League journey begins amid beauty of unpredictability

After what has felt like an eternity, it's finally back.

The League of Ireland returns this weekend, and if trying to conjure pre-season predictions is anything to go by, we’re set for one of the most competitive campaigns in years.

Every team has strengthened, every squad looks like it has something to prove, and yet, after all the speculation, we still have no real idea how this season will pan out.

That’s exactly how we like it.

Predicting the final standings is a fool’s errand, but let’s dive into the biggest talking points ahead of the season.

Drogheda United and Sligo Rovers appear the most likely candidates for the drop – on paper at least.

Both sides operate on tight budgets, but Kevin Doherty and John Russell have already proven that they can punch above their weight.

Last season, Drogheda defied expectations when they looked dead and buried at the halfway point, while Sligo showed flashes of real promise under Russell despite losing key players along the way.

Their managers will need to work their magic once again, but with such fine margins in the league, they’ll have their work cut out for them.

Cork City’s return adds another layer of intrigue. They have goals in their squad – Seani Maguire and Ruairí Keating could form a deadly duo – they also possess some of the league’s brightest young players.

If they can stay defensively solid, they should be safe, but anything less than survival would be a disaster for one of Ireland’s biggest clubs.

Galway United and Waterford will also be wary of the dreaded 'second-season syndrome’.

Both were exceptional last year, but we’ve seen before how teams can struggle once the element of surprise is gone.

However, John Caulfield (Galway) and Keith Long (Waterford) are masters of