Don't look back in anger - Premier Division in review

It’s been a great year, and it’s not over yet. Take a bow Elbow, Breaking Bad, and the League of Ireland.

After a chilling and drowsy start, spring 2011 really took off with the explosion of Elbow, the real Manchester team at Dublin’s O2, touring their album “build a rocket, boys!” Villagers breezed in with them, and their eerie sound promises much for the future.

Breaking Bad reached season four in June. It remains a pretty well-kept secret, with unnerving, theatrical performances from Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, and the forceful presence of Giancarlo Esposito as Gus Fring coming to the fore in a surprising way. It’s finished now, but I haven’t waited week-to-week for TV for years, until Breaking Bad. I can’t see another season happening, but I live in hope.

The LoI season began as it does, with realism-tinged hope all over the league. Myself and the lads from the League of Ireland Interview Show set a goal to get to every ground in the League of Ireland. And eat in the town. Bray delivered our first chips, Bohs provided their first opposition. Both were crisp in spots, soggy in others, but satisfying in the end. Pat Devlin, that sage of Irish football, reckoned the Seasiders would struggle but would be aiming for at least a mid-table finish. He’ll get his wish.

Bohemians’ season was dead before it began, they said. They owed anything between €2m and €5m, they said. Nobody counted on what Pat Fenlon would have to say, but his is arguably the most successful season of all given the climb he began in March. Fifth ain’t bad and they’re still climbing.

Galway United started so brightly, pushing Dundalk all the way on the rubbery surface in the spring rain. “It was a bit mental” said Jason Byrne that night, and it was. The Tribesmen will be happy to see the back of a season that just kept kicking them. It’s hard when defeat stalks you despite fighting performances, but they’ll be back. John Brennan is optimistic and resolute with good reason – they are simply not as bad as their points tally screams. New season, new broom, new hope.

The Lilywhites were always going to struggle with restricted resources, and so it went this season. Their acquisition of Byrne, Colin Hawkins and Mark Quigley, and the development of Daniel Kearns among others helped them flatter, but it’s a long season. Ian Foster’s frustration showed more than once as his available numbers were slashed. On the back of a good outing at the Dublin Super Cup, Kearns made a happy start in what should be a bright career on the other island. Let’s hope Foster and Darius Kierans can continue their good work into 2012.

Speaking to Kierans late last season, he was acting manager at Drogheda, and looking forward with interest to the coming season, but unsure of the immediate future at the club. A few short months later, he’s at Dundalk and Mick Cooke’s arrived from Monaghan. After a horrendous start, Cooke rang the changes and the addition of Dave Rodgers steadied the ship. Tiernan Mulvenna joined from Dundalk, Steven Trimble stepped between the sticks and things began to look up. They’re looking even better now that Drogs are a settled unit.

Shamrock Rovers and their Sligo equivalent have been just that. Ever since they cancelled each other out in a gripping Cup Final at Lansdowne in November, the penalties Cup Winners and League Champions have chased each other to the end of this season. The Shamrock variety won the race to Europe, and look like they’ll repeat the league performance too. Sligo are everybody’s pick to retain the Cup in front of a big Aviva audience. I believe that if Paul Cook stays they’ll complete European qualification in 2012.

Derry started as they meant to go on, the Wenger-like Stephen Kenny bringing home Ruaidhrí Higgins and Gareth McGlynn after a useful but fitful stint at Bohs, and picking up Eamon Zayed from the defunct Sporting Fingal. James McLean delivered on the promise he’s shown since 2008 and completed a dream move to Sunderland in the summer. Derry have felt that loss ever since. Did it cost them the league?

Martin Russell’s UCD have done what they do. Having (among others) provided the McMillan brothers to St. Pat’s and returned Kilduff to Shamrock Rovers, they have developed from last season, introduced a new crop of students and preserved their pride at the Bowl. Russell’s quiet progress surprised many this season and UCD increased their gates accordingly. I daresay he’ll be a happier man come November than his predecessor, Pete Mahon. St. Pat’s never quite delivered on the promise of the early season, mainly due to the distraction of a gruelling European campaign, a temporary player revolt and a wearing series of injuries and suspensions.

The fixture pile-up is what really takes toll on clubs suffering with reduced squad sizes, and it was so obvious this year. European fixture re-arrangements for the top clubs took the steam out of many, but would we trade performance for Europe? I think not. This has been one of the most fulfilling years I have ever spent, and it’s still offering lots. The weekend can’t come fast enough.