First Division: Club-by-club guide as 2024 LOI season kicks-off
NEW SEASON: Andrew Horgan goes club-by-club ahead of the new League of Ireland season. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Dario Costelo (Since June ’23)
John Hayden.
: 5th
Dylan Hand (Longford Town), Ruben Candal, Peter McGregor, Jarlath Jones (Athlone Town), Dean Ebbe (Manchester 62), Gabriel Padilla, Roscoe Rubinstein, Carl Mujaguzi (BK Olympic), Armardo Oakley (Guelph United).
Frantz Pierrot (Drogheda United), Patrick Hickey (Galway United), Jack Kavanagh (Kerry), Haji Abdikadir (UD Maracena), Sultan Adenekan (Maynooth University Town), Josh McGlone (Bray Wanderers), Valerii Dolia (Kerry).
Or standing still? Athlone would be happy to replicate last year’s performance and again earn a crack at promotion via the playoffs.
Dylan Hand. It’s always nice to sign a defender with vast experience, especially when he’s still at a good age (24), but it’s even sweeter when he’s signed from your neighbours.
5th.
Ian Ryan (Since December ’22)
Tony Richardson, Pat Devlin.
7th
Kieran Cruise (Shamrock Rovers), Freddie Turley (Shamrock Rovers - loan), Jimmy Corcoran (Cork City), Evan Osam (UCD), Kilian Cantwell (Waterford), Cristian Magerusan (Longford Town), Shane Griffin (Waterford), Peter Grogan (Bohemians U19), Ben Clark (UCD), Jamie Duggan (UCD), Josh McGlone (Athlone Town), Paul Murphy (Gorey Rangers).
Yoyo Mahdy (Treaty United), Alex Moody (Wexford), Chris Lyons (Longford Town), Conor Crowley (Longford Town), Dane Massey (Retired), Conor Knight, Sean Quinn (Lucan United), Jack Hudson (Albion Rovers), Conor Davis, David Webster (Drogheda United), Jake Walker, Ben Clarke (Crumlin United), Matthew Connor (Waterford - end of loan), Nadre Butcher, Len O'Sullivan (Glenavon).
After a disappointing 2023, Bray have signed well to try and right those wrongs in 2024.
Kieran Cruise. Having turned 20 in January, Cruise knew he needed to leave the four-in-a-row Premier Division Champions in order to get more first-team minutes to aid his development. He will get them at Bray and his confident finish in Rovers’ victory over UCD last June proves he cant make an impact.
4th.
Gary Hunt (Since December ’23)
Fan owned.
3rd
Jack Larkin, Dean Larkin (Waterford - loan), David Bosnjak, Cathal O'Hanlon (Midleton), Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Longford Town).
Lee Steacy (Shamrock Rovers), Dean Larkin (Waterford - end of loan), Mikie Rowe (Galway United - end of loan), Jack Doherty (Cork City), Charlie Lyons (Cork City), Alec Byrne (Treaty United), Charlie Cummins (Exeter City).
Down, almost definitely. New manager Gary Hunt has a tough job filling the huge void left by Shane Keegan and his attacking players have a huge task replacing the goals scored by the departed Jack Doherty.
Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh. The striker returns to the Rams after a spell with Longford Town, where he scored six goals in 18 games last season. Cobh will be hoping his experience away from his hometown may have aided his development.
9th.
Tim Clancy (Since December 2023)
Dermot Usher
9th (Premier Division)
Jack Doherty (Cobh Ramblers), Charlie Lyons (Cobh Ramblers), Evan McLaughlin (Derry City), Bradley Wade (Guiseley), Greg Bolger (Sligo Rovers), Aidan Dowling (Larne), Sean Murray (Glentoran - loan), Harry Nevin (Waterford), Nathan Wood (Newport County - loan), Niall Brookwell (Newcastle United U21).
Josh Honohan (Shamrock Rovers), Ruairi Keating (St Patrick's Athletic), Ollie Byrne (Altrincham - end of loan), Aaron Bolger (St Patrick's Athletic), Tiernan Brooks (Notts County - end of loan), Tunde Owolabi (Macclesfield FC), Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh (Southampton), Gordon Walker (Arbroath), Andrii Kravchuk (Urartu Yerevan), Ben Worman (Gateshead), Rokas Stanulevicius, Ethon Varian (Bohemians - end of loan), Jaze Kabia, Ally Gilchrist.
Looking up, absolutely. Anything other than a title win and an automatic return to the Premier Division would be a huge disappointment.
Jack Doherty. His move across Leeside from Cobh Ramblers to Cork City raised a few eyebrows in the Rebel County. He impressed last season for the Rams, scoring 18 league goals, and he will be hoping to surpass that tally to fire his new club back into the top flight.
1st.
Darren Murphy (Since November ’23)
Fan owned.
9th
Success Edogun (Treaty United), Conor Tourish (Letterkenny Rovers), David Cawley (Sligo Rovers), Chris Lotefa (Bohemians - loan), Mark Mbuli (Institute).
Daniel Stokoe, Antonio Tuta, Caoimhin Porter (Derry City - end of loan), Daithi McCallion (Derry City - end of loan), BJ Banda, Damian Duffy (Dergview), Antonio Tuta (Kerry), Seamas Keogh.
Last season was a forgettable one for Finn Harps but their second from bottom finish means they can only look up, surely, although maybe not too far.
Success Edogun. Success by name, success by nature the Harps faithful will be hoping. He bagged seven goals last term, not bad for a 22-year-old still learning his trade.
