Champions Derry hungry for more

The usual merry-go-round of players and managers, a couple of near bankruptcies and a few frustrating evenings in Europe . . . Yup, it's been the traditional painful build-up to the new domestic season.

This weekend, though, the season gets underway in earnest with Derry City looking to retain the title they won so convincingly in April and half a dozen other clubs harbouring hopes (realistic or otherwise) of stealing their crown over the coming nine months.

Felix Healy leads a little-changed panel of 19 into the campaign with hopes just as high as last year. "We know that as champions we'll be up there every week to be shot at, but we're glad that it's finally started and that we can get on with the business of trying to defend what we won last season," he says.

"The summer has been strange to say the least, the League Cup didn't quite go to plan and we're starting the league campaign with a few injuries, but everybody has been anxious to get on with it and now we can set out minds on the main business for us - winning the championship again."

That Healy has the know-how and players to retain the title goes without saying, but whether he has the luck to retain it is another matter. His somewhat under-sized squad includes a number of youngsters with little experience at this level and, although he will be anxious to give everyone their opportunity, a run of injuries would severely weaken a side that won admiration for its balance over the past 12 months.

"We had injuries last season - Gary Beckett, Liam Coyle, Sean Hargan and Paul Heggarty were all missing for spells - but what we didn't have was a lot out together. We are a bit short of cover, but sometimes the balance thing is over-played because, while we were a balanced team, first and foremost we were a team of good players, and most of the players are with us for the next few years and they are hungry to achieve more."

Healy's activity in the summer market has been heavily influenced by the new financial reality at the club, with Dublin-based players Richie Purdy and Tommy Dunne allowed to depart while Eamonn Doherty and Kevin Brady are their replacements.

The approach of those clubs looking to upstage Derry has been mixed, with Bohemians, runnersup in April, keeping their wallet firmly in the back pocket and St Patrick's Athletic pouncing on every piece of footballing talent that came their way.

Turlough O'Connor believes his Bohemians panel is good enough to make the last step up required. "People say that there must be pressure up here because we haven't won the league," says O'Connor, "but the last few years have been superb years for Bohemians and the players we have now are well capable of beating anybody when we have a full squad to pick from."

Unfortunately, with so many experienced players in his panel, the chances of getting through this season with many less serious injury problems than were encountered last time around seems remote. Derek Swan apart, goalscoring remains an acute worry at the club. While the only new recruit, Joe Hanrahan, is still a fine player on his day and adds options, he is hardly the answer.

The fact that St Patrick's Athletic have attracted three of the Irish under-20 squad is particularly welcome, but overall manager Pat Dolan appears to have provided himself with greater options in just about every department. If he can restore the sort of home form that provided the backbone of Brian Kerr's last championship success, then the club should leap up the pecking order of challengers.

Shelbourne and Cork have each attempted to remedy specific weaknesses over the close season. At Turner's Cross, a great deal depends on whether the club can make the transition from last year's very-hard-to-beat phase to that of real contenders.

If Jason Kabia, Dave Hill's former Lincoln City team-mate, can provide the required striking power, then the club will be a welcome addition to the championship race, but without a regular partner for John Caulfield, Dave Barry's side looks incapable of matching their main rivals.

As it happens, the loss of Pat Morley, which was the starting point of Cork City's current troubles, is now also a major concern for Shelbourne. The striker was outstanding alongside Stephen Geoghegan last season and his long-term loss to a cruciate ligament problem seriously weakens Damien Richardson's hand.

Nevertheless, the Cup holders should be in the reckoning again with Tony McCarthy providing power and aerial prowess at the back and Pat Fenlon, if he re-discovers his best form, a very worthwhile addition to the centre of midfield.

Outside of these five clubs, no one looks capable of seriously challenging for the championship.

The progress of Shamrock Rovers, Sligo and Dundalk - big clubs who had their difficulties last year - will be interesting, while it would be nice to think that Drogheda or Kilkenny could avoid making an immediate return to the first division. It would be nicer still, however, if the clubs that find themselves in relegation trouble show financial realism in the face of adversity.