The League of Ireland is back.
And despite the departure of last season’s best player, Richie Towell, there’ll be no shortage of very talented players on show at grounds around Ireland in the coming months.
We’ve selected a young player from each of the 12 top flight teams to keep an eye on for the remainder of the season:
Bohemians
Ismahil Akinade
The 22-year-old Nigerian-born striker,scored an impressive 10 goals in 18 appearances last season, and will be confident of improving on that tally in what looks to be an improved Bohs’ side, bolstered by the arrival of Kurtis Byrne from Dundalk.
Bray Wanderers
Dylan Connolly
The 20-year-old midfielder was released by Ipswich Town back in December without making a first-team appearance, less than a year after joining the Championship club from Shelbourne, but Connolly is an undoubted coup for Bray.
The winger has featured for Ireland at U21 level and showed during his spell with Shelbourne, when he was nominated for the PFAI Young Player of the Year, that he has the talent and could be an excellent signing for Mick Cooke’s side.
Cork City
Eoghan O’Connell
The cousin of Irish sporting royalty in the form of retired Ireland rugby captain Paul O’Connell, 20-year-old Eoghan O’Connell is comfortable in both defence and midfield, and should aid Cork’s title challenge while he’s on-loan from Celtic until July.
The Leesiders have another young player to keep an eye on this season, and although he’s not related to an Irish sporting great, he has been compared to the greatest footballer ever.
Sean Maguire, a formerly of West Ham United, scored 14 goals in 34 games for Waterford United and netted on his debut in the President’s Cup victory over Dundalk.
Video | Sean Maguire scores against @DundalkFC in #PresidentsCup Final this afternoon. #CCFC84 https://t.co/iCS1Gi7Klw
— Cork City FC News (@corkcityfcnews) February 27, 2016
Derry City
Barry McNamee
The goal burden will fall on Rory Patterson, but Barry McNamee will be a key figure for the Brandywell side. A technically gifted midfielder, with an eye for a pass, the 24 year old scored one of goals of the season last year.
Dundalk
Daryl Horgan
A player who League of Ireland fans will be very familiar with, but this could be a season when Horgan finds wider acclaim. If so he could follow in the footsteps of Richie Towell to England.
The 23 year old is one of the league’s best players, and will be pivotal if Dundalk are to reclaim their title.
Finn Harps
BJ Banda
The 17 year old forward is already something of a cult hero at the Donegal club, after scoring the goal that secured promotion to the top flight.
Banda scored a header with four minutes of extra-time remaining in Finn Harps promotion/relegation play-off against Limerick back in November, and will be hopeful of earning some top level experience as Harps look to consolidate their place in the division.
Ryan McConnell is another worth keeping an eye on. The 20 year old Donegal native captained Manchester United at U18 level.
Galway United
Jesse Devers
The 19 year old joins the club from Wolves, where he spent two and a half years. A pacy striker, who’s also comfortable playing out wide, Devers should a very useful addition to Tommy Dunne’s squad.
Longford Town
Kealan Dillon
The 22 year old midfielder joined Longford last November from Bohemians. Dillon featured 21 times for the Gypsies last season, and scored this stunning volley against Derry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mghx5JiOJtE
St. Patrick’s Athletic
Sean Hoare
This will be the 21-year-old central defender’s fourth season with the Inchicore club, but with English clubs circling, Hoare may not be with Pat’s for long.
Swindon Town had a bid rejected on deadline day, and Hull City reportedly scouted him last season. Any talk of a move is put on hold until the summer though, and Hoare will undoubtedly be an ever-present until then as Pats chase a European spot.
Shamrock Rovers
Brandon Miele
League of Ireland fans will be well aware of the 21 year old, but this could be the season when he pushes on and becomes the league’s best player, and a target for cross-water clubs.
Miele, who came through the ranks at Newcastle United, scored 11 goals last season on the way to being named PFAI Young Player of the Year.
Like Keith Fahey and Richie Towell before him, Miele joined a League of Ireland team after a spell with Leinster Senior League side Bluebell United. Can Miele following in their footsteps and become the league’s best player?
Sligo Rovers
Kieran Sadlier
Signed from Peterborough United, after coming through the ranks at West Ham, Sadlier is “a very exciting player and is a versatile attacker,” according to his manager, Dave Robertson, who worked him at his previous club.
The 21 year old is an Ireland under-age international, and should fit in well amongst Sligo’s young, technically gifted team.
Athlone Town 0-2 Sligo Rovers – Kieran Sadlier capitalises on some more slack Athlone defending pic.twitter.com/Qa6sq5yt46
— Mark Hill (@markhillsports) February 24, 2016
Wexford Youths
Danny Furlong
Okay, so at 28 Danny Furlong isn’t in the first flush of youth. But he did score 30 goals for Wexford in just 28 First Division games as the club earned promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.
Needless to say, Furlong’s form will be central to Wexford’s chances of remaining in the Premier Division.