8th.
Conor McCarthy (Since November ’23)
Ted Crowley, Joe Dunne, Matt Cantrel, Darren Lyons, James Carvalho, Peter Jones.
10th
Andy Spain (Treaty United), Jack Kavanagh (Athlone Town), Steven Healy (Galway United - loan), Daire McCarthy (Kerry - loan), Antonio Tuta (Finn Harps), Ferdia O'Brien, Valerii Dolia (Athlone Town), Victor Udeze (Athlone Town U19).
Cian Barrett (Shamrock Rovers - end of loan), Martin Coughlan, Arthur Nagnou, Alex Ainscough, Leo Gaxha (Galway United), Sean Kennedy.
Considering they finished bottom, Kerry can only look up really. Or sideways. They are still an incredibly new club in League of Ireland terms but they will be looking to improve on the one win they recorded during their debut season.
Ryan Kelliher. The Killarney man netted 10 goals last season and in the absence of Leo Gaxha, they may need him to increase that impressive tally.
10th.
Stephen Henderson (Since November ’22)
Stalwart Jim Hanley.
8th.
Dean George (Treaty United), Luke Wade Slater (Drogheda United), Jordan Tallon (Treaty United), Dean O'Shea (Treaty United), Karl Chambers (Wexford), Sami Clarke (UCD), Chris Lyons (Bray Wanderers), Conor Crowley (Bray Wanderers), Callum Bonner (Dundalk U19), Vasyl Tropanets (Bluebell United), Jamie Egan (Drogheda United), Jack McCarthy.
Lewis Temple (Shelbourne - end of loan), Derek Daly, James Doona (Glenavon), Dylan Hand (Athlone Town), Cristian Magerusan (Bray Wanderers), Charles Mutawe (Maynooth University Town), Gavin O'Brien (Killester Donnycarney), Josh Giurgi, Ciaran Hodanu, Jamal Ibrahim, Beineon O'Brien-Whitmarsh, Gary Armstrong (Ballinamallard United), Jordan Adeyemo, Ola Adeyemo.
Stephen Henderson is a manager with great predigree in the League of Ireland. He wouldn’t have been happy with their 8th place finish last season, he will be demanding a higher finish this season, at least and potentially challenging for the playoffs.
Dean George. The Dubliner was a fan’s favourite at Market’s Field, it is likely De Town fans will also enjoy watching him in their side.
6th.
Tommy Barrett (Since January ’22)
Tricor Pacific Capital
6th
Yoyo Mahdy (Bray Wanderers), Evan O'Connor (Galway United), Oisin O'Reilly (Galway United), Callum McNamara (Galway United), David Tarmey (Galway United - loan), Thomas Considine, Alec Byrne (Cobh Ramblers).
Dean George (Longford Town), Jordan Tallon (Longford Town), Success Edogun (Finn Harps), Dean O'Shea (Longford Town), Andy Spain (Kerry), Sean Guerins, Conor Barry, Conor Winn.
Treaty, in their new blue kit, will definitely be looking up and improving at least one place from last year’s showing, which would secure a play-off place. But it won’t be easy.
Mark Walsh. The recently appointed club captain, who was in the starting line-up for Treaty’s first ever competitive fixture back in March 2021, will be hoping to lead by example in any of the defensive roles in which he has played for United.
7th
William O’Connor (Since September ’23)
University custodians.
10th (Premier Division)
Mikey McCullagh (Galway United U19), Niall Holohan (Sligo Rovers U19), Ronan Finn (Shamrock Rovers), Dara Kavanagh (Waterford U19).
Jack Keaney (Drogheda United), Lorcan Healy (Shelbourne), Dara Keane (Dundalk), Evan Osam (Bray Wanderers), Sami Clarke (Longford Town), Jesse Dempsey (Lecce), Michael Gallagher, Jamie Duggan (Bray Wanderers), Ben Clarke (Bray Wanderers), Brendan Barr (Ballymena United), Daniel Babb (Ipswich Town).
After going down last season, the students will be looking for a quick return to the top flight. They may not have enough to finish first but they shouldcomfortably secure a play-off spot and fancy themselves to do the business via that route.
Ronan Finn. This is arguably the signing of the summer across both divisions. The Shamrock Rovers captain gave up the chance of chasing an historic five-in-a-row of titles by rejoining his first club. He will be aiming to lead them to the first division title.
2nd.
James Keddy (Since November ‘22)
Wexford FC Trust.
4th
Cian Curtis (Shamrock Rovers U19), Thomas Oluwa (Waterford), Alex Moody (Bray Wanderers), Mikie Rowe (Galway United), Carl Lennox (Shamrock Rovers - loan), Owen Mason (Mansfield Town - loan).
Hugh Douglas (retired), Thomas Oluwa (Waterford - end of loan), Owen Mason (Mansfield Town - end of loan), Eoin Kenny (Dundalk - end of loan), Luke Browne (Shelbourne - end of loan), Karl Chambers (Longford Town), Danny Furlong (retired), Evan Farrell (North End United), Corban Piper (Birkenhead).
After finishing 4th in 2023, Wexford should be content with a similar finish in 2024 with their aim being a better showing in the play-offs.
Thomas Oluwa. The attacker returns to Ferrycarrig Park on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell from Waterford at the second half of last season. He scored seven goals in that time and he will surely be looking to double that in the full campaign ahead.
3rd.
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