rebels ending their 11-year title wait.
DERRY CITY
Long gone are the days of regular silverware under Stephen Kenny, but the appointment of Kenny Shiels is a brave move for a club craving a release from mid-table mediocrity.
Rory Patterson’s return from a stint in Australia guarantees that more precious commodity of goals yet the supply line has been significantly dented by the defection of Patrick McEleney to the champions.
Guile is also assured through signing Keith Ward and the permanent capture of Conor McCormack yet their competitors have improved to a greater extent. At least the redevelopment of the Brandywell is taking flight.
Ger Doherty
Not a great sign when a goalkeeper is their main man but Doherty exudes quality. At 34, he’s arguably in his prime and a reason why they won’t be dragged into the relegation dogfight.
Stephen Kenny’s history-makers remain the best side in the country and all connected have rubbished suggestions complacency is a challenge.
Comments from club captain Stephen O’Donnell about a training-camp held recently reinforce the belief this Lilywhites outfit are equipped to join the great Shamrock Rovers team of the 1980s in the pantheon of greatness.
Although Richie Towell’s 25 goals in the league will be difficult to replace, Daryl Horgan’s career is on an upward trajectory and fresh face Robbie Benson will relish the platform after starring for UCD last season.
Patrick McEleney
Possessing talent in spades, the Derryman is perfectly poised to become the latest league export. He’s had his attitude, and more besides, questioned, so the higher level should befit his needs. Performing in the Champions League, too, is a major motivation.
The sight and sounds of Ollie Horgan dampening expectations was a recurrent theme of their promotion success but there’ll be little to talk down back in the top-flight as a scrap for survival awaits.
Sticking with the policy of shopping local, Horgan put his modest budget to good use by signing Ryan Curran and keeping hold of his best young talent amid interest from suitors in Derry and Sligo Rovers.
Whilst Finn Park used to be known as a fortress during Noel King’s tenure in Donegal, it remains to be seen whether the big guns deem it an obstacle. Unfortunately, the objective is to remain in the survival mix by the long June break for the Euros.
Josh Mailey
A seismic part of their success last season, Mailey spurned offers and better money to remain with his hometown club. The right-sided player can slot into a variety of positions and his versatility will be relied upon the testing campaign ahead.
Tommy Dunne is unapologetic about the standards he sets, evidenced by the frequent post-match critiques of his team during last year’s season of toil.
An interesting transfer policy, including the addition of Bosnian defender Armin Aganovic, has changed the landscape for the Tribesman and they’ll be looking for a better return than last season’s 10th place in the table.
While Sami Oji and Jake Keegan will be missed, some of their younger players should be better for the experience of last year’s first season in the top-flight.
John Sullivan
The fitness fanatic grew up playing alongside Richie Towell and the duo were team-mates at Dundalk before Sullivan sought a new challenge.
On his day, there are few better combative midfielders around.
Like his relative Tommy Dunne, Tony Cousins has overhauled the squad but arguably to their detriment.
Warhorse Stephen Rice couldn’t last forever but replacing his traits in the engine-room seems to have been a challenge beyond them.
Josh O’Hanlon is back at the club after a stint at Bournemouth but won’t supply anything like the goals Gary Shaw did before his move to Shamrock Rovers. A season of relegation strife beckons for the Midlanders.
Josh O’Hanlon
The tricky wide player will have his moments to shine following a frustrating spell in England which promised much but didn’t materialise. Adding some consistency is his priority.
Pat Fenlon’s first full season in charge didn’t result in the title challenge he craved and there’s little to suggest from the transfer business to indicate anything stronger is on the cards this season.
Restricted by budget, they’ve taken a risky but laudable punt on deploying Gary Shaw and Dean Clarke to lead their line. Brandon Miele will only get better but the lack of pace in midfield remains the biggest concern. Damien Duff stepping into retirement prematurely is a blow too.
Killian Brennan
There’s life left in the veteran yet. Reuniting with Pat Fenlon in the aftermath of a frustrating year at St Pat’s will suit Brennan, who carries in his repertoire an array of passing ability and free-kick execution skills.
Under new manager David Robertson, formerly of Peterborough United, Sligo are hoping for a new dawn following a couple of years in turmoil.
Drafting English managers in has served Rovers well in the past and how the latest newcomer fares will be one of the intriguing subplots of the league.
Another campaign in the doldrums won’t be accepted by the Sligo crowd, which can fluctuate dependent on their results. However, retaining centre-back Gavin Peers could be crucial in whether they struggle or soar.
Kieran Sadlier
The Ireland U21 midfielder was known to Robertson from his days at Peterborough and may flourish by a change of scenery. A former West Ham United trainee, Sadlier has untapped potential.
The longest-serving manager in the Premier Division endured an unhappy dressing-room last season and bit the bullet by cutting some of the disaffected loose.
Into the club has come a sprinkling of youth and experience, the latter provided by ex-Cork City pairing Darren and Billy Dennehy.
Posing a credible threat to Dundalk could hinge on the output Buckley garners from Keith Treacy, an undoubted talent yet plagued by regular dips in form.
Billy Dennehy
His departure from Cork was best for both parties, given the troubles of last season, and should the winger replicate the form he displayed while last in Dublin for Shamrock Rovers, then he’ll be a major plus. As both a creator and provider of goals, Dennehy has pedigree.
The Cinderella story of 2015 have stuck by their principles in keeping their full amateur operation. As a project, retaining top-flight status would tell a tale about professional football in Ireland but that outcome is remote. For all the experience Danny Ledwith will bring, the paucity of it elsewhere is something not even rising star of management, Shane Keegan, can cure.
They’ll be battling a familiar foe from last year’s First Division fight in Finn Harps, and probably Longford, at the bottom end.
Danny Furlong
Their best signing of the off-season was keeping Furlong. A record haul of 30 goals last season spearheaded their title success and his strike-rate could determine their fate.
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