If it wasn't for a disastrous seven-game spell between May and the first-half of June, Derry City might have been celebrating a famous double last season.
Those seven games - draws at home to Bohemians, St Patrick’s Athletic, Finn Harps and Drogheda United, and defeats to Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Sligo Rovers - must still gnaw at manager Ruaidhri Higgins.
The young Brandywell boss had to settle for FAI Cup glory while Stephen Bradley, also 38 but with a great deal more experience, led Shamrock Rovers to what was ultimately a comfortable 13-point margin of victory.
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That success was the Hoops’ 20th title, leading to the addition of a second gold star above their crest.
It was also their third Premier Division crown in a row, generating tremendous excitement around Tallaght Stadium ahead of the 2023 campaign.
They became just the fifth side to win three-in-a-row, after Cork United (1940/41 - 1942/43), Waterford (1967/68 - 1969/70), Dundalk (2014 - 2016) and of course the great Hoops side of the mid-1980s.
It’s their record of four-in-a-row that Bradley’s men are chasing next season.
They are likely, however, to face a tougher challenge than in any of the last three campaigns, when they finished ahead of second place by a total of 40 points (13, 16 and 11).
Derry have the experience of this year’s title push and should be far more streetwise when it comes to grinding out the necessary results.
And Rovers could be derailed if Bradley's head is turned by an offer across the water - as it almost was by Lincoln Town last summer. European progress would also test the strength of their squad.
Derry have already struck a blow in the transfer market by bringing in Colm Whelan on a two-year contract, after the Ireland Under-21 striker scored 44 goals in 66 appearances for UCD.
Meanwhile, the addition this week of Johnny Kenny on a season-long loan from Celtic will bolster Rovers’ attack.
Watch out also for Gideon Tettah, the Hoops’ 17-year-old attacking prospect who featured in European action last season.
Every year the age profile in the league seems to drop and Tettah won’t be the only teenager looking to make a name for himself.
Cork City’s return to the top-flight is a welcome development and prolific Ireland underage striker Mark O’Mahony will be desperate to show what he can do in the senior game with his hometown club.
Ryan O’Kane at Dundalk is just 19, but already has bags of first-team experience, as does Jad Hakiki at Shelbourne.
Damien Duff easily guided the Reds to safety and to the FAI Cup final. The former Ireland international is too ambitious to target just another season of consolidation.
Meanwhile, in the First Division, the race for promotion will be as competitive as ever, with Dave Rogers’ appointment highlighting their aspiration for a swift return to the top-flight.
Waterford and Galway United won’t be afraid to thrown some money at their respective bids to escape the second tier.
VERDICT: Shamrock Rovers for a famous four-in-a-row and Waterford to claim the First Division.
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