Clontarf

Last Season: 1st (Division Two)

Coach: Harold de Jong (2nd season)
Players In: Ben Hewitt (Dublin Uni)
Players Out: Ross McMullen (retired), Gordon Lindsay (retired)

Summary: A tough return to division one for Clontarf with many of the sides that would previously have been targeted for points strengthening significantly. Last week’s 5-0 loss to YM shows the uphill struggle though walking to division two will provide confidence as will a 6-0 friendly win over Weston.

But it is difficult to see anything but a relegation dog-fight in the offing - depending on how the division two situation pans out.

They will need Rob Abbott to fire – once his hand injury clears up – and Stephen Cairns to continue to show up well between the posts as former Leinster U-21 Ben Hewitt is the only major signing.

Andrew Poynter is set to miss much of the season to cricket commitments while Ross McMullen and Gordon Lindsay have retired but there’s still a decent amount of division one know-how. Whether it is enough to escape the bottom rung is another matter, especially with a tough opening pair of fixtures.

First three games: Pembroke (a); TRR (h); Railway Union (a)
Prediction: 10th