The new Irish Premiership campaign gets underway this weekend with
The new Irish Premiership season is finally upon us and it looks set to be a thrilling campaign.
Champions Linfield will be hoping to defend their crown, but we have a look at the other contenders out to wrestle the Gibson Cup from their grasp.
We have looked at all 12 teams from their opening fixtures to their star men and key signing ahead of the big kick-off.
Ballymena United
Manager: Jim Ervin
Star Man: Ben Kennedy
Key signing: Daire O’Connor (Hamilton Academicals)
In: Ryan McNickle (Newry City), Declan Breen (Cliftonville), Matthew Clarke (Livingston), Jack O’Reilly (Carrick Rangers), Daire O’Connor (Hamilton Academicals), David Toure (Glenavon), Joel Thompson (Finn Harps), Ali Gould (Watford)
Out: Conor Barr (Derry City – end of loan), Duncan Idehen (Derry City – end of loan), Jordan McMullan (Glenavon), Johnny McMurray (retired), Sam Johnston (unattached), Caleb Crawford (unattached), Fiontan O’Boyle (Ballyclare Comrades), Shane Flynn (unattached), Joe Moore (Armagh City), Caoloan Loughran (Loan – Ards), Lewis Tennant (Loan – Dundela), Shea McAuley (Loan – Coagh United)
Last season: 9th
First fixtures: GLENA [A], PORT [A], BANG [H]
Season targets: It’s been a busy summer at The Showgrounds with eight new arrivals, boss Jim Ervin will be looking for at least a top six finish and pushing for Europe
Bangor
Manager: Lee Feeney
Star Man: Ben Arthurs
Key signing: Mark Haughey (Glenavon)
In: Gareth Deane (Glenavon), Stephen McGuinness (Cliftonville), Mark Haughey (Glenavon), Ross Ferguson (Larne), Harry Lynch (Glenavon), Liam Burns (Linfield)
Out: Patrick Solis Grogan ( Dungannon Swifts – end of loan), Adam Neale (Ballymacash Rangers), Jack Reilly (Ards), James Taylor (Ards), Callum Byers (Victoria Athletic), Ben Fry (Knockbreda)
Last season: Championship winners
First fixtures: CLIF [H], GLENS [A], CRUES [H]
Season targets: Staying in the division will be the club’s main target and Feeney has recruited well with a good mix of youth and experience
Carrick Rangers
Manager: Stephen Baxter
Star Man: Danny Gibson
Key signing: Jimmy Callacher (Crusaders)
In: Aidan Steele (Ards), Billy Joe Burns (Crusaders), Adam Lecky (Crusaders), Nathan Gartside (Loughgall), Jimmy Callacher (Crusaders), Scott Pengelly (Grand View University), Ryan Waide (Loughgall), Jack Scott (Loan – Coleraine)
Out: Curtis Allen (retired), Jack Hastings (Larne – end of loan), Kurtis Forsythe (Crusaders), David Cushley (retired), Jack Hastings (Larne – end of loan), Jack McIntyre (unattached), Reece Webb (unattached), Shane Forbes (unattached), Ross Glendinning (Loughgall), Jack O’Reilly ( Ballymena United), Steven Gordon (Ards), Albert Watson (Armagh City)
Last season: 11th
First fixtures: CRUES [A], BANG [A], DUNG [A]
Season targets: The addition of Billy Joe Burns, Adam Lecky and Jimmy Callacher provides valuable experience with Baxter hoping to avoid another relegation scrap
Cliftonville
Manager: Jim Magilton
Star Man: Rory Hale
Key signing: Rhyss Campbell (Coleraine)
In: Conor Falls (Huddersfield Town), PJ Morrison (Alloa Athletic), Conor Barr (Derry City – loan), Rhyss Campbell (Coleraine)
Out: Kris Lowe (Glenavon), Rory Donnelly (Newington), Declan Breen (Ballymena United), Arran Pettifer (Arbroath), Destiny Ojo (unattached), Ryan Markey (unattached), Stephen McGuinness ( Bangor ), David Odumosu (Cork City), Sean Stewart (Sligo Rovers), Shea Kearney (Dunfermline Athletic)
Last season: 7th
First fixtures: BANG [A], COLE [H], LAR [H]
Season targets: Magilton will be looking to get back into the top six and possibly a third trophy in as many seasons
Coleraine
Manager: Ruaidhri Higgins
Star Man: Charles Dunne
Key signing: Joel Cooper (Linfield)
In: Kodi Lyons-Foster (Glentoran), Stephen Fallon (Linfield), Joel Cooper (Linfield), Will Patching (Carlisle United – loan), Adam Long (Fylde), Lewis McGregor (Airdrie), Ryan Schofield (Morecambe), Charles Dunne (unattached), Harry Evans (Derby County – loan)
Out: Kyle Spence (unattached), Paddy Burns (Glenavon), Kyle McClelland (Hibernian – end of loan), Rory Brown (unattached), Aidan Tejada (Institute – loan), Jack Scott (Carrick Rangers – loan), Rhyss Campbell (Cliftonville)
Last season: 5th
First fixtures: LAR [H], CLIF [A], DUNG [H]
Season targets: With some impressive signings the Bannsiders will be looking to challenge for honours
Crusaders
Manager: Declan Caddell
Star Man: Jarlath O’Rourke
Key signing: Elliot Dunlop (Airdrie)
In: Kieran McKechnie (Arbroath), Kurtis Forsythe (Carrick Rangers), Finley Thorndike (Glentoran), Brendan Hamilton (Aberdeen), Musa Dibaga (Inverness Caledonian Thistle) Adam Brooks (Inverness Caledonian Thistle), Elliot Dunlop (Airdrie), Fraser Bryden (Ayr United)
