Fingal look likely

As a new League of Ireland season prepares to kick off this weekend, "Westmeath Independent" soccer reporter KEVIN O"NEILL takes a closer look at the opposition Athlone Town will face in the First Division this year, and speaks to some of the managers and players from within the division. And so, here we go again. It"s only a matter of months since the 2008 League of Ireland campaign drew to a close but just over three months later - and after a close season of extreme turmoil for many clubs - the 2009 season is now upon us. On the local front, Athlone Town have battled back from the brink of extinction in recent months to ensure their participation in this year"s First Division. For that, the club must be forever indebted to its loyal fanbase who joined an ambitious patrons" scheme that ultimately rescued them from going out of business. And these supporters have not got far to travel for the Town"s opening game of the new season against league newcomers Mervue Utd at Terryland Park on Friday (kick-off: 7.45pm). The First Division has been increased to twelve teams for the coming campaign, with Dundalk winning promotion from the First Division last season and Cobh Ramblers, who were relegated from the Premier Division last season, dropping out of the league altogether. Finn Harps and UCD have also been relegated from the top flight. Athlone, of course, are competing in the First Division for the 14th consecutive season since getting relegated in 1995, and do so with another new manager at the helm - former centre back Brendan Place. The Town begin the campaign with an away trip to Mervue Utd and will play each team three times over the course of the campaign. FINN HARPS Home Ground: Finn Park, Ballybofey. Manager: Paul Hegarty. Last Season: 10th (Premier Division). Following relegation from the top flight, it"s all change at Finn Harps. Paul Hegarty remains in charge for a third season but most of last year"s playing staff have gone, including key players such as Declan Boyle, Chris Breen, Shaun Holmes, Jonathan Minnock and Stephen Parkhouse. Former Athlone midfielder Davy Byrne has retired due to ongoing injury problems. On the plus side, ace striker Conor Gethins remains and again carries much of the burden for the Donegal club, where expectations are always high. David McDaid, on loan from neighbours Derry City, could also make a positive impression. Manager Paul Hegarty, who guided Harps to promotion in 2007, said he"s relying heavily on youth this season. 'Like most clubs, our budget has been greatly reduced,' said Hegarty. 'We"d a big turnover of players during the close season. We have to blood a lot of inexperienced and untried players. I"ll reserve judgement on our ambitions until we play ten games,' he added. At time of print, former Athlone captain Ian Rossiter was training with Harps and was expected to sign a contract before the start of the season. LIMERICK Home Ground: Jackman Park. Manager: Last Season: 5th. Limerick have never been far from turmoil or change in recent years. Just two weeks ago, Mike Kerley quit as manager, leaving the club looking for a replacement at time of going to print. Only a couple of players have left, with Gary Sheehan and Peter White joining Wexford. They have managed to retain the bulk of last year"s squad and key performers like Jason Hughes, Conor Molan, Pat Purcell, Davy Ryan and John Tierney are among this group. Speaking last midweek, chief executive officer Andrew Mawhinney said: 'We have signed the players we wanted to sign and the bottom line is we will be ready to face UCD on March 6. There has already been huge interest in the vacant managerial position.' Meanwhile, Dave Mahedy has been taking training in the past few weeks. LONGFORD TOWN Home Ground: Flancare Park. Manager: Alan Gough. Last Season: 8th. New manager Alan Gough has recruited heavily from Athlone, with Colm Jinks, Jason McCartney, Carmine Russo and Jim Sheridan all joining the Flancare Park side. Former St Joseph"s schoolboy Colin Nicholson has also signed as back-up to former Meath Gaelic football netminder Brendan Murphy, while ex-Athlone defender Brian McCarthy has joined on-loan from Bohemians. Darragh Concannon and Liam Lynch have been drafted in from Ballinasloe Town but among their more notable signings are former Galway Utd forward Derek Glynn and veteran defender Ray Kenny. However, only a handful of fringe players remain from last season. Kiltoom-based assistant manager Philip Coffey, a former Athlone coach, said Longford must be realistic about the coming season. 