THE new League of Ireland season officially gets underway this Friday night when Premier Division champions, Shelbourne, take on FAI Cup winners, Drogheda United, in the Presidents Cup final in Tolka Park, the traditional curtain-raiser to the start of the league.

For the rest of the clubs, they enter that funny little limbo of the final week of preparations, where physical flexibility is tested as teams try to play final friendly games with fingers and toes crossed that there are no new injury concerns ahead of the first round of league games next weekend.

Galway United’s suppleness will be tested on the double, with John Caulfield’s side facing two games in less than 24 hours this weekend when they head to Bishopsgate on Friday night to take on Longford Town (7.45pm), before hosting PSC Academy from the USA in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday (2pm).

The real deal begins next Friday, when Turners Cross hosts the meeting of last season’s First Division champions, Cork City, and a United side whose name is etched just above theirs on the trophy, and the United manager thinks that the club where he made his name as both a player and manager could very well be surprise packets this season.

“They have brought in a lot of players: Greg Bolger in midfield, they have brought in a centre-back from Stoke City and a right-back from Oldham; Cathal O’Sullivan out wide is serious quality; and up front, they have brought in Seanie Maguire alongside Ruairi Keating.

“Maguire is a quality player, he has lots of goals in him: he could easily hit 15 or 20 goals this season, and if Keating throws in another 10 and the partnership this 30 goals, they’ll go well,” he says.

On the flip side, he points to the fact that Unted have a more settled group, having retained the majority of last season’s squad. Maurice Nugent has emigrated to Australia, and he is probably the biggest loss, thought Conor O’Keeffe – who has gone to Dundalk – will be missed for both his defensive cover and his coaching with Academy sides.

Karl O’Sullivan didn’t score once in 31 games, an almost unforgiveable statistic for an attacking player – he has yet to be picked up by another club after being released by United. Francely Lomboto was marginally better with two goals in 22 games, but despite being highly thought of, he just never did enough to hit the heights required. He has joined another former United attacker, Wilson Waweru, at Sligo Rovers.

There have been some additions to the squad: former Sligo Rovers Academy attacking player, Sean Kerrigan (23) joins from the US collegiate system; Australian midfielder Daniel Stynes (26) and New Zealand striker Moses Dyer (27) have also both come in; as has goalkeeper Evan Watts (20), who has joined on loan from Swansea City.

Pictured: Galway United’s Greg Cunningham who is the new team captain for the season ahead.