FAI 2017.Indd 1 17/02/2017 11:32 SSE Airtricity League 2017 Where the Next Generation of Legends Are Born WELCOME
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LEAGUE GUIDE 2017 PREMIER DIVISION CLUBBYCLUB GUIDE, INCLUDING FULL FIXTURE LIST, FOR THE SEASON FIRST DIVISION FULL FIXTURES PLUS Q&A WITH ALL MANAGERS FAI 2017.indd 1 17/02/2017 11:32 SSE Airtricity League 2017 Where the next generation of legends are born WELCOME FAISSE 2017.indd Airtricity.indd 2 1 17/02/201713/02/2017 11:3210:17 SEASON SSE Airtricity League 2017 Where the next generation WELCOME TO THE NEW SEASON of legends are born The wait is nearly over and we are ready On behalf of SSE Airtricity, I am to kick-o the 2017 SSE Airtricity League delighted to welcome you to the start season with another exciting year expected of the 2017 SSE Airtricity League. following a fantastic 2016. At SSE Airtricity, we’re proud to be Last year, we saw Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk involved in grass roots football by lift the SSE Airtricity League Premier sponsoring the league for the eighth WELCOMEDivision trophy for an incredible third year running. We are also delighted time in a row and perform excellently to continue as the O cial Energy in the UEFA Champions League and the Partner to the FAI and its international UEFA Europa League. Their exploits on the teams. continent gave us something the league can be proud of and shows that Irish domestic football is well and truly on the up. With another SSE Airtricity League campaign upon us, we wanted to take our creative approach in a new direction. The league is However, they were denied the league and cup double by John where our Irish heroes are born so we wanted to create a concept Caulfi eld’s Cork City who waited until the fi nal minute of the 2016 that was completely di erent from what we had done previously, season to seal the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup through Sean Maguire’s late thereby creating ‘The Next Generation of Legends’. goal. A fantastic occasion and I’m sure they’ll be looking to build on that success in the coming season. It is going to be a thrilling race in both We want to highlight the talent and success that this league divisions this year in both the promotion and relegation battles, with has created throughout the years. As seen at Euro 2016 and three teams to go down from the Premier Division as we establish a two- beyond, the SSE Airtricity League was where many of our current tier 10-team structure. international stars made their name and honed their craft. We want to make sure everyone is reminded to come and see the next Also, an exciting new agreement will see Sligo Rovers and Bray generation of Irish talent in action, right on your doorstep. Wanderers compete in the Scottish Challenge Cup from this season onwards. The competition also features teams from the NIFL Premiership In 2016, we were delighted to see Limerick FC and Dundalk FC and the Welsh Premier League, and gives the 5th and 6th-placed teams win the First Division and Premier Division titles. 2017 promises to in our league a great opportunity to test themselves against di erent be another rollercoaster year and we are also very much looking opponents. forward to seeing the U15s national league kick o in August, alongside the U19s and U17s. It’s also important to recognise the e orts of all coaches, sta and volunteers working with our SSE Airtricity League U19 and U17 sides. Each year the SSE Airtricity League continues to reach a new level We’ve seen fantastic progression in these leagues over the last few years of talent and we’re very proud to be making a di erence in Irish which was showcased when Cork City U19s became the fi rst Irish club to football. feature in the UEFA Youth League. I would like to wish all our players and the management of each of It’s been great to see more clubs progress their young and local talent, our SSE Airtricity League clubs every success on the pitch. and see an increase in the amount of our home-grown players represent the country at under-age level. To all the fans, including everyone in the sporting press, I wish you a season full of excitement and top-class action. Lastly, I want to thank the media for their continuing support of the SSE Airtricity League and I sincerely hope you enjoy the 2017 season. Have a great season. EAMON NAUGHTON STEPHEN WHEELER Chairman Managing Director National League Executive Committee Airtricity IFP Media, Units 2, 3 & 4 Castlecourt, Monkstown Farm, Monkstown, Co Dublin TEL: 353 01 709 6900 www.ifpmedia.com DESIGN: Niall O’Brien ADVERTISING MANAGER: Anna Douglas CHIEF EXECUTIVE: Rebecca Markey CONTRIBUTORS: David Sneyd, Philip Quinn, Paul Buttner SSE Airtricity.indd 1 13/02/2017 10:17 FAI 2017.indd 3 17/02/2017 11:33 SEASON POWERED BY DAIRY Fact Not Fad 8 TOP TIPS FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE David Sneyd THIRTY YEARS AFTER THE FABLED SHAMROCK ROVERS TEAMS OF THE S COMPLETED THEIR FOURINAROW OF LEAGUE OF IRELAND TITLES, THE ANNIVERSARY COULD BE MARKED BY THIS GENERATION’S FINEST MATCHING THAT ACHIEVEMENT. 