'We"ve a very tight budget and rely heavily on a handful of more experienced players, but I think most clubs are going to field more and more youngsters due to restricted budgets. We hope to be well organised but will take it game by game. In my opinion, the title is between Shelbourne, Sporting Fingal and UCD,' said Coffey. Bizarrely, Longford have been using Willow Park"s top-class all-weather facility in Athlone for training in recent weeks. KILDARE COUNTY Home Ground: Station Road. Manager: Thomas Donnelly. Last Season: 10th (relegated but reinstated when Cobh refused First Division licence). Kildare County will be many people"s favourites to again prop up the division. After finishing bottom of the table last season, the club were preparing for the "A" Championship, before earning a late First Division reprieve due to Cobh"s failure to gain a league playing licence. The Thoroughbreds" squad will contain mainly local based players, with former Kildare Football League Director of Football, Thomas Donnelly, taking the manager"s job. Donnelly bossed the club"s under-20s for the past four years but is totally new to the First Division. He said: 'We were caught on the hop a bit when Cobh had to drop out. Most our experienced players from last season, the likes of Paul Donnelly, Philip Hughes and Ger Robinson, have left. Our "keeper, Austin O"Neill, is gone back to junior football, too. We could struggle physically. Our squad"s average age is 22 or 23.' At the time of going to press, it looked unlikely former Athlone player Colin Fortune would re-sign with Kildare. However, they have captured ex-Longford defender Daithi Garry, who was on trial with Athlone in recent weeks. MERVUE UTD Home Ground: Terryland Park. Manager: Johnny Glynn. Last Season: Debut campaign in First Division. Friday"s opening day clash against Athlone will be a historic occasion for Mervue Utd, as they embark on a first ever season in the league. To prepare for this step-up, manager Johnny Glynn has signed former Athlone players Nigel Keady and David O"Dowd. Also among their ranks is former Athlone youth team player Dave O"Brien, who plays at right back for Mervue. Also included in their squad are former Galway Utd trio Nicky Curran, David Goldbey and Ollie Keogh. Otherwise, Mervue"s squad is mainly made up of young and unproven players at this level. However, their enthusiasm and pride could compensate. Dave O"Brien said: 'We can"t wait for the start of the season. Our new signings have added experience and there"s a good atmosphere at the club. I think we should aim higher than just consolidating in the First Division. We should look towards mid-table and maybe higher.' MONAGHAN UTD Home Ground: Century Homes Park. Manager: Mick Cooke. Last Season: 6th. Monaghan Utd are viewed by many as serious outsiders to gain promotion. The league"s longest serving manager, Mick Cooke, enters his sixth full season in charge. His signings look like improving the team, with Alan Byrne and Dave Freeman (Shelbourne), Karl Bermingham (Waterford), Shane Grimes and Aidan Lynch (Dundalk), and Darren McKenna (Longford), all arriving at Century Homes Park. They join the likes of Sean Brennan, "keeper Brendan Kennedy, Cathal O"Connor, Don Tierney and Paul Whelan, who made good contributions last season. Former Mons left-sided player Kevin Williamson has rejoined Athlone and defender Conor McMahon could be a loss due to college commitments. Cooke said: 'We"ve improved our league finish every year I"ve been here. We"re targeting a top-three finish this year and a play-off spot. We beat Shelbourne, Fingal and Waterford twice last season, but dropped 21 points against the bottom three. We also drew twice with title winners Dundalk.' SHELBOURNE Home Ground: Tolka Park. Manager: Dermot Keely. Last Season: 2nd. Manager Dermot Keely has shopped wisely and believes his squad has improved. The signing of the First Division"s player of the year for 2008, David Cassidy, is a real coup. Richie Baker, David Crawley and Kevin Doherty have all returned to the club, too, so Shelbourne are well poised to mount a promotion bid. They also managed to retain the services of excellent players like Anto Flood, Dave McGill and Mark O"Brien. Kelly though, has rubbished Shelbourne"s title hopes. 'I hate this division ... it"s one of many things wrong with Irish football,' Keely said. 