Premier Division: Club-by-club guide as 2024 LOI season kicks-off
NEW SEASON: John Fallon goes club-by-club ahead of the new League of Ireland season. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Declan Devine (since Oct ’22)
100% fans-owned.
Sixth.
Dayle Rooney (Drogheda United), Rob Cornwall (Northern Colorado Hailstorm), Sten Reinkort, Martin Miller and Michael Lilander (Flora Tallinn), Kacper Chorazka (ASIL Lysi), Brian McManus (Shelbourne).
Dean Williams (Shelbourne), Kris Twardek (Atletico Ottawa), John O'Sullivan (Shelbourne), Kacper Radkowski (Waterford), Krystian Nowak, Ali Coote (Detroit City), Jonathan Afolabi (Kortrijk, Belgium), Chris Lotefa (Finn Harps - loan).
Two sixth placed finishes on the spin indicate stagnation and the nature of their latest FAI Cup final defeat to St Pat’s stung. Trouble may be brewing unless they start well.
Sten Reinkort – Replacing Afolabi is a challenge but one of their three arrivals from Estonia will lead the line and he’s got pedigree.
4th.
Ruaidhrà Higgins (since April ’21)
Billionaire Philip O’Doherty.
Runners-up.
Daniel Kelly and Patrick Hoban (Dundalk).
Cian Kavanagh and Brandon Kavanagh (St Patrick's Athletic), Evan McLaughlin (Cork City), Jamie McGonigle (Coleraine), Liam Mullan (Institute - loan), Caoimhin Porter (Institute - loan), Jack Lemoignan (Harland & Wolff Welders), Daithi McCallion (Ballymena United - loan).
While they closed the gap on the champions, Derry failed to sustain a serious title challenge. It’s hard to see another meek tilt being tolerated by an ambitious owner.
Pat Hoban – Underappreciated at the club he earned legendary status, the striker will want to prove Stevie O’Donnell wrong. Fitness will be vital.
2nd.
Kevin Doherty (since Dec ‘21)
Trivela Group (US fund that also own Walsall).
7th.
Jack Keaney (UCD), Andrew Quinn (Shelbourne), Frantz Pierrot (Athlone Town), Conor Kane (Shelbourne), Evan Weir (Walsall - loan), Killian Cailloce (SM Caen), Jethren Barr, Oisin Gallagher and Hayden Cann (Lincoln City – all loans), Dave Webster (Bray Wanderers), Zishim Bawa (Bodens BK).
Michael Leddy (Loan from Shamrock Rovers ended), Dayle Rooney (Bohemians), Luke-Wade Slater and Jamie Egan (Longford Town), Conor Keeley (St Patrick's Athletic), Dylan Grimes, Jarlath Jones (Athlone Town), Kyle Robinson (Arbroath).
Doherty performed miracles in his two years to avoid the relegation threat and despite fresh investment is once more up against it as the sole part-time outfit. Dangerous to write them off.
Frantz Pierrot – Much in-demand after his 22-goal return for Athlone Town, how the Haitian deals with the higher stage will be crucial for Drogs.
10th.
Stephen O’Donnell (since December ’21)
Brian Ainscough.
Last season finish: Fifth (2022 Fourth).
Dara Keane (UCD), Koen Oostenbrink (FC Eindhoven), Robbie Mahon (Motherwell), Ross Munro (Ross County), Jamie Gullan (Raith Rovers), Ciaran McGuckin (Rotherham United - loan), Jamie Walker, Scott High (Huddersfield Town - loan), Zak Bradshaw (Lincoln City - loan), George Shelvey (Nottingham Forest).
Daniel Kelly (Derry City), Keith Ward (Shelbourne), John Martin (Shelbourne), Robbie McCourt (Waterford), Mark Byrne (Glenavon), Darragh Leahy (Waterford), Connor Malley (Sligo Rovers), Patrick Hoban (Derry City), Senan Mullen (Torino), Darren Brownlie, Greg Sloggett (Cheltenham Town).
They slipped a place last year but the switch of Ainscough from Kerry was one of the unexpected off-season transfers. Recruitment has again been slow and fragmented. Pressure is on O’Donnell to swiftly fuse them.
Koen Oostenbrink – Former Dutch underage international played for the two Eindhoven clubs and is a tall, powerful presence in midfield. They’ll need that.
6th.
John Caulfield (since Aug ’20).
Local property developers done good, the Comer Brothers.
Promoted as First Division winners.
Garry Buckley (Sligo Rovers), Leo Gaxha (Kerry), Patrick Hickey (Athlone Town), Karl O'Sullivan (Sligo Rovers), Jeannot Esua (Ekanas IF), Joe Wright (Millwall), Tom Costello, Al-Amin Kazeem (Colchester United - loan).
Darren Clarke (Glenavon), Wilson Waweru (Sligo Rovers), Mikie Rowe (Wexford), Rob Manley (Home Farm), Oisin O’Reilly (Treaty United), Evan O’Connor (Treaty United), Alex Rutter, Callum McNamara (Treaty United), David Tarmey (Treaty United - loan), Daire McCarthy (Kerry - loan), Steven Healy (Kerry - loan), Adam O'Halloran (Treaty United).
A seven-year Premier Division absence was too long and now Caulfield must retain their doggedness to frustrate superior opponents to last year.
Leo Gaxha – Highly-rated as a teen at Sheffield United, the player of Albanian descent was a spark in a challenging first season for Kerry. Will relish the spotlight.
8th.
Stephen Bradley (since July ’16)
Ray Wilson and Dermot Desmond (25% each), members 50%.
Champions.
