Updated at 15.00
1. Can Dundalk do three-in-row?
AFTER BECOMING TOP flight champions for the first time in 19 years in 2014, Dundalk went one better by retaining their title last season as well as adding the FAI Cup to their trophy haul.
Inevitably, much of the pre-season build-up has centred around the prospect of three-in-a-row and the Lilywhites are the bookies’ favourites to achieve something that hasn’t been done since the famous Shamrock Rovers side of the 1980s.
Comings and goings at Oriel Park have been kept at a minimum. Richie Towell is a major loss while Kurtis Byrne and Sean Maguire have left for Bohemians and Cork City respectively.
But they’re squad remains an extremely strong one and recent arrivals Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson will add to the already fierce competition for places.
Dundalk won the Premier Division at a canter last time out, finishing with an 11-point cushion, and they are unlikely to have it as handy with most of the title challengers strengthening.
They were beaten 2-0 by nearest rivals Cork City in the President’s Cup last Saturday but you can’t look into that too much and their real business starts at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday evening.
2. Will Cork City be able to close the gap?
“Obviously I’m disappointed that we couldn’t finish closer to Dundalk but we have finished runners-up, got to a cup final and are in Europe again next season.
“I know next year we will be expected to push them even more but the important thing is that we are progressing.”
Those are the words of Cork City boss John Caulfield speaking to The42 back in November. The Leesiders were resigned to runners-up behind Dundalk for the second year in a row while also losing out in the cup final at the Aviva Stadium.
Although they have lost a considerable amount of experience in with departures of the likes of Dan Murray, Liam Miller, Billy Dennehy, Darren Dennehy, John O’Flynn and Liam Kearney, the type of player signed by Caulfield should excite Rebels fans.
Greg Bolger and Kenny Browne will prove to be excellent acquisitions from St Patrick’s Athletic, then there’s promising young talent such as Sean Maguire and Eoghan O’Connell, returns for Gearoid Morrissey and Ian Turner and the arrival of Stephen Dooley from Derry City.
The overall age profile of the squad has dropped and the signs look good for another fine campaign at Turner’s Cross but whether they can finally get over the line is another question.
3. How will the newly-promoted sides fare?
Both Wexford Youths and Finn Harps are sure to add a bit of freshness to the Premier Division after their promotions.
For First Division champions Youths, it’s a maiden voyage in the top flight and the feat is made even more impressive when you consider the club was only founded by Mick Wallace in 2007.
Under the guidance of Shane Keegan, they have given opportunities to players from the south-east and nearby college Carlow IT and it will be interesting to see how competitive they can be among the big boys.
Perhaps getting carried away by Limerick’s superb end-of-season form, many people wrote off the chances of Finn Harps in the promotion/relegation play-off but, thanks to an extra-time header from 17-year-old BJ Banda, they are back in the Premier Division.
It has been eight long years and survival will represent a successful year as Harps are favourites for the drop, but they have recruited well under Ollie Horgan.
4. Can Dave Robertson knit together a new team at Sligo?
It has been all change at the Showgrounds after a frustrating 2015 which began full of optimism with Owen Heary in charge but ended in the Bit O’Red just avoiding the drop under Micky Adams.
He has left to be replaced by another Englishman in former Peterborough United manager Dave Robertson and the ex-commando has been quick to bring in a rake of new playing staff — many of whom have come from the UK.
Young talent like Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Kieran Sadlier (both Peterborough), Jaania Gordon (West Ham, loan) and Philip Roberts (Dundee) undoubtedly catch the eye, but players with experience in the league like Mick Leahy and Chris Lyons as well as long-serving players Raf Cretaro and Gavin Peers will also be important as he attempts to mould them into a solid unit.
Last year’s PFAI Goalkeeper of the Year, Michael Schlingermann is also a shrewd buy.
Another new manager to the league, former Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels, has been tasked with bringing some stability back to Derry City after an underwhelming few years.
Roddy Collins and Peter Hutton have both sacked in recent seasons and Paul Hegarty was left to pick up the pieces as the Candystripes finished mid-table.
It could be another difficult year ahead with Patrick McEleney, Mark Timlin, Stephen Dooley, Ryan Curran and Philip Lowry all departing but 2012 FAI Cup final hero Rory Patterson is back at the club.
5. Will the Dublin clubs bring the glory days back to the capital?
Dublin trio Shamrock Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians occupied third, fourth and fifth last season but all will be aiming for improvements this time out.
Rovers, who spent a prolonged period in India competing in a pre-season tournament, have kept the guts of last season’s squad together.
Conor Kenna (Bray) and Damien Duff (retired) are notable departures while Dean Clarke joins from Limerick and Killian Brennan is back for a second spell in Tallaght.
The Saints, meanwhile, have been particularly busy in the off-season
Chris Forrester joined Peterborough midway through the season and Greg Bolger, Kenny Browne (both Cork City), Aaron Greene (Limerick), James Chambers (Bethlehem Steel) and Killian Brennan (Shamrock Rovers) have followed him out the door.
While captain Ger O’Brien accepts that they were big players, new faces such as David Cawley, Dinny Corcoran (both Sligo Rovers), Billy and Darren Dennehy (Cork City), Keith Treacy (Drogheda United) and Mark Timlin (Derry City) have injected a new lease of life into the club.
“It’s exciting times,” he told The42. ”It feels like a new group as we’ve taken some really bit players out but Liam has recruited well and it almost has a smack of 2012 about it.”
Across the Liffey, Keith Long will have been pleased with the progress Bohs made last term and in Kurtis Byrne, Ayman Ben Mohamed and the enigmatic Mark Quigley, he has added attacking talent to take the weight off striker Ismahil Akinade.
6. What can Bray Wanderers achieve after their overhaul?
Big spenders Bray Wanderers have done the most business in the transfer market.
After putting in the wily Mick Cooke at the helm, the Seagulls have effectively assembled a new squad. It’s not just quantity either as the likes of Conor Kenna, Dean Kelly, Mark Salmon, Ryan Brennan, Mick Daly and Karl Moore possess both quality and experience.
Former Shelbourne and Ireland U21 winger Dylan Connolly, who has returned after a stint with Ipswich Town, is one to watch out for.
Who will be the latest stars to earn moves abroad?
Two of Irish football’s top players in Chris Forrester and Richie Towell joined the long list of names to leave the domestic league for England in the past last year.
Ex-Pat’s man Forrester has excelled at Peterborough United, earning rave reviews along the way, while Towell has found making an instant impact at Championship promotion-chasers Brighton significantly more difficult.
And with British clubs constantly sniffing around for a bargain, there is likely to be a couple more following suit.
Dundalk winger Daryl Horgan and Shamrock Rovers attacker Brandon Miele are two that could very well make the step up, but others are sure to emerge over the next eight months.
8. Who will prevail in the First Division?
The second tier of Irish football appears to be more competitive than ever with Limerick and Drogheda United joining the First Division.
Having kept hold of captain Shane Duggan and bringing in Aaron Green and John O’Flynn, Martin Russell’s side are favourites to bounce back after play-off disappointment with an immediate return.
Drogheda will be looking to do the same under Pete Mahon. Despite getting rid of the vast majority of their squad and opting for youth, former Sunderland midfielder Sean Thornton has decided to stick around.
However, UCD and Shelbourne are also likely to have a big say in who clinches the top spots.
How do you see this season going?
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