Bobby Browne's achievements at Gortakeegan are hard to overstate but the lack of transfer activity suggests that his United side are going to find the step up in class a little hard to make.

At their best United play confident football and when they came to Tolka Park for a cup match last season they looked no worse than a few of the Premier Division sides that played there. That's one thing when you are going well and play a one-off game but facing higher class opposition every week may gradually grind them down.

In: Brian Mooney (UCD), Derek McGrath (Kilkenny City).

Out: Mark Nichols (Dublin City), Nathan Dempsey and Paul Lynch (both Drogheda).

Last five years: 8th(D1), 9th(D1), 7th(D1), 9th(D1), 2th(D1).

Betting: 250/1.