The most-anticipated League of Ireland season ever is upon us with three Premier Division matches taking place on the first Friday night of the season.
Many false dawns have occurred in football in Ireland, with a boom and bust cycle well worn over the decades.
It remains to be seen if that is a thing of the past but for now there is so much to be excited about and built upon.
The main event will come on Sunday with a record attendance for a league game set to make the discussion around facilities even more prevalent.
Tonight will be about new challenges for the six teams opening proceedings.
Damien Duff's Shelbourne take on one of the sides they beat to become league winners last year in Derry City.
How the weight of being champions burdens Shels, or even if it does, remains to be seen.
The President’s Cup showed a much-improved overall squad and a potential star in Mipo Odubeko.
Ellis Chapman had a cameo appearance late on with the Reds looking sharp and ready for a fast start.
Derry were left embarrassed by how their season fizzled out in 2024, with hopes for a double ending with the trophy being lifted by another team on their turf.
That was followed by Drogheda United causing an upset at the Aviva Stadium.
With a new manager at the helm in Tiernan Lynch, they’ve assembled a squad with huge experience at a high level, including ex-internationals, while keeping some of the big names from the previous era.
It’s difficult to know what to expect from Derry, but signings from the Scottish Premiership and League 1 bode well.
If Lynch can put together a hungry side, they could enter the title race from the start.
Many are tipping St Patrick's Athletic to be top of the pile come November with Stephen Kenny doing astute business in the off-season, as well as the previous July window.
Drogheda United are another side with raised expectation. Last weekend's showing against Shelbourne may have been a blessing in disguise, offering a reminder of the demands of each game, although little can be read into what is effectively a pre-season match.
Injuries to Douglas James-Taylor and Elicha Ahui have to be factored in. Regardless of their Cup success, staying in the division is the first target for Drogs.
The third and final game of the night brings the return of Cork City to the top flight. John Caulfield brings his side to the venue where he enjoyed so many great nights.
It's the Tribesmen that have become a more established outfit as City look to avoid the a third relegation so far this decade.
United have invested in new attacking players to try to improve on last year's impressive first season.
Shelbourne v Derry City, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Damien Duff has answered so many of the questions that were posed when he entered management into the League of Ireland.
Hunger, heart, the desire to operate at a lower level having enjoyed such success in Britain. There's no doubting him.
He also showed astute recruitment in building the squad that captured the league title and now he may have bettered it, with more resources behind him thanks to last year's success.
Following it up is the new challenge for the former Premier League winner.
He sees huge potential in his 2025 group.
Speaking ahead of the league opener, he said: "We won the league last season, we had a highly competitive squad. Do we have a bigger squad? Do we have a better squad? Do we have a squad with more quality? Yes, but it's important that the lads become a team now, work hard together, and play for each other.
"That’s the foundation we’re built on since day one. Picking teams will get more difficult as the season goes on. Having that headache is a good problem to have, especially when we’ve got players on the bench who can come on around the 60–70 minute mark, and we know they have the ability to change the game.
"It was a very good performance against Drogheda, impressing a lot of people, myself, the staff. The demands we place are very high. Of course, we want more. We know there’s more in the tank moving forward. It was an impressive, professional display, the perfect game. We want to see that and more tonight."
Tyreke Wilson and Daniel Kelly are out injured for the home side.
New Derry boss Lynch wants to spoil the Shels party and gain some revenge for what happened last year: "They're a top side, who work extremely hard, have good players and have a good manager," he stated.
"They’re league champions for a reason and we’ll totally respect that, but we’re not going to make Friday night just about Shelbourne.
"There’s two teams going out onto the pitch and it’s important that we concentrate very much on the thing that we think we’re capable of doing and how we can impose our side and our talent and our qualities on Shelbourne.
"I watch my team every day and I think there’s so much to offer from this team. There’s real quality in the group of players.
"Look, winning against Shelbourne, losing against Shelbourne [or] drawing against Shelbourne, won't make or break our season.
"I’ve been asked 50 times already where we’ll finish this year in the League. These are things that you’ll never ever get off of me. All we’ll concentrate on will be Shelbourne."
St Patrick's Athletic v Drogheda United, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
There is great excitement in Inchicore ahead of this league opener with expectations high they can end a 12-year wait for a league crown.
