League of Ireland preview 2011: please, no more casulaties

Every March I look forward to the League of Ireland swinging back into action. A lot of football fans in this country treat the Airtricity League with apathy, but for me and the hardcore supporters of Irish clubs, our own domestic league is fascinating, even if the standard pales in comparison with what we're used to watching on Sky Sports.

Unfortunately it's hard for me to preview the new season with enthusiasm. Only four months have passed since the conclusion of the last campaign and in that space of time the League of Ireland has resembled a trauma ward. Sporting Fingal, founded as recently as 2007, went to the wall last month. Bohemians, Drogheda United and Galway United all appeared to be heading in the same direction, only for the generosity of fans to keep those poorly-run clubs afloat. As the league's best players jump ship to England, the attendances remain low and the money just isn't coming in to footbal clubs in Ireland.

I hope I'm wrong, but the 2011 league season could be a farce. Reigning champions Shamrock Rovers seem to be miles ahead of the rest, thanks to a strong squad, an excellent manager in Michael O'Neill, a fine stadium with plenty of fans in attendance and a sensible budget. The Hoops have strengthened their player list over the winter and look well placed to canter to a second consecutive title. Their only realistic challengers will be Sligo Rovers, who put one over on the Tallaght side in November's FAI Cup final. Paul Cook has assembled an excellent squad, with Rafael Cretaro returning to the Showgrounds during the off-season, and that magical cup win has given the Bit O' Red great belief that more good times are in store. They also have the benefit of being a well-run club off the field, so they shouldn't fall victim to the financial malaise that has gripped the Irish game in recent years.

Behind the two Rovers, other clubs will be eyeing a European finish. St. Patrick's Athletic are usually there or thereabouts at the end of the season and will be expecting more of the same in 2011. Pete Mahon has added more strings to the St. Pat's bow and they will be pushing for a top three finish. Dundalk have been quietly effective under Ian Foster and they made three astute signings in Jason Byrne, Greg Bolger and Mark Quigley, so they will be looking to push on from a 6th-place finish in 2010. Bohemians have had real problems over the winter, losing the bulk of the squad that took them to consecutive titles in '08 and '09, although they still have some good players to call upon and Pat Fenlon is a seriously driven manager. They will hope to challenge for Europe this year.

Mid-table security is the objective for Derry City, who are back in the Premier Division after a year's absence. They have brought back Ruaidhri Higgins and Gareth McGlynn from Bohemians, in addition to the squad that won the First Division last year, so they will not be content with mere survival. UCD won plaudits for their attractive football in 2010 and have been making progress under Martin Russell, but once again their best players were moved on to pastures new ahead of the new season. Still, there is enough talent in the college to avoid a relegation battle.

At the wrong end of the table, Bray Wanderers will be hoping for a more comfortable campaign than the last two. Twice they seemed to be on their way to the First Division, only for a stroke of luck and the team's determination to save them. After those highly dramatic escapes, all the fans want is to stay up and to do so in a less heart-stopping fashion. Like Bray, Galway United are perennial strugglers in the top flight and they can be grateful merely to be playing in this division after their licence was revoked before being regranted on appeal. They lost Karl Sheppard and Stephen O'Donnell to Shamrock Rovers in the off-season and could be in for another tough year. It could also be a difficult campaign for Drogheda United, who had been relegated at the end of last season but were reinstated after Sporting Fingal's sad demise. If the Drogs can so much as avoid bottom, it will have been a successful season.

Of course, trying to predict where teams will finish in the League of Ireland is a mug's game. Circumstances could dramatically change between now and November as English clubs cherry-pick the cream of the Irish crop during the summer. In spite of all the problems, I will be watching as the Airtricity League is played out. My wish list for 2011 is that the title race will be as dramatic as last year's, that Irish clubs acquit themselves well in Europe and that, most importantly, we end the season with the same 10 teams that began it.

PREDICTIONS
1st - Shamrock Rovers
2nd - Sligo Rovers
3rd - St. Pat's
4th - Dundalk
5th - Bohemians
6th - Derry City
7th - UCD
8th - Bray Wanderers
9th - Galway United
10th - Drogheda United