Fern Mc Costigan

Saturday, February 8, 2020

Saint Patrick’s Athletic looking forward to a successful 2020

For manager Stephen O’ Donnell is business as usual after last season when he came to the rescue after his contemporary Harry Kenny left, I give this man an A for an effort by closing the campaign on a strong and positive note.

Despite some important players leaving Inchicore to play to other entities and the team not making several signings to replace the departed players, still, the team is hard at work in getting important players to build a contender.

As the man takes the club motto of no strength without unity, somehow the man is using his charisma with the players in returning this club to the top of this league spots, that maybe they can make a return to their winning ways.

To counter the club costly departures, before the end of last season these managed to get one of their most valuable of transfers in Dundalk pedigree midfielder Robbie Benson in order to boost this club midfield creativity.

In addition to new faces like striker Glen McAuley from Liverpool U-23, winger Billy King from Morton of the SCL, midfielder Jason McClelland from UCD, Cork City defender Shane Griffin, Spennymoor Town midfielder Dan Ward.

Other players add to a busy preseason are UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns, Crusaders striker Ronan Hale, Waterford center back Rory Feely and most recently adding of another striker in Montrose of the SLO Martin Rennie.

The list continues to grow with players from last season signing new contracts like defender Luke McNally and midfielder Darragh Burns, as these players complete the Saints roster ahead of their season opener.

Currently, on their preseason manager O’ Donell has been happy with the positive results, his team has been delivering and looking ahead of a promising campaign the Boys from Inchicore can deliver on this 2020.

For the Saints opening the season at home in Richmond Arena against Waterford Blues, the outlook of this team so far in the preseason has everyone that supports the Pats very excited after netting positive results in several friendlies.

As the season starts the Saints will have its share of challenges after hosting the Blues these will travel to the Showgrounds and face off a renewed Sligo Rovers, returning home against Derry City and then traveling to Tolka Park to face off newly-promoted Shelbourne in the Dublin Derby.

Somehow many eyes are set on Saint Patrick’s Athletic on this upcoming season that for sure promises to be a very exciting and contested one in the end, as many give the Pats a positive run, maybe these can finish in the top five spots.

Last season a fifth spot finish for this team that saw its manager leave and with O’ Donnell things change for the better, maybe the Saints can make a dash to the top spots and finish among the top three spots, but no league shield.

Photos Credit, Property, and Courtesy of © Saint Patrick’s Athletic Football Club 2020

Shelbourne looking to a long stay in the top circuit

Seven years passed by when Shelbourne FC was in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland, after their sensational season in the first division, now these are looking forward too many years in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Among the first order of business, the directives of the Reds went into the task of extending manager Ian Morris contract ahead of their debut on the top circuit and looking forward to a successful one.

Not only did Shel's front office went hard at work too in signing a few payers that can boost this team game as well as looking ahead in a campaign that will keep this side in the top not only in 2020 but many years to come.

The direct promotion put manger Morris hard at work to get the ideal players to compete in what seems to be a new challenge in another contested season ahead in the LOI as the main idea for them is to show off why they are called the Real Reds.

With new faces coming to Tolka Park in Drucomdra up in Dublin, these are looking forward to net important and positive results in the always celebrated Dublin Derbies against the Bohs, Hoops, and Pats.

That’s why the club has brought important if not players that will make a difference in this season, with striker Aaron Dobbs from Longford Town, Cambridge United midfielder Gary Deegan, midfielder Alex O’ Hanlon from NIFL side Glentoran.

In addition to other new faces coming to Drucomdra in forward Karl Sheppard coming from Cork City, midfielder Georgie Poyton from Waterford, and possibly many more players to come before the start of this new season.

As defense wins games and the Shels last season lost a few games after letting their foes come from behind and this an area the Reds are in a big need to improve as that experience in first division will be far different when these make their debut in the Premier League.

The need to concentrate and improve defensively is a must for the Shels looking to extend their permanency in Premier Division and become a true contender in this season and wrap up with a notable finish among the top five spots.

For the Shels, these ready to enter in action and making their debut on the road against Cork City in always difficult Turner’s Cross were the Rebel Army is not easy prey and this season looking to improve and return to its winning ways.

In addition of their second game at home in Tolka Park against the defending champions, Dundalk FC reinforcing his squad and coming as the overall favorite to repeat in the league top, not easy it looks the endeavor for the Reds.

Photos Credit, Property, and Courtesy of © Shelbourne Football Club 2020

Friday, February 7, 2020

Shamrock Rovers looking as favorites to unseat Dundalk this 2020

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.

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Derry City looking forward to a stellar 2020

For manager Declan Devine in his first year in the helm of Derry City managed to calm the storm and close the season strong to a notable fourth-place finish but falling short of a European position in the end.

That was the last campaign but in this 2020 the Candystripes are looking forward to flying high with high expectations as they will be aiming not only for a spot in Europe but also having the league shield in their mind.

For the lone competitor from the Northern part of the Emerald Isle, Derry City is ready to front in what seems another contested season after teams like the Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and the defending champs Dundalk arming their arsenals.

Still, for the Candystripes front office, these did not hesitate to bring new faces to Brandywell to reinforce every spot possible for manager Declan Devine to uplift this team into contention.

With new faces coming to a newly built Red and White Army, the odds of a successful season are within the grasps of City as the new players for sure can uplift this club to new levels and maybe see them fighting amongst the league elite.

The arrivals of Norwegian striker Tim Nilgen, former St. Pats and Republic of Ireland youth midfielder Conor Clifford, Cork City standouts in defender Colm Horgan and midfielder Conor McCormack, Sheffield United midfielder Stephen Mallon.

In addition to striker Walter Figueira from Waterford, on-loan Hull City defender Danny Lupano, midfielder and Raja Casablanca Moussa Bakayoko these two recently signed.

As the club aims are to build up the team, midfield to add more creativity and speed as well build up a solid defensive backfield and to boost its frontal attack, the club has found the ideal players to build that contender manager Devane has envisioned.

Another set of good news is about last season players are to return to play for Derry City in Peter Cherrie, Jamie McDonagh, Nathan Gartside, Eion Toal, Darren Cole, and Mark McChrystal ready for another exciting season.

So far, on the preseason the Candystripes have shown a very positive run against their foes and netting positive results in the Billy Kee Memorial Cup win over NIFL side Institute, as well as against SSE Finn Harps and First Division Bray Wanderers.

In the end, the Candystripes are ready for the league openers against the defending champions Dundalk on February 14 and a week later Finn Harps, both games at home in Brandywell to travel to Dublin and play St. Patricks’ Athletic.

To conclude the Red and White Army are going to have a challenging campaign despite my possible forecast of a fifth or maybe a fourth-place finish, the way this club armed itself for 2020 we may have a contender.