Having finished the season by winning the entire final series of matches and with talk of being potential champions, there is always a worry that Pat's must prove their worth in 2025 before any such thought can take place.
Midfielder Kian Leavy underwent surgery on an ankle ligament injury on Wednesday and will face up to eight weeks on the sidelines.
New Tottenham Hotspur signing Mason Melia (back) and Chris Forrester (illness) have both returned to full training but both may have to bide their time before coming into the side having missed parts of pre-season.
Stephen Kenny will do battle with Duff and Stephen Bradley once again, which is sure to be a sub plot in the season.
He is excited by what is to come.
The former Republic of Ireland boss said: "Drogheda have won the FAI Cup and we have to earn the right to win. We'll get nothing easy for sure.
"We've been preparing in December and January for 14 February. We've known we'll be playing Drogheda for some time and they knew they'd be playing us.
"They'll be ready for the game. There'll be a passionate Richmond Park crowd, they've been immense for us. The lights coming on and the season starting with the sense of anticipation is exciting for everyone involved and we're ready."
United have looked to strengthen with their new full-time approach. The loss of Frantz Pierrot was a blow, but Thomas Oluwa, Conor Keeley, Owen Lambe, Kieran Cruise, George Cooper, Paul Doyle, Josh Thomas and Jack Brady have all arrived.
They move from underdogs to being on a more level playing field, yet there can be little expectations beyond an eighth place finish.
Having survived the play-off last year, Drogheda boss Kevin Doherty is looking to build this term.
"We were delighted to finish ninth in the end because of where we were halfway through the season.
"It got to the stage in the second half of the season last year where we were going into games expecting to win. We have to get into that mentality.
"There won't be a FAI Cup hangover because it's a completely new group. I don't even talk about the FAI Cup anymore - obviously I do hear when people are asking me about it - because half the dressing room didn't win the Cup. You have to move on and get ready for next year."
Cork City v Galway United, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
It has been a difficult time for Cork City in the last five years.
Two First Division titles have eased some pain, but for too long one of the biggest clubs in the country have struggled to find their place.
Tim Clancy took over ahead of the 2024 campaign and did what was required in what proved a non-event of a title race.
In truth, from day one, his appointment has been building to this moment.
Expectations are often high at Turner's Cross. For now all they must focus on is re-establishing themselves as a Premier Division outfit.
If they need a template, perhaps tonight's opponents can be of help.
Galway United have prioritised experience and being tough to beat. Their defending last year was remarkable and it was apt that Brendan Clarke was honoured as best goalkeeper in 2024.
City perhaps do not have the better squad than United, yet the likes of Sean Maguire, Ruairi Keating and Greg Bolger will be crucial.
Cathal O'Sullivan is set to showcase his talents ahead of an expected transfer in July and his performances alone are sure to bring the crowds to the Cross.
Clancy has not been helped by some pre-season injuries.
"We’ve picked up a few niggles, Evan [McLaughlin] and Harry [Nevin] are long-term, and Malik [Dijksteel] is struggling, obviously he came off with an injury during the week against Cobh. Apart from that, we’re really looking forward to tonight, and it's going to be a really good game"
He is pleased by his business overall, however, and is excited to take on wily Galway.
"I think we’ve got a good squad, plenty of attacking options. We’ve nine who left and eight have come in so we’ve practically the same size squad as last season, and we’re hoping we’ve added some quality to that as well"
"I think with different styles and how teams play, our first game against Galway is going to be completely different to how we play going to Tallaght next week.
"Galway were right in the hunt for the title until maybe four or five games left, they were unbelievably efficient, structured and organised, and very hard to play against. They were a threat going forward during the season so we know it's going to be an extremely tough game to start the season off."
"We’ve done our homework on them, we’ve got footage of them in their games in Spain and other games, so we’ve done the best we can to prepare for the weekend."
New blood in attack has been the priority for the Tribesmen.
New Zealander Moses Dyer, Sligo-born Sean Kerrigan and Australian midfielder Daniel Stynes should offer a goal threat.
Caulfield admitted: "We didn't score enough goals. Defensively, we were okay. But this is probably a tougher league than last year. For us it is about establishing ourself in the league alongside everyone else."
Thay will be the target for both teams in 2025. Let battle commence.
