ANOTHER SEASON IN the top flight of Irish football kicks off this weekend, with all 10 Premier Division clubs in action on Friday.

For the fourth time in five seasons, Dundalk start the campaign as defending champions after they regained the title at Cork City’s expense in 2018.

The Lilywhites begin their bid to retain the silverware at home to Sligo Rovers, while City travel to face a new-look St Patrick’s Athletic side who are now under the stewardship of Harry Kenny.

UCD and Finn Harps are the newcomers for 2019 after being promoted from the First Division. The Students make the journey north to take on Derry City, with Harps also on the road for a clash with Bohemians.

There’s also an intriguing fixture at the RSC, where Waterford host Shamrock Rovers in a meeting of the sides who finished fourth and third last season respectively.

As usual we’ll have reports from the five games — all of which kick off at 7.45pm — shortly after full-time on Friday, but in the meantime we want to know which side you think will be at the top of the pile when the season concludes in October. 

Who will be crowned 2019 Premier Division champions?

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