Shelbourne tower over Ireland
Friday, November 26, 2004
Article summary
Season review: Having won the 2004 title, Shelbourne FC are already on course for Irish success in 2005.
Article body
By Aidan Fitzmaurice
As a boyhood supporter of Shamrock Rovers FC, Pat Fenlon watched with pride as the team dominated Irish football in the 1980s, winning four league championships in a row and three FAI Cups.
Shelbourne hopes
Now Fenlon hopes his Shelbourne FC side can emulate the achievements of Rovers and rule the domestic scene for the next few years. The Reds have already taken steps towards that, winning the Premier Division in 2004, their second successive title, and finishing the season with some major moves in the transfer market.
New signings
Having signed Bohemian FC trio Glen Crowe, Colin Hawkins and Bobby Ryan, as well as Dublin City FC forward Gary O'Neill and ex-Shelbourne man Richie Baker, back in Ireland after a spell in the United States, Shelbourne are setting the pace for the 2005 campaign long before it has started.
Enlarged league
There will be added competition for Shelbourne, however, as the top flight will be extended from ten to 12 teams. Finn Harps FC, University College Dublin FC and Bray Wanderers AFC were all promoted, with Dublin City the relegated side.
Cork success
Shelbourne were without doubt the team of the year in 2004, for their title success and their remarkable eight-game run in Europe, yet they were run pretty close by Cork City FC. Despite the biggest support in Ireland, they have not won a title since 1993, but managed to edge out Bohemians to take second place.
Bohemians laid low
Pat Dolan's side went 12 matches unbeaten at the end of the season and Cork will mount a serious threat to Shelbourne next term. Bohemians, meanwhile, have already lost nine players since the end of the campaign as they face the financial repercussions of a lack of UEFA Champions League or UEFA Cup football in 2005/06.
Drogheda ambition
Drogheda United FC enjoyed a good run in the middle of 2004 but lost their way after an FAI Cup semi-final defeat, yet with major financial backers in place, manager Paul Doolin is building a new team for 2005, aiming to finish higher than fourth. Longford Town FC, FAI Cup winners for the second consecutive year, will also want to translate cup success into league points.
