2018 Season Preview - UCD

Manager: Collie O'Neill

Stadium: UCD Bowl

Players in: Paul Doyle (Sligo Rovers), Carl Williams (Limerick).

Players out: Niall Corbet (Waterford), Cian Kavanagh (Shelbourne), Andy O'Reilly (Longford Town), Simon Power (Norwich City), Rob Manley (Bohemians), Sean Byrne, Sean Coyne, Conor O'Donnell.

Extratime.ie Key Man: Gary O'Neill

Arguably the First Division's best player has decided to commit his future to UCD once again in spite of perennial interest from Premier Division clubs. The captain is in his final year of study at the college so it may be now or never for the midfielder to leave his mark on the club that's nurtured him since his teenage years. An injury-laden 2017 campaign for O'Neill saw the Students' form dip in the summer and they'll need him in the team consistently if they're to challenge for the title.

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Jason McClelland

Not an unknown quantity by any means, having made his league debut two seasons ago and stepped up in the last campaign, but the talented Ireland under-19 winger has the ability to become one of the top players in the division. His set-piece prowess and finishing ability are as good as any at this level, and if he can show the capability to dominate games in the creative third then he could be another attracting interest from the top flight.

How they did last season:

League: 3^rd

UCD fell short in their challenge for the First Division title last season, finishing a distant third, 12 points behind winners Waterford. The Students' patchy form against the teams around them ultimately proved costlyas they lost twice to Waterford and three times to second-place Cobh Ramblers.

FAI Cup: First Round

UCD fell at the first hurdle in the FAI Senior Cup as they were soundly beaten by near neighbours Cabinteely, for whom ex-Students Marty Waters and Ryan Swan were on the scoresheet.

EA Sports Cup: Second Round

The Students also lost in their first outing in the EA Sports Cup as a close-run contest with Dundalk went all the way to penalties at Oriel Park. Former UCD youth Jamie McGrath scored the decisive spot-kick as the Lilywhites prevailed 6-5 in the shootout.

What to expect this season: Push from promotion

The Students' third-place finish last season would have been enough to earn a play-off spot in any normal season, but they'll be looking to take any uncertainty out of the equation by targetting a title win. A favourable fixture list for Collie O'Neill's side (they'll have Galway United, Shelbourne and Finn Harps twice at home) means it could be UCD's year.

Title Odds: 8/1

First game: v Shelbourne, UCD Bowl, Friday, February 23^rd (kick-off 7.45pm).