Extratime.ie staff predictions - 2019 First Division

Last week saw the return of the Premier Division, and our writers bravely tipped last season’s double champions to once again pick up the league title.

Typically, the Lilywhites failed to win on the opening day while their pick for second place, Cork City, fared even worse and lost their opening fixture.

Will their predictions for the First Division get off to a more encouraging start, or will they be just as useless as last week’s were. We can only live in hope and hope they don’t embarrass us again.

With the top two in last year’s First Division promoted and thus not eligible for selection, our brave writers have gone for last season’s third-placed team, Shelbourne?

(Honestly, where do we find these people? Sigh.)

The Reds have recruited a lot of Premier Division experience in the off-season and have been tipped by the bookies to take the trophy, but their only pre-season win came over non-league Ballymun  United.

Nevertheless, they were a clear choice for top spot from the vast majority, well clear of newly-relegated Bray Wanderers, who have also shopped judiciously from the top-flight.

Drogheda United were a clear choice for third spot, one up on last year, under rookie manager Tim Clancy, while there’s little to separate the cluster that contains Longford Town, Galway United and Limerick.

Both Wexford and Athlone Town, and Cabinteely and Cobh Ramblers, have been tipped to swap positions from last season. The first round of fixtures kicks off at 7.45pm.

1. Shelbourne



2. Bray Wanderers

3. Drogheda United

4. Longford Town

5. Galway United

6. Limerick

7. Cobh Ramblers



8. Cabinteely

9. Athlone Town

10. Wexford

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