'Fingal are very strong. They"re bankers to win the division. I don"t think we can go head to head with them,' he added. However, the wily Keely"s reluctance to talk of a title bid should be taken with a pinch of salt. They finished runners-up behind Dundalk last year, when Limerick sensationally equalised at Tolka Park with virtually the final kick of last season to consign Shels to second place. That would have hurt greatly - and Shelbourne will be keen to make up for it. SPORTING FINGAL Home Ground: Morton Stadium (Santry). Manager: Liam Buckley. Last Season: 3rd. Only a fool could possibly back against Sporting Fingal winning this season"s First Division. Liam Buckley has gathered together one of the most highly rated squads to ever play at this level. Included in his pre-season signings are St Pat"s trio Alan Kirby, Gary O"Neill and Stephen Paisley, UCD"s Shane McFaul, goalkeeper Darren Quigley from Derry City, and striker Eamon Zayed from Drogheda Utd. These acquisitions further bolster a squad already containing the likes of Conan Byrne, Philip Byrne, Robbie Doyle and Colm James, while left back John Frost also made his loan move from St Pat"s permanent. Shaun Williams could also prove an astute signing after impressing while on loan to Dundalk last season. Their most notable departures are Paul Caffrey, Pat Deans, Peter Hynes and "keeper Steve Williams. Fingal"s weekly budget is well above that of their divisional rivals, so promotion as champions is expected. Liam Buckley said: 'I have been given a budget approved by the board. The ambition of this club is to be playing in the Premier Division. And we want to do that as soon as possible.' Fingal achieved a very respectable third position in their debut campaign last season but are heavily fancied to improve further this time around. However, striker Gary O"Neill"s comments might give other clubs hope. He said: 'I don"t think any of us want to be in the First Division. I don"t want to be there professionally, but I have to pay the mortgage.' UCD Home Ground: Belfield Bowl. Manager: Martin Russell. Last Season: 12th (Premier Division). Martin Russell has the job of reinvigorating UCD"s fortunes after they dropped out of the Premier Division for the first time in 18 years last season. To make his job even more difficult, the amount of first-choice players leaving along with Pete Mahon reached double figures. As usual, though, UCD have plenty of young talent coming through its scholarship system. They will rely heavily on the likes of Ciaran Kilduff and Chris Mulhall - both recruited from Shamrock Rovers - as well as the experience of former Athlone player Luke Hardy and defender James Timmons. Luke Hardy said: 'The likes of Monaghan and Limerick showed last season you can compete with the top teams despite a limited budget. UCD have a completely different squad this season. We are being told to play the game in the right fashion and UCD, I suppose, has a tried and tested formula when it comes to bringing through young players.' Among the more established players to leave the club are Ian Bermingham (Shamrock Rovers), Matt Gregg (Bohemians), Conor Kenna and Alan McNally (Drogheda Utd), and Alan Mahon (retired). WATERFORD UTD: Home Ground: Waterford RSC. Manager: Stephen Henderson. Last Season: 4th. Stephen Henderson appears an excellent appointment following Gareth Cronin"s exit. Henderson previously spent four good years at Cobh Ramblers, guiding them to their first ever piece of silverware as First Division champions in 2007. The new Waterford manager has recruited heavily from his former club, with Alan Carey, Graham Cummins, John Kearney and Kevin Murray following their former boss from St Colman"s Park. The signing of long-serving Cork City "keeper Mick Devine is another positive for the Blues, while they also have one of the league"s most talented young strikers in David Grincell. Henderson said: '"I"m delighted to join Waterford and am looking forward to the huge challenge that faces everybody at the club. Waterford has a proud history and floating around the First Division is not where they should be.' WEXFORD YOUTHS Home Ground: Ferrycarrig Park. Manager: Mick Wallace. Last Season: 7th. Wexford embark on a third league campaign and have made gradual progress each season since entering in 2007. Mick Wallace continues to aggressively promote the idea of playing young, local players, but this season has decided to bring in some outside experience. Established Waterford Utd duo Dave Breen and Packie Holden, as well as Limerick pair Gary Sheehan and Peter White, should complement the existing playing staff, with the likes of Gavin Doyle, Patsy Malone, Johnny Flynn-O"Connor and the hugely impressive Conor Sinnott staying on. Assistant manager Noel O"Connor said: 'The club ethos stays the same but we want to improve the side each year. In fairness, Breen and Holden are from nearby Waterford. I think we"ve four or five players capable of playing for any team in the First Division. But it"s unrealistic to ask us to finish any higher than fifth.'