Major Meath flavour in the Premier League

Meath & District League (MDL) secretary Gerry Gorman has warned that there are plenty of "challenging times" ahead for local soccer clubs. With the league competitions for the 2012/2013 season set to kick-off this week following number of shield games last weekend Gorman says that this campaign will be all about consolidation for many of the 58 clubs in the league that will field 106 teams. The league secretary pointed to the loss of a number of teams from the MDL as an example of the problems faced by various outfits many of them the victims of the chill winds of the economic downturn. "We're down about 12 or 14 teams from last year as a few have dropped out although we also have a few new teams taking part this season," Gorman told the Meath Chronicle. "For a lot of clubs and for the league this will be a season about consolidating rather than anything else. Clubs have suffered mainly because of the emigration and the economic climate. "It is proving very difficult for clubs, and the league, to get sponsorship or some sort of financial support. It's not just the MDL, every league has similar difficulties," he added. Among the clubs that won't be fielding in the MDL this season are Clones Town who secured a mid-table position in the Premier last term. Also departed are Glaslough Villa who have joined the Louth/Monaghan League while Donore, M4 Enfield, Balrath and Carlingford are others that have also lowered their colours. Their absence is balanced somewhat by the return of Donacarney and Grove Rangers to the fold with Dunshaughlin Youths scheduled to start in Div 4. To help use the limited resources in particular areas some clubs have opted to amalgamate and form new identities such as Longwood-Knightsbrook and Drogheda-Marsh Crescent. Others such as Rossin Rovers, Virginia and Ardee Celtic have withdrawn reserve teams. While the Kilmessan and O'Neill Shield games officially kick-starts the new season for many, the real business gets underway next Sunday when the league programme starts for first teams. A week later (Saturday 25th August) action in the reserve divisions get underway. In the event of two teams finishing top of their division a play-off shall be necessary. Likewise no team will be relegated because of an inferior goal difference. In promotion/relegation play-offs the team (third team from bottom) in a higher division shall have home advantage. In the Premier the bottom two sides are liable for relegation while the team that finishes third from bottom will play off with the third highest placed team in Div 1 to sort out that particular promotion/relegation issue. PREMIER After going agonisingly close to winning the title last season Trim Celtic will start the new campaign with hope that they can go all the way this time around. Manager Brian McCreary has been replaced by Alan Kirwan who had previously a spell in charge of the club and following last season's bid for success Trim Celtic's ambitions of finally landing the title remain intact. This season there is a sizeable contingent of teams from the Royal County in the Premier with Duleek, Kentstown Rovers, Navan Cosmos and OMP Utd joining Trim Celtic at the top table. The appointment of the much-travelled Dave Rogers as the manager of Duleek adds an intriguing novelty factor to the upcoming campaign. Rogers has an amazing record as a professional footballer having turned out with a long list clubs in a protracted career including Chester City, Dundee, Ayr Utd, Shelbourne, Drogheda, St Patrick's Athletic, Dundalk and Cork City. Rogers will be assisted by another former National League player Tony Grant who played for Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Drogheda. Predicitons: Champions - Woodview Celtic; Runners-up - Carrick Rovers. DIVISION 1 Sprinkled with Meath clubs there is every chance that the Div 1 title will be claimed by a Royal County outfit with the new-look Longood-Knightsbrook combination likely to prove a formidable force with the capabilities to be there or thereabouts at the business end of the table next spring. Other Meath clubs in the mix include Navan Town, Newtown Utd, Slane Wanderers and Torro Utd. One of the teams who look like they could make a real impact is another amalgamation, Drogheda-Marsh Crescent. At the end of last season Drogheda Crescent went very close to securing fourth place in Div 1 while Marsh Celtic were relegated from the Premier. Between the two outfits they are sure to come up with a strong squad while Square Utd and Torro Utd will also be in the mix. Predictions: Champions - Drogheda-Marsh Crescent: Runners-up - Longwood-Knightsbrook. OTHER DIVISIONS Boca Rovers have emerged as one of the more successful Meath clubs in recent seasons and they will be looking to make significant progress in Div 2 as will others such as Kells Celtic, Kells/Blackwater, Athboy Celtic, Johnstown, Oldcastle and Robinstown. With 12 teams Div 3 will be a highly competitive environment and teams such as Bohermeen Celtic, Castle Villa, Electro Celtic, Fordrew Rovers, Park Celtic Summerhill, Skryne/Tara and Trim Town will be looking to land silverware. Unlike last season there is a sizeable number of Meath sides in Div 4 including BMC Utd, Donacarney, Dunshaughlin Youths, Kilmessan, Rathkenny Rovers and Rossin Rovers.