Upsetting the defending champions on the last edition of the
FAI Cup was somehow an upset and feat after stopping the Lilywhites run with
perfection in the LOI to deny them an important piece of silverware.
Running toe to toe with the Town in the early parts of the
season, the Hoops were looking like in tier old days and making their followers
dream with a return of old glories past, that in the end, these surrendered with
a second-place finish.
Still, we have round two in the new rivalry between the
defending champions Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers on Sunday, February 9 in the final
of the President’s Cup, with a win by the Dubliners we may have an exciting contest
in the LOI.
However, in the transfers market, the Hoops were a little
quiet with the signings of former Lurgan Blue defender Rhys Marshall and former
UCD and Republic of Ireland U-21 defender Liam Scales and forward Dean Williams
as well Lee Grace return to the Hoops.
As manager Stephen Bradley by entering his fourth season
in the helm of the Rovers, the man can deliver the Hoops title drought to
Tallaght by winning the league title, after winning his first honor as a manager with
the Hoops in the FAI Cup.
The man last season brush with glory almost crowned his
efforts with a near catapult of the Lilywhites that ended the title race with a
difference of eleven points, come 2020 Bradley is ready for another challenge.
Among one of the Hoops, strengths are its midfield and defensive
backfield not counting its excellent core of goalkeepers and strikers, somehow
makes this side a total contender and favorite to win the league shield.
For the Hoops among one of its most feared of weapons is
in its midfield with Jack Byrne leading the way alongside Aaron McEneff and Lee
Grace touted by an English Championship side as most of this team core returning.
This gives you the idea of what to expect of this team
favorite to repeat in second place but overall, I do have my doubts with Byrne
and McEneff having another stellar season along with newcomers Marshall and
Scales adapting to Bradley’s strategies.
I foresee a tough defensive backfield along a creative and
productive midfield that for sure will be producing several scoring opportunities
to their stellar striker group of Aaron Greene, Graham Burke, Thomas Oluwa and
newcomer Dean Williams.
For the Hoops to see their first test in this upcoming
the season when the League of Ireland open up hostilities against their cross-town
foes the Bohemians at Dalymont and starting what promises to be a very
contested 2020 in the SSE.
I believe in the team might and power to dethrone the
likes of an unstoppable Dundalk that this season will be seeing a close competition
from these hardened Shamrock Rovers, second-best I doubt it, but a banner of a
campaign, possibly.
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