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Athlone Town
It looks like another hard slog for the Midlanders this year. The number of decent players taking the exit door from Lissywoolen is worrying but at least the club's official website will be up and running for the new season.
Manager: Dermot Lennon
Captain: TBC
In:
Nigel Keady
Anthony Hayes
Philip Reilly
Out:
Paul McTiernan
Colm Heffernan
Danny O'Leary
Damien Rushe
Luke Hardy
Ryan Casey
Ronan Frawley
Dundalk
With Harps and Cobh both gone up from last season, it looks bright for The Lilywhites but they face hard competition from Fingal, Shels and Waterford this time out. They've agonisingly missed out several times recently but this may be their year. However, there's a new look side at Oriel Park and they'll need time to gel.
Manager: John Gill
Captain: Aidan Lynch
In:
Robbie Farrell
Aaron Shanahan
Ian Ryan
Paul Shiels
David Cassidy
Dave O'Connor
Jamie Duffy
Robbie Martin
Paul Crowley
Out:
Philly Hughes
James Hand
Stephen Quigley
Cormac McArdle
Neil Gallagher
Thomas McGauley
Vinny Perth
Keith Dunne
Robbie Doyle
Shaun Williams
Cathal O'Connor
Robbie Dunne
Kildare County
Kidare promise so much each season but have ended up in mid-table each season since they joined the league. It'll be tough again this year with Shels, Dundalk and Waterford all looking good.
Manager: John Ryan
Captain: Philly Byrne
In:
Charlie Treacy
Michael Comerford
Barry Slattery
Willie Tyrrell
John Brophy
Out:
Darren Stapleton
Alan Byrne
Steve McCrossan
Ian Malone
Darragh Hanaphy
Philly Byrne
Eoghan Carew
Fiachra McArdle
Dean Barrett
Limerick 37
Another season, another crisis of sorts for Limerick soccer looked on the horizon but things seem to be looking good with a new US owner and possible links to the regeneration of Limerick city.
Manager: Mike Kerley
Captain: Pat Purcell
In:
Willie Bruton
Jonathan Grant
Padraig Fogarty
Willie Bruton
Donie Curtin
Bobby Gregg
James Hayes
Chukwuma Manjor
Brendan Daly
Liam Barrett
Evan Quinlivan
Out:
Kevin Waters
Nigel Keady
Paul Finucane (unavailable due to studies)
Longford Town
The heady days of FAI Cup glory and UEFA Cup nights are over as Aaron Callaghan begins the task of rebuilding this fine club. It's hard to predict how they'll do this term but a mid-table finish is expected.
Manager: Aaron Callaghan
Captain: TBC
In:
Vinny Perth
Iarflaith Davoren
Damien Rushe
Neil Gallagher
Noel McAllister
Luke Hardy
Ryan Casey
Colin Murray
Ryan O'Donnell
John McNicholas
Shane Harte
Dean Barrett
Ronan Frawley
David Maher
David Garry
Keith Kelch
Stephen Brennan
Evan Connolly
Out:
Kevin Doherty
Damien Brennan
Dessie Baker
Robbie Martin
Michael Dempsey
Sean Prunty
Ian Wexler
Dave Mooney
David Freeman
Pat Sullivan
Mark Rutherford
John Reilly
Colm James
Gary Deegan
Sean Kelly
Eoin Lynch
Monaghan United
Mick Cooke, one of the longest serving league bosses, has made some shrewd signings in the off season and will be looking to improve on last year's poor showing.
Manager: Mick Cooke
Captain: TBC
In:
Brendan Kennedy
Phillip Sheppard
James Hand
Robbie Collins
Brian Gartland
Steve McCrossan
Ian Malone
Darragh Hanaphy
Out:
Alvin Rouse
Cian Mackey
Robbie Farrell
Brian Gannon
Tommy Toal
Ciaran Friel
Tadgh Murphy
Shelbourne
For the first time in years, Shels kick off a season without Ollie Byrne at the helm. Boss Dermot Keely has had a massive clearout and made some excellent signings with the likes of James Keddy, Alan Mulcahy and Mark Rutherford coming to Tolka.
Manager: Dermot Keely
Captain: TBC
In:
Philly Hughes
Alan Byrne
Mark O'Brien
David McGill
James Keddy
Keith Dunne
Robbie Hedderman
Dean Delaney
Damien Brennan
David Freeman
Alan Mulcahy
Mark Rutherford
Greg O'Halloran.
Kevin Cornwall
Max Cream
John McGuinness
Fred Davis Jnr
Out:
Noel Haverty
John Brophy
Wayne Byrne
Aidan Collins
Brian Gartland
Jamie Gilbert
Kieran Harte
James Hussey
Glen Lacey
Sean L'Estrange
Aaron McEniff
Darren McKenna
Tony O'Dowd
Robbie O'Neill
Niall O'Reilly
Ciaran Quinn
Alan Reilly
Lee Roche
Mark Rooney
Ciaran Ryan
Marc McCullough
Conor Rafferty
Mark Leech
Stuart Malcolm
Jim Crawford
Sporting Fingal
That huge area in north Dublin finally gets its own club and they may take this division by storm. The squad has experience of this league, while boss Liam Buckley has taken on former Irish international John Devine as his head coach.
Manager: Liam Buckley
Captain: TBC
New Squad for 2008
Steve Williams
Chris Deans
Philly Byrne
Stephen Caffrey
Christy Doran
Conan Byrne
Colm James
Brian Gannon
Derek Tyrrell
Aidan Collins
Brian Kelly
Karl Byrne
Joe O'Neill
Jim Crawford
Fiachra McArdle
Robbie Doyle
Davy Sullivan
Dinny Corcoran
Peter Hynes
James Hussey
Dave Rogers (loan until July)
Waterford United
Gareth Cronin has stayed with the Blues despite rumours that he may have left following last season's relegation and they will give it a good push this season. Off the pitch, the new stand at the RSC is coming along nicely.
Manager: Gareth Cronin
Captain: TBC
In:
Stephen Quigley
Michael Foley
Luke Fitzpatrick
Kevin Waters
Robbie Clarke
Out:
Ray Scully
Robbie Hedderman
Pat Flynn
Dean Delaney
Alan Mulcahy
Alan Kearney
Shane Harte
Wexford Youths
Mick Wallace's side acquitted themselves well in their first season in the league and have looked good in pre-season games against the likes of UCD and St Pat's. The majority of last season's squad are around for 2008 and can only have gained from their debut season experiences.
Manager: Mick Wallace
Captain: Johnny Flynn-O'Connor
In:
Willie Doyle
Out:
Lloyd Colfer
Shane Dunphy
Daryl Margolin
Click here for the Premier Division preview.
By Mark Cummins
