BEFORE THE FIRST ball of the new season is kicked, St Pat’s fans have plenty of reason to be optimistic. With the exception of Conor Kenna, the Saints have managed to keep the bulk of their title-winning side together which can only be a good thing.
Oh, and they’ve signed Keith Fahey.
But the danger of being champions is that every opponent will treat it like a cup final, determined to take you down a peg or two. Cork have even more of an incentive tonight with the return of one of their own club legends, John Caulfield, to the dugout.
While Pat’s have been involved in the Setanta Sports Cup and President’s Cup over the last 10 days, Cork’s focus has been singular.
“We’ve been preparing for this game for the last two weeks,” Caulfield said. “Our tactics have been geared towards it.”
Let’s see if it pays off.
2. Unfinished business as Louth neighbours meet
The last time Dundalk and Drogheda met, Stephen Kenny was so incensed by the referee’s performance that he threatened to pull his side off the pitch and go home.
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That frustration — as well as two red cards in the first half — was Dundalk’s undoing and Richie Towell knows that they need to keep their emotions in check when the always spicy rivalry resumes tonight.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“We have to taper it down on the emotional side but that won’t stop us from going to get the right result. We’ll go out and do our best to win. You always want to win the derby.”
After losing to Coleraine in the Setanta Sports Cup first leg, Dundalk will want a positive result before the ‘difficult’ second season narrative takes hold for 2013′s surprise package.
3. Limerick’s Spanish mission more than fun in the sun
Of all the locations for pre-season training, Limerick’s camp in Bilbao last week must be the most exotic.
The Blues lost their two friendlies against Athletic Bilbao B and Amorbieta but the games gave manager Stuart Taylor an opportunity to do his last bits of fine-tuning.
Taylor described the games as “an education” and we’ll see just how much Limerick learned when they welcome Bray, under new management in Alan Mathews, to Thomond Park tonight.
4. TV cameras head to Tallaght
The first televised game of the new league campaign comes on Sunday evening when Shamrock Rovers welcome Roddy Collins and Derry City to Tallaght Stadium.
It’s the first of five live games that RTÉ Two have lined up over the first five weekends of the season, a run that sees Rovers, Pat’s and Derry all feature twice with Cork, Limerick, Sligo and Dundalk getting air time as well.
There’ll be plenty of interest on Monday night too as the new ‘Soccer Republic’ show, which replaces MNS, makes its debut at 11.05pm on RTÉ Two.
5. Presidential appointment as football returns to Eamonn Deacy Park
The league’s newest club get down to competitive action tonight as Galway FC welcome First Division favourites Longford Town out west.
After taking in the inaugural President’s Cup in Inchicore last weekend, Michael D Higgins will be in Eamonn Deacy Park on a historic night for Tommy Dunne’s side.
There will be history made in St Colman’s Park as well as Cobh Ramblers welcome Colin Hawkins and Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ for their first league game tomorrow night.
SSE Airtricity League fixtures (all kick-offs Friday 7.45pm unless stated)
Premier League
Cork City v St Patrick’s Athletic
Drogheda United v Dundalk
Limerick v Bray Wanderers
UCD v Bohemians
Sligo Rovers v Athlone Town (Saturday 7.45pm)
Shamrock Rovers v Derry City (Sunday 5.25pm – live on RTÉ Two)
First Division
Galway FC v Longford Town
Finn Harps v Waterford United (Friday 8pm)
Shelbourne v Wexford Youths (Friday 8pm)
Cobh Ramblers v Shamrock Rovers B (Saturday 7.45pm)
5 reasons why you should be watching the League of Ireland this weekend
1. Cork line up for first shot at the champions
BEFORE THE FIRST ball of the new season is kicked, St Pat’s fans have plenty of reason to be optimistic. With the exception of Conor Kenna, the Saints have managed to keep the bulk of their title-winning side together which can only be a good thing.
Oh, and they’ve signed Keith Fahey.
But the danger of being champions is that every opponent will treat it like a cup final, determined to take you down a peg or two. Cork have even more of an incentive tonight with the return of one of their own club legends, John Caulfield, to the dugout.
While Pat’s have been involved in the Setanta Sports Cup and President’s Cup over the last 10 days, Cork’s focus has been singular.
“We’ve been preparing for this game for the last two weeks,” Caulfield said. “Our tactics have been geared towards it.”
Let’s see if it pays off.
2. Unfinished business as Louth neighbours meet
The last time Dundalk and Drogheda met, Stephen Kenny was so incensed by the referee’s performance that he threatened to pull his side off the pitch and go home.
That frustration — as well as two red cards in the first half — was Dundalk’s undoing and Richie Towell knows that they need to keep their emotions in check when the always spicy rivalry resumes tonight.
“We have to taper it down on the emotional side but that won’t stop us from going to get the right result. We’ll go out and do our best to win. You always want to win the derby.”
After losing to Coleraine in the Setanta Sports Cup first leg, Dundalk will want a positive result before the ‘difficult’ second season narrative takes hold for 2013′s surprise package.
3. Limerick’s Spanish mission more than fun in the sun
Of all the locations for pre-season training, Limerick’s camp in Bilbao last week must be the most exotic.
The Blues lost their two friendlies against Athletic Bilbao B and Amorbieta but the games gave manager Stuart Taylor an opportunity to do his last bits of fine-tuning.
Taylor described the games as “an education” and we’ll see just how much Limerick learned when they welcome Bray, under new management in Alan Mathews, to Thomond Park tonight.
4. TV cameras head to Tallaght
The first televised game of the new league campaign comes on Sunday evening when Shamrock Rovers welcome Roddy Collins and Derry City to Tallaght Stadium.
It’s the first of five live games that RTÉ Two have lined up over the first five weekends of the season, a run that sees Rovers, Pat’s and Derry all feature twice with Cork, Limerick, Sligo and Dundalk getting air time as well.
There’ll be plenty of interest on Monday night too as the new ‘Soccer Republic’ show, which replaces MNS, makes its debut at 11.05pm on RTÉ Two.
5. Presidential appointment as football returns to Eamonn Deacy Park
The league’s newest club get down to competitive action tonight as Galway FC welcome First Division favourites Longford Town out west.
After taking in the inaugural President’s Cup in Inchicore last weekend, Michael D Higgins will be in Eamonn Deacy Park on a historic night for Tommy Dunne’s side.
There will be history made in St Colman’s Park as well as Cobh Ramblers welcome Colin Hawkins and Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ for their first league game tomorrow night.
SSE Airtricity League fixtures (all kick-offs Friday 7.45pm unless stated)
Premier League
First Division
Mark Quigley: ‘I was jumping around my house like a fan when Keith Fahey signed’
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SSE Airtricity League Premier Division LOI Kick-off