Josh Honohan (Cork City), Lee Steacy (Cobh Ramblers), Darragh Burns (MK Dons - loan), Markus Poom (Flora Tallinn - loan), Trevor Clarke (Bristol Rovers), Aaron McEneff (Perth Glory), Johnny Kenny (Celtic - loan).
Alan Mannus (Retired), Ronan Finn (UCD), Sean Gannon (Shelbourne), Kieran Cruise (Bray Wanderers), Freddie Turley (Bray Wanderers - loan), Simon Power (Sligo Rovers), Carl Lennox (Wexford - loan), Liam Burt (Shelbourne - loan), Naj Razi (Como), Michael Leddy (Ballymena United - loan).
If they’re looking down again in October, history will have been made. None of their rivals could punish a sluggish start for the four-in-a-row winners last year but it’ll be interesting to see how the cope without stalwarts Mannus and Finn.
Pico Lopes – Lots of players have left and returned but the captain was only elsewhere for duty with Cape Verde, excelling at the recent African Cup of Nations.
Record breaking five-in-a-row.
Damien Duff (since Dec ’21)
Closebreak, Andrew Doyle, Ricky Walsh, Mickey O’Rourke, Brian McGovern.
4th
Keith Ward (Dundalk), Sean Gannon (Shamrock Rovers), Dean Williams (Bohemians), Lorcan Healy (UCD), John Martin (Dundalk), John O'Sullivan (Bohemians), Liam Burt (Shamrock Rovers - loan), Will Jarvis (Hull City - loan).
Harry Wood (Hull City - end of loan), Conor Kane (Drogheda United), JR Wilson (Sligo Rovers), Jack Moylan (Lincoln City), Luke Byrne (Retired), Euclides Cabral, Andrew Quinn (Drogheda United), Harry Fisk, Gavin Hodgins (Glenavon - loan), Gbemi Arubi (Waterford), Luke Browne (Crystal Palace).
Leaping from seventh into fourth is a feat unlikely to be surpassed but having European football this July for the first time for 17 years warrants kudos for Duff.
Will Jarvis – The loan arrivals of Jarvis and Harry Wood from then sister club Hull City in the summer window accelerated their eventual success, so to seal the return of the former – a skillful winger – represents a boon for the Reds.
5th.
John Russell (since July ’22)
Member-owned.
8th
JR Wilson (Shelbourne), Wilson Waweru (Galway United), Simon Power (Shamrock Rovers), Ellis Chapman (Cheltenham Town - loan), Connor Malley (Dundalk), Ed McGinty (Oxford United - loan), Ollie Denham (Cardiff City), Charlie Wiggett (Newcastle United), Max Mata (Shrewbury Town - loan).
Lukas Browning, Johan Brannefalk (Ariana FC), Frank Livaak, Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne, Garry Buckley (Galway United), Daniel Lafferty (Institute), Pedro Martelo, Robbie Burton, David Cawley (Finn Harps), Greg Bolger (Cork City), Karl O'Sullivan (Galway United).
It’s been all decline for the Reds in recent years and there’s little to discern from their transfer activity to be convinced another slog is imminent.
Ed McGinty – Goalkeepers have been their saving grace in recent years and McGinty’s return gives them a defensive headstart.
9th (relegation playoff).
Jon Daly (since May ‘22)
Property developer Garrett Kelleher.
Third.
Brandon Kavanagh and Cian Kavanagh (Derry City), Ruairi Keating and Aaron Bolger (Cork City), Conor Keeley (Drogheda United), Marcelo Pitaluga (LIverpool - loan), Alfie Taylor (Hull City - loan), Luke Turner (Cliftonville), Aaron Pettifer (Bolton Wanderers), Romal Palmer (Goztepe).
Conor Carty (Bolton Wanderers - end of loan), Mark Doyle (Rhode Island FC), Thijs Timmermans, Serge Atakayi, Harry Brockbank, Ben McCormack (Waterford), Adam Murphy (Bristol City), Darius Lipsiuc (Stoke City), Dean Lyness (Hamilton Academicals), Sam Curtis (Sheffield United), David Odumosu (Cliftonville), David Norman (Vancouver FC), Tommy Lonergan (Fleetwood Town).
Daly’s first full season has the tailwind of FAI success behind it but plugging gaps left the likes of Sam Curtis forms his biggest task. Consistency of results is the other.
Ruairi Keating – Bagging 15 goals in a disappointing season for Cork City was all the more laudable given the anguish he endured following the tragic death of his father Ciaran. Will thrive on service.
3rd.
Keith Long (since March ’23).
Andy and Jamie Pilley, Fleetwood Group.
Promoted via playoffs, beating Cork City 2-1 after extra-time.
Robbie McCourt and Darragh Leahy (Dundalk), Ben McCormack (St Patrick's Athletic), Gbemi Arubi (Shelbourne), Kacper Radkowski (Slask Wroclaw), Joseph Forde (Perth Glory), Barry Baggley (Fleetwood Town - loan), Padraig Amond (Bromley), Kacper Skwiercynzski (Ruch Chorzow - loan), Maleace Asamoah (Fleetwood Town - loan), Grant Horton (Cheltenham).
Killian Cantwell (Bray Wanderers), Roland Idowu (Shrewsbury Town), Thomas Oluwa (Wexford), Liam Kervick (Cobh Ramblers), Ronan Coughlan (Fleetwood Town), Shane Griffin (Bray Wanderers), Harry Nevin (Cork City), Dean Larkin (Cobh Ramblers - loan).
A Premier team in all but name for the last two seasons due to their budget, they’ll be fancied to avoid dropping straight back. Ruthlessness at both ends of the pitch will be pivotal.
Padraig Amond – Sourcing prolific striker is an occupational hazard but even at 35 the Carlow native’s capture following a goal-laden decade in England was a coup.
7th
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