Premier's new boys can not only survive, but thrive

John Caulfield believes the promoted sides are well equipped to not only survive in the Premier Division but thrive.

In the wee county of Louth on Friday night, his Galway United side downed Dundalk 2-0 and Waterford crushed Drogheda 4-1.

There’s been a pattern in recent years of teams coming up from the second tier not lasting long, be it Cork City, UCD and Shelbourne, but this year’s newcomers to the 10-team division are both well-resourced.

Andy Pilley continues to bankroll Waterford through his Fleetwood Group despite being jailed for fraud while the billionaire Comer brothers assumed ownership of their local club on the promise of spiking investment.

Caulfield has leaned heavily on his squad that blazed through the 2023 campaign with an impeccable record of 18 home wins. 

Both goalscorers in the win at Oriel Park, Ed McCarthy and Aodh Dervin, were part of that squad and remain at the spine embedded by the influence of veteran Conor McCormack.

Next up for the promoted teams are each other at Eamonn Deacy on Friday, expected to be another sell-out, and former Cork City boss Caulfield stresses they’re capable of silencing their doubters. 

Automatic relegation faces the basement side with second form bottom entering the playoffs to survive.

“The challenge for us is to become an established team because this is our first Premier Division season since 2017.

“This club has massive potential but we must stay in this league.

“At the outset, ourselves and Waterford were tipped to go down, and hopefully that won’t happen.

“Waterford came up with us. We know how good they are, that they have the Fleetwood connection, and every meeting last year was really tight.

“The most important thing is we get a full house because