Tickets remain on sale for Saturday’s season opener. Kickoff in Tallaght Stadium is at 5pm.

For the second successive season, the players have had a very brief off-season. It didn’t turn out too badly last season. Did everyone enjoy their break after winning the Double in 2025?

“Yes, we did. It was important for everyone. We were disappointed with how Europe ended and I still feel we let that get away from us. I feel we should’ve qualified, but obviously we didn’t do enough. So that was still a disappointment, but we won the double which was a big aim of ours. So it was nice to have a break and get away from each other for a few weeks. As for the short break, it’s not new to us this year. Last year it was all new, very much trial and error, whereas this year, we knew exactly how it would feel and what it would look like. But you’re always itching to get back so we’re looking forward to it.”

Were you happy with what the two friendlies last Saturday against Longford Town and Treaty United achieved?

“Yes, we were really happy and thanks to Longford and Treaty for the games because we only asked them very late in the day. We only found out we can use only five subs in tomorrow’s game so we needed to give players minutes. Everyone came through them with no issues. We have still plenty of tweaking to do with certain players who are only back in. But on the whole, we were delighted with how the day went”.

So far, you’ve added Enda Stevens and Jake Mulraney to the 2025 squad, how have they settled in?

”We know the quality Enda has, we know he’s been here. He’s been excellent on and off pitch. Enda will be really important for the development of Cory O’Sullivan, Egor Vassenin and Danny Burke, young players who play in the same position. We know Jake’s quality, that’s undoubted. It’s been very pleasing how much he has bought into everything we do here. It’s like he’s been here all along, he looks really fit and focussed and we’re really looking forward to seeing Jake in the team”.

We kick off this season with the annual President‘s Cup curtain-raiser against Derry City. Derry have also recruited new players, with James McClean being particularly noteworthy. It should be an ideal game to prepare for the start of the league next week.

“Yes, it will be a good test. Derry have invested heavily this year, which is a positive for Derry but also for the league as a whole. James McClean coming back into the league is also another positive for Derry and for the league. He’s had a brilliant career, is someone who started his career in the league of Ireland, won over 100 caps for Ireland and has come back into the league still fit and strong. Having just left the championship, that shows the level he’s still playing at and I’ve nothing but respect for James. He will help raise the profile of the league, that’s a positive and we should all support that.”

Ronan Finn has recently arrived as the club’s new Director of Football. What’s your reaction to Ronan’s return to the club?

“I’m absolutely delighted. Stephen McPhail was such a big part of what we did, so when Stephen decided to step away, it was really important we acted quickly. But it was more important we got the right people in the right positions. Ronan went away to UCD to finish his exams, he did that and he knows this club inside out. He was captain of our four in a row team and didn’t want to become a coach. He wanted to be part of an executive team, which I felt was really important for a new Director of Football. So Ronan did it slightly differently to Stephen and thankfully the Board have seen it the same way and backed it. I can already see what Ronan will bring to the role so it will be a nice change. Also, Sean Kavanagh has come in as coach and has brought real energy to the coaches’ room. Sean has great opinions on the game, sees it slightly differently to us, which is a positive. So the changes are a real positive for the club.”

How is Danny Mandroiu progressing from his ACL injury and are any players missing the Derry game due to injury?

“Danny is doing well, he was away for a few weeks to get some rehab. He came back in last week to see how it was progressing and he’ll go back away again for more rehab. They have said he’s ahead of schedule so far, so hopefully he’ll not be out for too long, Danny is working really hard. We have no injuries for tomorrow, we will leave one or two out who are maybe slightly behind in their work, so they will work tom