Derry keen to mark McClean's homecoming

The champions flag will not now be raised in Tallaght Stadium tonight due to a waterlogged pitch, but the Premier Division season begins and perhaps most eyes will be on Derry and the return of former Republic of Ireland international James McClean to where he began his career.

The start of the new campaign brings three matches, with the blockbuster Aviva Stadium clash of Bohemians and St Patrick's Athletic on Sunday.

But there is plenty to be intrigued about on the first Friday match night.

Promoted Dundalk's visit to Tallaght Stadium on their return to the big timehas been postponed due to the huge levels of rainfall in Dublin.

The Hoops will be relishing this season - whenever it starts for them - in that focus has been on Derry City in the build-up, while Shelbourne's capture of Will Jarvis on Thursday also showed that they can compete with anyone in the market.

City face Sligo Rovers tonight with plenty of expectation behind them. James McClean started in a holding midfield role in the President's Cup, with the excellent Brandon Fleming at left-back.

Patrick McClean will come up against the side he left just three weeks ago to return to his hometown club and play with his brother.

Sligo will be up against it again this year having lost key defender McClean and their biggest goal threat in prolific youngster Owen Elding.

Russell has added plenty of new signings to offset some of the losses but avoiding the bottom two would be seen as another excellent year.

Shels face a new-look Waterford, with Jon Daly now in the hotseat and 11 new signings in their squad.

There is plenty of excitement for the new season however, with a record 1,200 season tickets this campaign.

The final game of the night sees Galway United take on Drogheda United in Eamonn Deacy Park.

John Caulfield has seen his squad decimated during the off-season. He has had to recruit late in the day with some obscure captures but has shown he can always put a competitive team out each year. This one may well be his toughest as recruiting players outside the Leinster region without the spending power of the likes of Derry is becoming tougher.

Drogheda have kept the spine of their side and ventured to the American market. They have gone under the radar, as usual, with focus on the Dublin sides and Derry.

While it's just the opening night, both sides will feel a win could help them surpass targets in 2026.

Derry City v Sligo Rovers, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm

The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium has had some quiet nights in the last couple of season when title challenges faded away.

Sometimes early, sometimes late, but the end result was always the same.

Chairman Philip O'Doherty has set out an ambition to bring the title back to Derry and once again backed it up with the funds to do so.

This has been the most extravagent off-season spending with the headline of James McClean along with many other highly-rated players within the league and abroad.

Tonight the famous Derry venue will be anything but quiet as McClean plays his first game in the venue in a decade and a half.

Manager Tiernan Lynch knows it brings expectations, particularly because of the return of one of most experienced Republic of Ireland internationals ever.

"James is always going to steal the headlines because of his profile, where he's been and what he's done," Lynch told the BBC.

"Someone like James, because of his passion for this football club and his passion for this city, I think he will make a massive difference to us both on and off the field.

"He's definitely someone who will set standards and raise standards and we've got to make sure we tap in to that."

Sligo will be underdogs and very much an after thought for the fixture.

That may play into John Russell's hands as he looks to plot an upset.

Russell said: "I'm intrigued to see how it goes. It's possibly the toughest test there is at the moment in the league. They've just beaten the double-winners.

"It's going to be a sold-out, expectant Brandywell. They're pushing to start well and will be challenging. But it's going to be a crisp night under floodlights and a big, big atmosphere.

"What isn't there to look forward to?"

Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk, Tallaght Stadium, 8pm - POSTPONED

The Shamrock Rovers squad has yet to be completed with over two weeks left to go in the transfer window.

Derry City may rival them for depth in squad now, yet they still remain the most formidable group in the country.

Young players blooded in the last couple of years are now going from bonus players to major parts of their arsenal.

Michael Noonan looks set to stay until July in a major boost, while Victor Ozhianvuna could see a lot more game time this campaign.

Jack Byrne is back in the fold with lots to prove. Hunger is always an issue for teams looking to win title after title, yet there is still plenty in the Tallaght side's dressing room who want to star again.

Dundalk saw their empire from the previous crumble as the Hoops took over. Tonight is a step forward for the Oriel Park club. They are a long way from challenging again and survival is their target in 2026.

The visiting supporters will be happy to be back in the best stadium in the country and more familiar surroundings after a First Division campaign last season.

