Premier Division opening fixtures Friday March 6th
Bray Wanderers v Shamrock Rovers
Derry City v Drogheda United
Dundalk v Bohemians
Galway United v St Patrick's Athletic
(Sat, March 7th)
Sligo Rovers v Cork City
Dundalk face last years double winners Bohemians at Oriel Park in a tough test for the Louth club. Sean Connor will pit his wits against the club who sacked the former Sligo boss over a year ago. Dundalk have put together some Premier division quality players with captain Thomas Heary one of the better known players.
Shamrock Rovers season kicks off with the 7 mile trip down to Wicklow to face Bray Wanderers. The hoops are set to play matches in their long awaited Tallaght Stadium with the first game set to be against Sligo Rovers on March the 14th.
St Patrick's Athletic are to play Galway United. In the usual twists football brings St Pats manager Jeff Kenna returns to Galway having just left the club at the end of last season.
Drogheda United will face the revived Derry City who are set to be competitve this term. Drogheda must be thankful to even have a team as they were almost out of business a month ago.
Cork City will face Sligo Rovers in their opening day game which is set for Saturday night the 7th of March.