THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SO FAR
Just about a third of the way through the season and it is not going the way I thought it would . From a personnal point of view , Bohs have got off to a great start . 10 games in , 6 wins & 2 defeats and only 2 points off top spot . Overall I think it has been a better league than last year when St Pats and Cork City ran away with events . Shels have impressed in that like Bohs they are not playing particularily well but are winning . I think it will fall to these two teams along with Cork City to win the title this year .
Elsewhere , Finn Harps have surprised me in that they are struggling . The loss of Donal O'Brien has been crucial in my opinion . I was in Donegal last week and Bohs certainly enjoyed a dominant performance from Kevin Hunt and Stephen Caffrey in the centre of the park .
St Pats have been inconsistant but are beginning to show signs of last years form . Marcus Hallows is a very good signing , but Gilzean's loss and the apparent infighting between several senior players and management will not help dented confidence from their European exploits .
Derry City have been playing poorly and have notched up a few defeats lately after a bright start . Bohs broke their 100 % start in Tolka Park with their best performance of the season . UCD will do well , lose some , upset a few of the more fancied sides....like Derry City at the Brandywell last week . They will probably finish mid-table but look very weak . This is probably the weakest squad they have had since entering the National League of Ireland 15 years ago .
For the promoted side from last year ....Galway and Drogheda ....division one beckons . With a shortage of goals for both sides in recent weeks will prove costly . Having seen both teams play in their own ground I think it will be a sad season for both and unfortunately they will probably end up travelling to division one grounds next year . Sligo will be down their with both of these and will probably be happy to avoid automatic relegation .
Shamrock Rovers have faltered , but will be in and around the top 5 come the end of the season . They did have a handy start in that they only met Bohs and Derry of the big boys in their first 8 games ...but since they played some of the better , they have struggled . The uncertainty over their proposed move to Tallafornia and the apparent lack of proper training facilities will not help Damian Richardson and his side .
Cork look strong but are relying on Morley and Caulfield a bit too much Liam O'Brien is a definite asset but will not be able to make up for a lack of cover up front . Still they should be their or their abouts .
Waterford will make up the quartet at the bottom with Galway , Drogheda and Sligo . Not scoring ...conceding soft goals from what I have seen will make it a long hard struggle ...I was told they were lucky UCD did not put 4 or 5 past them last week .
Overall I do not think Pats will be up their . They have lost a lot of their squad , and confidence from last year . Rovers just are not that good . Time will tell . Bohs have not really played great but having seen all ten games to date think that winning when not really playing specially well is not a bad way to be going . I do think the league is a lot stronger than last time out and that makes for a very exciting championship .
This is how I think [Hope .... for Bohs anyway] they will finish up next May .
Shelbourne
Cork City
Bohs
St Pats Athletic
Shamrock Rovers
UCD
Derry City
Finn Harps
Sligo Rovers
Waterford United
Drogheda United
Galway United
BEST SIGNING TO DATE : Glen Crowe [Bohs]
BESTNEWCOMER : Shane Robinson [Sham Rvs]
BEST selection OF
THE SEASON SO FAR
GOAL : Wayne Russell [Bohs]
DEFENCE : Owen
Heery [Shels]
Shaun
Maher [Bohs]
Dave
Hill [Cork]
G
Cronin [Cork]
MIDFIELD :
Martin
Russell [Pats]
Avery
John [Bohs]
Liam
O'Brien [Cork]
Billy
Woods [Sham Rovers]
STRIKERS :
Glen
Crowe [ Bohs]
P
Morley [Cork]
RESERVES:
Kevin
Hunt [Bohs]
Trevor
Wood [Pats]
Pat
Scully [Shels]
M
Hallows [Pats]
R
Baker [Shels]