Opposition boss Stephen Bradley has been the first to talk up the Lilywhites: "It will be a tough game. They are very good in the attacking part of the pitch, they have real threats with Eoin Kenny, also Danny Mullen who they signed from Derry City and also the experienced Daryl Horgan who we know has the quality.

"Dundalk have good experience in their team and are coming off the back of a very good 2025 season. So we're expecting a very tough game.

Max Kovalevskis will be out for a few weeks due to an injury picked up in the President's Cup, while Rory Gaffney is also absent due to injury.

Ciaran Kilduff admits there is a buzz in the Dundalk camp to be back in the big time.

"The lads are excited. We've prepared really well and the opportunity to play the champions in their own backyard is very exciting. Pre-season has gone really well and there’s a lot of optimism around the place, but we know the size of the task ahead."

"I don’t think we could be in a better situation in terms of the club, the staff and the players. We’re in a really good place.

"It should be a great match and a great occasion, and the lads are ready to go."

Luke Mulligan, Leo Gaxha (both injured), TJ Molloy (illness) and Harvey Warren (suspended) miss the game.

Waterford FC v Shelbourne, RSC, 7.45pm

Shelbourne have had some happy times in this fixture.

An FAI Cup semi-final win formed was one of four 1-0 victories achieved in the RSC.

Will Jarvis scored the winner in one of those games and could mark the beginning of his third spell with the club again tonight.

The signing of Jarvis is a statement of intent from the Reds as they look to regain the league crown they lost in 2025.

The Blues have turned over a new page as Jon Daly takes charge at the RSC for the first time.

Daly has acknowledged this year's Premier Division could be the hardest fought in memory.

He said: "Every game is going to be competitive, it's such an unforgiving league. If you’re not at it for whatever reason on the night you could get turned over, so we need to make sure that we give ourselves the best opportunity being defensively solid and can we offer a threat going forward, something we feel we can. It’s about getting it right at the back and making sure we give the attacking players the service we need to go win the game for us."

Dean McMenamy misses out tonight for Waterford but could return next week. Arlo Doherty is doubtful.

Joey O'Brien feels Shels are well-prepared to start the season with a bang: "A big plus is the age profile. It’s a really good squad, with experienced lads, and at the same time there’s a young spine running through the group. The few weeks’ break hasn’t hurt the fitness at all.

"The club is in a very good place, we've been supported in bringing new players in, but also important as well, we’re not being put under pressure to sell our best players the minute there’s interest from England, that’s huge for us to have that trust."

Galway United v Drogheda United, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm

There could be up to 11 debutants for Galway United tonight in Eamonn Deacy Park as they enter something of the unknown.

It was a season of anguish off the pitch in Galway in 2025 with the death of their assistant manager Ollie Horgan causing great pain to all within their club.

Results were very hard to find and it took a last day draw with Waterford to avoid the play-off.

Wasiri Williams, Kris Twardek, Lee Devitt, Matty Wolfe, Gianfranco Facchineri, Al-Amin Kazeem, Francely Lomboto, Arthur Parker, Hugo Pires Da Cunha and Nicholas Fleuriau Chateau have all arrived.

Stephen Walsh and Dara McGuinness are out injured tonight so there will be plenty of new faces for United fans to get to know.

Manager John Caulfield knows he has a big job on his hands to find their best XI: "It's going to be a big challenge this season. There’s been a high turnover, but we have a panel of 22 and we have been working hard. We’ve been back since the middle of December. We were away recently in Wales, which was good for us. It was good for team bonding. Obviously, we have the first game at home, and I would be pleading with the fans to come out and support us.

"We're looking forward to our first game this Friday, and a massive home crowd. We’ve made a lot of new signings, and Conor Barratt signed this week. There will be a lot of new signings in the team. We want a full house this Friday."

Perhaps a wet night in the west is the perfect baptism of fire for some of the additions in the Drogheda squad.

Ethan O'Brien, Jason Bucknor and Leo Burney have all come from the US to help offset the loss of Darragh Markey.

New Zealander Jago Godden has arrived on a season-long loan from Walsall with the 22-year-old midfielder only joining the League 2 side on the same day from Bedford Town. United share the same ownership as the Saddlers.

Kevin Doherty has worked wonders in the past with his recruitment. Tonight's game will put it to the test.

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