In pre-season we gave you our list of the top 20 storylines to follow in this year’s Airtricity League. Let’s see where we are on those.
1) Can Shamrock Rovers recover from last year’s debacle?
If we wrote this review 5 weeks ago, the answer would most definitely be; NO. Rovers finished the first series of games with only 2 wins and lay in 7th position. They’ve improved since though with 4 wins in the last 6 games. They’re still in 5th and 12 points behind the leaders but Rovers fans are no longer calling for the head of rookie manager Trevor Croly.
2) Can Sligo Rovers push on from winning the league title?
The question related to Europe and next week’s draw will tell whether that’s possible but Rovers certainly started the season with serious intent winning their first 8 games. Since their loss to Pats though, they’ve won only 2 in 9 and have slipped to 3rd in the table. If they win their game in hand they’ll only be a point behind Pats and ready to defend their title down the home stretch.
3) Are Drogheda United for real?
Not really. Drogheda have slipped into mid-table without too much of a fight. They’ve lost 5 of their last 6 and don’t look like they can turn things round.
4) Can St Patrick’s Athletic win something?
It remains to be seen but Pats are probably ahead of where most thought they would be. League leaders and still involved in FAI and League Cups. The need to win something is clearly still there
5) Will Thomond Park inspire Limerick?
Kinda. They’re safely in mid-table and they’re only lost twice at home. Limerick have a completely new team, with a manager who’s still getting to know this league. We think they can be happy with their progress so far.
6) Will Cork City return to the top table of LOI football?
Not yet they won’t. Their home form has been awful and it’s only in recent weeks they’ve pulled clear of the relegation fight
7) Will Derry City build on cup success?
So far, it’s a yes. The league’s top striker Rory Patterson has fired Derry into contention and they could be league leaders if they win their game in hand by enough goals. Even they don’t win the league this season is clearly a step up from last year.
8) Will Stephen Kenny get redemption in Dundalk?
The answer is clearly yes. Kenny’s Dundalk have beaten Pats and Sligo and sit in 4th place only 6 points off the lead. Kenny’s signings (including Byrne, Towell and Ward) have all worked out.
9) Will Shelbourne break records for red cards?
They were definitely on course for a new record under Alan Mathews with 5 in their first 10 games or so. With Mathew’s dismissal though, new manager John McDonnell seems to have improved discipline and the record might be safe.
10) Will Bohemians inspire more poetry?
Probably. You can have sad poems, right? Bohs have 3 wins all season and in big relegation trouble. They recently lost 3-0 to a Shels side who had scored 6 goals all season.
11) Will the president of the UCD supporters club in Serbia get to see them play?
Who knows. If he does, he’ll find a completely schizophrenic team; fine going forward, awful defensively. UCD have conceded 5 in each of their last 3 league games. They’ve also beaten Shamrock Rovers and Derry City (away) this season.
12) Will Bray Wanderers give sports writers a reason other than Katie Taylor to mention their town?
In Jason Byrne’s consecutive hat-tricks and breaking through the 200 goal mark they definitely have. A Bulgarian newspaper even covered his feats, much to the annoyance of Pat Morley.
13) The League’s best interview, Roddy Collins, is back. Can he inspire Athlone Town?
Maybe. Athlone are now 2nd in the first division and they just bet the league leaders. Of more interest to the sporting public though was the return of “The Rod Squad” to TV and all the hilarity that brought
14) Who will win promotion and will there even be a First Division next year?
We still don’t know about the league make up. Rumours circulate about the plight of Waterford, Salthill, Wexford and others. It’s clearly tough going in the First Division. Longford are 6 points clear and look to have what it takes to make sure they’re in the top league next year, regardless of it’s make up.
15) What’s going to happen the mess with Mervue United, Salthill Devon Galway United and GUST?
We still don't really know. Mervue looked like threatening to win promotion on the field for a while but have fallen away slightly. This week LOI head Fran Gavin mentioned there was some movement, but none of the clubs involved has commented publicly
16) Will fans of League of Ireland clubs be as colourful as ever?
Yes. You can always rely on LOI fans for banners and colour.
17) Who’ll be the next player to join the likes of Doyle, Long, Coleman,Fahey, Hoolahan, Ward and McClean as regular internationals?
Too early to say but it’s been a good start for young LOI players. St Pats’ Jake Carroll has been sold to Huddersfield Town in the Championship. Chris Forrester, Daryl Horgan and Barry McNamee have all played for the Ireland u21 side, with the latter also picking up a Player of the Month award. Bohs defender Luke Byrne is the latest to attract a wide range of scouts looking to pick up a LOI bargain
18) Will anybody score goals as good as these two from Mark Griffin and Chris Forrester?
Daryl Horgan's from last week is pretty damn good!
19) Will the FAI, the PFAI, the clubs and all of Irish football get its’ act together?
That’s never going to be answered in less than 4 months. The vigour in which they have promoted the “Dublin Decider” friendly between 2 British clubs is in stark contrast with the promotion of the league here and that hasn’t sat well with some fans. With RTE Sport’s budget cuts making it look less likely that MNS is on air next year, there’s more problems brewing for the league too. The Cork City driven ‘Heart of the Game’ handbook launched this week shows that a thriving football league here is certainly viable. As we said in pre-season, the only way that’s possible is all sides working together.
20) And finally, will any of our clubs find themselves falling in love on their European travels this year?
We’ll find out soon enough with the opening draws taking place on Monday!
We hope you’re enjoying our LOI coverage here on balls.ie. Do get in contact if you’ve any suggestions or comments too (particularly if you spot something quirky that we’ve missed!)