Out: Jordan Stewart (Glentoran), Billy Joe Burns (Carrick Rangers), Jimmy Callacher (Carrick Rangers), Adam Lecky (Carrick Rangers), Billy Vance (unattached), Ryan Kerr (Dundela), Mal Smith (Dungannon Swifts), Phil Lowry (Limavady United), Alex King (Airdrie), Harry Frankin (Connah’s Quay Nomads), Josh O’Connor (East Kilbride), Daniel Larmour (Glentoran)
Last season: 6th
First fixtures: CARR [H], BANG [A], GLENS [H]
Season targets: Staying in the top six will be key for Caddell following the departure of several experienced stars
Dungannon Swifts
Manager: Rodney McAree
Star Man: Gael Bigirimana
Key signing: Sean McAllister (Marine)
In: Mal Smith (Crusaders), Peter Maguire (Ballinamallard United), Tiernan Kelly (Loughgall), Sean McAllister (Marine), Darragh McBrien (Linfield)
Out: Dean Curry (retired), Oliver Crowe (Loughgall – loan), John McGovern (Shamrock Rovers), Grant Hutchinson (unattached), Padraig Lynch (Institute), Tommy Connolly (Ballinamallard United – loan), Aidan Hegarty (Institute – loan)
Last season: 4th
First fixtures: LINF [A], PORT [H], COLE [A]
Season targets: McAree will be hoping the Swifts can kick on again following last season’s success and stay in the top six
Glenavon
Manager: Paddy McLaughlin
Star Man: Jack Malone
Key signing: Harry Murphy (Glentoran)
In: Jordan McMullan (Ballymena United), Oran O’Kane (H&W Welders), Kris Lowe (Cliftonville), Luke Cartwright (Loughgall), Paddy Burns (Coleraine), Stephen Mallon (Sligo Rovers), Harry Murphy (Glentoran), Kyle McClelland (Hibernian), Francely Lomboto (Sligo Rovers), Jacob Carney (unattached)
Out: Mark Haughey (Bangor), Aaron Heaney (Derry City – end of loan), Harry Murphy (Glentoran – end of loan), Marc Matthews (Ards), Rhys Marshall (retired), Calum Birney (Dundela), Aaron Prendergast (Loughgall – loan), Harry Norton (Loughgall), Gareth Deane (Bangor), David Toure (Ballymena United), Len O’Sullivan (Ross County), James Doona (unattached), Chris Atherton (Chelsea), Stephen Teggart (Armagh City), Harry Lynch (Bangor)
Last season: 10th
First fixtures: BMU [H], CARR [A], GLENS [A]
Season targets: First full season for McLaughlin and he will be hoping to push for a European play-off spot
Glentoran
Manager: Declan Devine
Star Man: Danny Amos
Key signing: Pat Hoban (Derry City)
In: Liam Burt (unattached), Jordan Stewart (Crusaders), Pat Hoban (Derry City), Daniel Larmour (Crusaders), Ryan Cooney (Crewe Alexandra), Peter Urminsky (St Mirren – loan)
Out: Wassim Aouachria (unattached), Finley Thorndike (Crusaders), Jay Donnelly (Newington), Niall McGinn (unattached), Fuad Sule (Persis Solo), Kodi Lyons-Foster (Coleraine), Theo McToal (Ballyclare Comrades), Patrick McClean (Sligo Rovers), Daniel Gyollai (Kolorcity Kazincbarcika), Harry Murphy (Glenavon)
Last season: 3rd
First fixtures: PORTS [A], BANG [H], GLENA [H]
Season targets: Devine will be hoping the Glens can put together a serious challenge for honours this season
Larne
Manager: Nathan Rooney
Star Man: Rohan Ferguson
Key signing: Dan Bent (Lincoln Red Imps)
In: Matt Ridley (Blyth Spartans), Dan Bent (Lincoln Red Imps), Kobei Moore (Aston Villa), Alfie Bridgman (Fareham Town)
Out: Shaun Want (Ayr United), Sean Brown (Linfield), Olatunde Bayode (unattached), Joe Besant (unattached), Ali Omar (unattached) Harry Panayiotou (unattached), Caolan Donnelly (Ards), Ambrose Ajala ( Queen’s University – loan)
Last season: 2nd
First fixtures: COLE [A], CLIF [A], PORTS [H]
Season targets: First full season for Rooney and he will be hoping the Invermen can push for the title once more
Linfield
Manager: David Healy
Star Man: Kyle McClean
Key signing: Sean Brown (Larne)
In: Sean Brown (Larne)
Out: Stephen Fallon (Coleraine), Joel Cooper (Coleraine), Darragh McBrien (Dungannon Swifts), Ethan Devine (Harland and Wolff Welders), Rhys McGarry (Ballyclare Comrades), Kalum Thompson (Nottingham Forest), Liam Burns (Bangor)
Last season: Champions
First fixtures: DUNG [H], CARR [A], CLIFT [H]
Season targets: Still the team to beat despite several key players moving on, a lot will depend on their European exploits
Portadown
Manager: Niall Currie
Star Man: Shay McCartan
Key signing: Rayhaan Tulloch (Shelbourne)
In: Jamie Rea (Loughgall), Alex Moore (Ards), Divin Isamala (Bohemians), Rayhaan Tulloch (Shelbourne)
Out: Ross Redman (retired), Jordan Williamson (Ballymacash Rangers), Dougie Wilson (Loughgall), Eoghan McCawl (unattached), Jamie McDonagh (unattached), Jake Willis (Ballymacash Rangers), Zach Cowan (Banbridge Town – loan), Joe McKay (Banbridge Town – loan)
Last season: 8th
First fixtures: GLENS [H], DUNG [A], BMU [H]
Season targets: Currie will be hoping they can build on a decent first season back in the Premiership
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