IRISH football’s very own philosopher Damien Richardson once compared the allure of the FAI Cup to that of a beautiful woman.
Right now, the League of Ireland has all the appeal of an elderly, ill relative. You cannot turn your back on them now because they have been a big part of your life but it pains you to see them as a shadow of their former self. And the domestic game would struggle to pass a rudimentary health check right now.
A traumatic close-season beset by financial troubles and resultant pay cuts and renegotiations of contracts has done little to help a league which has always struggled to gain respect outside its committed following.
Even the players seem apathetic about the start with Dundalk’s new signing Michael Collins doing his best to sit out the early action if his behaviour in friendly games is anything to go by – his manager Seán Connor was instructed to take him off against Sligo Rovers and he was then red-carded against Drogheda United.
Still, the opening weekend has a couple of tasty fixtures with both Connor and St Pat’s boss Jeff Kenna facing their former clubs, Bohemians and Galway United respectively. Neither departure was amicable.
More on the opening fixtures later in the week but, for now, let’s look at the season ahead. It is rare for a team to have as short title odds as Bohemians, who are priced at 13/8. Then again, with most of their major competitors weakening rather than strengthening their squads, it is hard to argue against Bohs being the best equipped to be crowned champions.
The bookies think the First Division is even more clear-cut with Sporting Fingal 4/6 to top the second rung in only their second year as a club after assembling a squad which would make at least half the top flight managers green with envy.
So, where’s the value I hear you ask? A Bohs/Fingal double could make sense. That’s what I’ve done with a hefty €100 to get the ball rolling but have a look at the odds on offer for top scorer. Jason Byrne at 12/1 is worth a punt, and he gets €50 of my float. He may not have been prolific last year upon his return from an ill-fated spell at Cardiff City but he will surely do better this season. Sammy Morrow also looks generously priced at 16/1. He missed much of last year through injury but scored regularly when fit. I’m putting €20 on him.
Hopefully, the likes of Byrne and Morrow can help the league recuperate after a winter to forget.
