Race begins for 2026 season
Winter is setting in after Shamrock Rovers secured an historic double for the first time since 1987 and Clubs are starting about their business in preparation for a big 2026 to see who can challenge the Hoops next season.
However, the off-season in the League of Ireland can always provide its fair share of drama and this year will be no different.
Here’s five things to look out for this winter.
Big games still to come
For the first time in the League of Ireland, we will have two teams still playing European League Phase football this November and December with three huge games each for Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne as they both look to create more memories.
Shamrock Rovers will still feel they have a chance to reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Conference League. After gaining an important point in Athens last time out, the Hoops face a huge game at home to Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk next followed by two games they’ll be hoping to win. These two games bring a trip away to Breidablik in Iceland and back to Tallaght for Hamrun Spartans on the final round.
Shelbourne, meanwhile, have a couple of glamour games on the horizon where they will be hoping to make their mark after frustrating losses in North Macedonia and at home to Drita. They travel to the Netherlands on Thursday away to AZ Alkmaar to face a side bolstered by the recent Irish hero Troy Parrott while Crystal Palace make the trip to Dublin in December. The Reds will finish off their maiden League Phase away to Celje in Slovenia.
Who will challenge Cork City?
With The Rebel Army returning to the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division, sides were beginning to come good at the end of the last race for promotion and will be looking to challenge favourites Cork City for a run at the 2026 title.
Bray Wanderers came ever so close to a promotion season losing out narrowly to Waterford in last season’s Play-Off and will hope that they can go one better in 2026 with their blend of young exciting players. The Seaside has become a haven for young starlets looking for game time from the top flight and this might help again.
Fans will be looking to see how the likes of Cobh Ramblers, Wexford and UCD will go about their winter business as Finn Harps and Longford Town both finished 2025 well to join the chasing pack. Treaty United will also look to build on their Play-Off appearance in 2025.
Search for strikers
With Mason Melia departing St. Pat’s and some teams looking for that out and out goalscorer across the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division, it will be interesting to see how the likes of Shelbourne, Derry City, the Saints and Bohemians go about reinforcing their forward line.
Shels and Bohs both scored 48 goals in 2025 and know a clinical striker will bring them into contention while St. Pat’s had the best defence in the League last season meaning goals can take them closer too.
Derry City have announced the departure of Danny Mullen and will be looking for a replacement too as Tiernan Lynch continues to build in the Brandywell.
Who will challenge Shamrock Rovers?
After a famous Double, the Hoops will have the target on their back and know their Dublin rivals as well as Derry City will be aiming for a go at the title next season. Bohemians beat the Hoops three times last season while Derry City, the Saints and Shels also beat the Champions but will any of them be able to build the consistency through their recruitment in the off-season?
With the future of Jack Byrne still somewhat unclear and speculation over the future of Josh Honohan, Stephen Bradley may also dip into the market where they have such a good track record in recruitment.
Both Derry City and Shelbourne finished 2025 with a bang but as last year taught us after St. Patrick’s Athletic’s disappointing campaign, a lot can happen between November and February.
How will Ciaran Kilduff approach the market?
Dundalk won promotion back to the top flight last season backed by young energetic players with a mix of experience from the likes of Daryl Horgan but the experienced Kilduff knows the gap between Divisions can be high.
Will the former League of Ireland winner continue to back youth and players like Vinnie Leonard who starred at the MU17 FIFA World Cup or will he bring in more experience that knows the league.
The loan market abroad has also always proved an option for Clubs coming up but a Club the size of Dundalk will always have ambitions for driving up the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.
The Lilywhites’ first success of the season was holding onto Kilduff and now all eyes will be on how he forms a squad to build into the top flight.
