Representatives from each League of Ireland club turned out at the Aviva Stadium earlier today for the launch of the 2017 SSE Airtricity League season. Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane was also in attendance to say a few words. Behind Keane there was an image of Seamus Coleman, James McClean and Kevin Doyle beside the current League of Ireland stars. The caption read “ Where the next generation of legends are born “.
Dundalk are going for four top flight league titles in a row, something that hasn’t been done since Shamrock Rovers achieved it in 1987. The question a lot of people will be asking ahead of the new season is how can Dundalk top last season? The Lilywhites thrilled us all with an incredible European campaign that took them to the group stages of the Europa League after narrowly missing out on the group stages of the Champions League. Stephen Kenny’s side almost completed a back to back league and cup double only to be denied by Cork City in extra time of the FAI Cup final.
The Champions have lost the services of Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle and Ronan Finn since their league success so Stephen Kenny knows how tough it will be to come close to topping last season:
On the way into the Aviva today, journalists were asked to give the predictions in a secret ballot. Once again the League of Ireland experts said Dundalk are the team to beat this season, something echoed by Cork City manager John Caulfield although he believes his side won’t be too far away from a league title:
Cork City and Dundalk go head to head at Turners Cross on Friday February 17th in the Presidents Cup and the new season kicks off a week later. Shamrock Rovers have strengthened with the capture of Ronan Finn the most high profile of their new recruits so they’ll be expecting to be closer to the top two this season. At the bottom end of the table there’s even more pressure because this season three clubs will be relegated to the First Division to make both divisions 10 team leagues at the start of the 2018 season.
The FAI confirmed today that Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers will both take part in Scotland’s IRN-BRU Cup next season as the Scottish FA looks to expand the competition.
Week one of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Friday 24 February
Bohemians v Derry City Dalymount Park 7.45 pm
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers Oriel Park 7.45 pm
Galway United v Drogheda United Eamonn Deacy Park 7.45 pm
St. Patrick’s Athletic v Bray Wanderers Richmond Park 7.45 pm
Limerick v Sligo Rovers Markets Field 7.45 pm
Finn Harps v Cork City Finn Park 8.00 pm
