LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION:A REMARKABLY strong start to last year's campaign sent expectations soaring around Richmond Park but a second-place finish, combined with a string of impressive close-season signings has ensured manager John McDonnell's St Patrick's Athletic team is under pressure to hit the ground running this time around.

"We always felt that we were in good shape coming into the start of last season," says McDonnell, "but the start we made certainly surprised a few other people. We ran out of steam a bit when we picked up a few injuries and suspensions but we were never out of the top three and ended up finishing second, so yeah," he laughs, "all we can do to top that this time is win the thing."

The Dubliners go into this evening's game against Sligo Rovers in Inchicore without Joseph Ndo (knee) or Stephen Paisley (suspension), while Des Byrne and Dave Partridge are likely to start on the bench having only just returned from injuries picked up in pre-season.

"What we can say now is that we've still got a strong 17 or 18 to choose from and that's encouraging. There are going to be lads disappointed not to make the starting line-up and others disappointed not to make the bench and overall, that's a healthy thing.

"We made it clear to them when we came together as a group that that would be the way of it but that if things go to plan then we'll need them all over the course of the next nine months. They've all bought into that and I think they accept that it's the way it has to be now if they want to achieve success at a club."

With up to five debutants potentially in the starting 11 this evening, McDonnell admits there could still be teething problems. "I'd be confident rather than cocky," he says. "It's the first match and pretty much everyone goes into them confident because their pre-season has gone well. So it's a test, mentally, which we'd like to come through but we'll judge the start we make over the next few weeks rather than just one night."

While Drogheda United kick off their title defence in tomorrow's televised game, the other pre-season favourites are all in action, with Cork City taking on Bray at Turner's Cross, Bohemians travelling to Galway United and Derry City the visitors for the opening night's action at the Belfield Bowl.

In front of what is expected to be a large home crowd, Cork will be particularly anxious to mark the start of their campaign with a win and manager Alan Mathews has everyone bar the suspended Pat Sullivan available.

Like McDonnell, he insists there will have to be an acceptance on the part of his players that not everyone can play every game but Mathews is clearly relishing the challenge. "Going down to Cork and going full-time with a group that would be better than those I've worked with before, it's a challenge but obviously it's one I'm looking forward to," he says.

"The people behind the club are hugely supportive, the whole of the city is behind the team and I believe we have a squad capable of challenging others in the country so obviously it's an exciting time for us all and we're looking forward to getting going."

At Belfield, UCD will finally relocate from the outer edges of the campus to what everyone at the club considers centre stage. Manager Pete Mahon admits that with the pitch having been used mainly for rugby in recent times, the surface at the Bowl might not be what visitors to Belfield Park have come to expect.

"But that will improve and the facilities are so much better for everyone that it marks a major step forward for the club."

(Kick off 7.45pm unless stated)

Cork City v Bray Wanderers

Wanderers were a decent side last season and should be better this time around, but serious title contenders would expect to get the better of them at home while dropping six points to them over the course of a campaign, as City did last year, is pretty much unforgivable for a team with ideas about itself.

City, then, will be aiming to demonstrate a harder edge at Turner's Cross this evening and Alan Mathews is boosted by the fact that, bar the suspended Pat Sullivan, he has a full squad to choose from.

Like Mathews, Eddie Gormley expresses satisfaction with his side's pre-season but he must sweat on the fitness of Kevin Doherty and Derek Foran in the build up to this evening's kick-off, with both men having picked up slight hamstring injuries in the last few days.

Galway United v Bohemians

An interesting test this for both sides, with Bohemians looking to establish their credentials as title contenders early on and United aiming to send out a message that Terryland Park will not be a handy trip this year, even for the leading sides.

Tony Cousins will be without Stephen O'Flynn, Kieran Foley or Alan Keane for the game but John Fitzgerald is available again after a bit of a lay-off during the club's pre season.

The likes of Mark Leech, Gary Deegan and the club's most recently arrived new recruit, Ollie Fenn, are all in contention for debuts, though.

Bohemians have a slight problem at left back with Conor Powell injured but Pat Fenlon has a couple of options including the possibility of Owen Heary switching sides and Mark Rossiter coming in on the right side of the back four.

Kevin Hunt, Darren Mansaram and Liam Burns are all reckoned to be in contention for starts after recent injuries.

St Patrick's Ath v Sligo Rovers

Rovers arrive minus three experienced defenders so this may not prove the ideal night to judge whether manager Paul Cooke is right when he says he has, on a tight budget, assembled a team capable of giving any of the top sides "a proper game".

Without Gavin Peers, Séamus Coleman and Danny Ventre, new arrivals Mauro Almeida and Anto Murphy, making a swift return to his former club, both look set to start.

For John McDonnell there are an impressive array of choices to be made and tonight's line-up should provide an early indication of the new pecking order at Richmond Park.

Stephen Paisley (suspension) is out, while Joseph Ndo is an injury doubt and Bobby Ryan may get the night off due to having just become a father.

UCD v Derry City

Given the game will be the home side's first at the Belfield Bowl, this won't quite be a homecoming for City's impressive contingent of UCD graduates but after last year's cup encounters there's certainly a fair bit of familiarity here.

Pete Mahon will be without Derek Doyle whose return to full fitness after a long lay-off isn't quite complete but Ian Bermingham is over a foot injury and young striker Timmy Purcell is likely to start.

Stephen Kenny is without the suspended Eddie McCallion and his team selection will depend on how successful efforts to get Kevin Deery, Ciarán Martyn, Paddy McCourt and Mark Farren fit prove.

Finn Harps v Cobh Ramblers

Last year's two promoted sides get to measure any close-season progress against each other tonight in Ballybofey before taking on the established top flight outfits during the weeks ahead.

The home side should look the less familiar of the two, with Paul Hegarty having added half a dozen or so new faces to his squad and, he believes, equipped it well for the challenges that lie ahead.

"I think that I have put together a very good squad and hopefully the results will show it," he said in reference to the arrival of players like Gary Beckett, Stuart Malcolm and Shaun Williams.

Ramblers have not been able to add some of the players they sought during the last few months but they have kept last year's young and promising squad together, and Stephen Henderson says that, with everyone to choose from, the team will bear a strong resemblance to the one that beat Athlone Town to clinch the first division title last year.

... - EMMET MALONE