3 4 5 PREVIEWHistory often has a way of throwing up these fi tting quirks and 2017 is in a shot at Europa League qualifying, while current Rovers boss Stephen no di erent. Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk have already set themselves apart Bradley is aiming to awaken the beast in Tallaght. Bray Wanderers didn’t FOOD DRINK because of their Europa League group stage exploits last year, but the mess about with their business over the winter as Harry Kenny plots a PROTEIN 6 upcoming season o ers them a chance to establish their names in lore season of adventure by the seaside, and Limerick have returned to the top FUEL POWER UP! alongside the historic Hoops. fl ight after a year of dominance in the second tier. Fuel up 2-3 hours Protein foods (milk, lean meat, Ensure adequate DURING While Jim McLaughlin, so entrenched in the storied glories of both clubs, The pressure will be even greater for clubs to make sure they don’t drop before training/match eggs, beans, lentils, cheese, hydration when beginning led Rovers to a trio of league crowns from ’84-’86 (having arrived down, especially after confi rmation came that re-structuring plans e.g. pasta or rice with fi sh, yogurt) should be a sports session by SPORT tomato-based sauce included at each meal time. drinking fluid throughout in Dublin on the back of delivering three championships in mean three teams will be relegated this term. There will be There is generally no and chicken; baked Consuming protein the day. Rehydrate after seven seasons to Oriel Park) before Dermot Keely (another some established names checking over their shoulders as need for an energy potato with beans and (20-25g) following an intense sport to replace fl uid lost; top-up during sport if with a foot in both camps) continued the dominance in a result, but for Dundalk they won’t have to look back to cheese; or cereal with session is particularly useful water or skimmed milk are the session duration is ’87, one man has been at the forefront of Dundalk’s know that history beckons. milk/yogurt. If needed, to assist muscle growth good options. less than 60 mins, but dominance in recent years. PREDICTIONS top up energy with a and repair. continue to hydrate Kenny took a club in the doldrums and helped them Champions: Dundalk. AND THREE STORYLINES FROM THE FIRST carbohydrate-based with water at breaks to achieve their wildest dreams – but they continue DIVISION… snack 60 mins before of activity. Runners-up: Cork City. sport e.g. cereal bar or to chase silverware. That quest will never end and Waterford’s Power Surge: fruit smoothie. there will always be challenges to overcome. Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup: Derry City. Former Ireland U21 international Lee Power has ‘We’re setting our standards in terms of what we EA Sports Cup: Bray Wanderers. provided the investment required to help bring an did last year. We want to do it again,’ defender Sean Relegated: Finn Harps, end to the south-east club’s decade of despair in Gannon insists. ‘The players that Stephen’s brought the First Division. Time and again they have fallen in, they’re young and hungry and want to do well. Drogheda United, short but with director of football Pat Fenlon working They don’t want to be seen as coming into a period of Bohemians. alongside manager Alan Reynolds, expectations are at an 2 transition or anything like that. all-time high at the RSC. 7 ‘From what I’ve seen so far, they’ve settled in straight away. They’ll be looking to do what we did before. What we did last year was probably Class in session for UCD: COMMON RECOVER WELL an incentive for them to come, anyway. So they’ll be looking to help us do Manager Collie O’Neill will have an all-scholarship squad this term after SENSE again what we did last year. That’s not getting away from the fact that what a decision was made to work solely within the confi nes of campus. The There are no shortcuts - TO PLAY WELL we did last year was very tough. And it will be tough to do it again. But it’s students have continually produced top quality players who have gone on effective training and sensible Effective recovery is essential something we’re looking to do.’ to have fi ne careers so it will be interesting to see who stands out from the eating are key.