Quality Players Make For A Quality Division

The Last Word by Brendan White

(first published in the April 2011 Shelbourne match programme)

People speak about the First Division in a negative way more often than not. “Let’s be honest, nobody wants to play in this League” was the position of Cork City defender Danny Murphy only last week. Is this a fair reflection on the League? And is it a fair reflection on the players that the First Division now holds?

The big money of the Premier Division sides is now long gone and players are having to look for deals with First Division clubs. But what some might see as bad news should add quality to the second tier and enhance the enjoyment for everybody.

Many players who played Premier Division football have seen themselves drop down a division and sign for First Division clubs. Financial security? First team football? Location? There may be many reasons for the drop in division but, whatever the reasoning, the First Division is certainly happy to take the players.

The Blues are one of a number of clubs recently to bring in players from a previously higher level for their promotion challenge. Wexford-born Conor Sinnott looks to be a central figure for the Blues this season despite being at the club just a number of months. Having spent 2010 with St Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United, Stephen Henderson finally got his man, having attempted to sign the player from Wexford Youths previously.

Kenny Browne is another player dropping down a division to rejoin the club after an impressive season with Sporting Fingal in 2010. Keith Quinn also made the move from Sporting Fingal during the off-season and both players will be key to a successful season.

Paul Murphy joined the club last season having been with Ipswich Town while Michael Rafter has joined after a stint at Colchester United. Murphy has already shown his quality, and Rafter also has the potential to become a Blues favourite.

Outside of the Blues camp, teams all over the country have benefited from this influx of higher-level players. Danny Murphy to Cork City, Barry Ryan and John Frost to Limerick, Kevin Dawson, Colm James and Conan Byrne to Shelbourne from Fingal, Conor O’Grady to Finn Harps, Don Cowan and Keith Gillespie to Longford, the list goes on and on.

These players are Premier Division players and they want to play Premier Division football. For the most part, they are at First Division clubs for one reason, and one reason only. They want to get their teams into the Premier Division, simple as that. They join sides where they think they will have a chance to play their football for a season and get back into a Division that gets national coverage.

For a lot of players, the ‘Keith Fahey dream’ may still be there, hoping for a chance to return abroad and return to full-time football. Until they do get their chance to return, which may or may not happen, we should be happy to enjoy the talents these players bring to the First Division.

Quality players make quality teams. We, as fans, want quality entertainment, we want quality teams and, of course, we want quality players. Enhancing the reputation of the League is essential, the First Division needs these players.