Graham Gartland's verdict on the LOI chasing pack: Can Derry City or St Patrick's Athletic narrow the gap to Shamrock Rovers?

As the 2022 SSE Airtricity League looms, the expectation from almost all quarters is that Shamrock Rovers will retain the title and achieve the first top-flight three-in-a-row since Dundalk did so in 2016.

But can the chasing pack close the gap on Stephen Bradley's side this year?

Reigning FAI Cup winners St Patrick's Athletic, a distant second in 2021, and a revitalised Derry City are tipped to lead the way on that front.

Former league and cup winner Graham Gartland joined the RTÉ Soccer Podcast for an in-depth team-by-team preview of the new season and tipped Ruaidhri Higgins' Derry to make serious gains having finished fourth last season.

The Candystripes, with greater investment, have brought Michael Duffy, Patrick McEleney, Shane McEleney and Will Patching back to the club, while Matty Smith joins from St Pat's.

"I think Matty Smith's a really good signing for them. When you look at Duffy and (Patrick) McEleney and (Jamie) McGonigle, they're really good on the ball and technically good players where I think Smith brings them a bit of pace and power to stretch the game for them," said Gartland.

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"I really like their centre-back. (Eoin) Toal, if he can become a little bit more dominant and aggressive in terms of controlling his back four which comes with experience, I think there's a really good player for them.

"They have invested and again, (it's) how quickly can they settle.

"I think going up to Derry will be a tougher task than it has been throughout the years and if they can get their home record where it's a really tough place to go, they will go close.

"Now they're in Europe, they'll have to deal with that. But if they can stay