2019 Season Preview - Cabinteely

Manager: Pat Devlin

Stadium: Stradbrook 

2019 Players in: Alex Aspil (Shamrock Rovers), Shane Barnes (Wexford FC), Jonathan Carlin (Finn Harps), Benjamin Clark (Mount Merrion), Adam Doyle (Shamrock Rovers), Jamie Geoghegan (Shelbourne), Sean Hurley (Wexford FC), Oisin McMenamin (Finn Harps), Robert Manley (Drogheda United), Eoin Massey (Cherry Orchard),Ross Moloney (Enniskerry), Ronan O’Kelly (Wexford FC), Peter Quinlan (Belmont), James Woods (Shelbourne).

2019 Players out: Joe Doyle (Bray Wanderers), Kevin Knight (Longford Town), Christian Lotefa (Athlone Town), Jack Menton (Longford Town).

Extratime.ie Key Man: Kieran Marty Waters

Having been the main man at Cabinteely for two years already now, Kieran Marty Waters looks primed to play a pivotal role in any possible success that Cabo may have in the 2019 First Division. 

Joining from Shamrock Rovers in 2017, the former Bray Wanderers forward was a PFAI First Division Player of the Year winner in 2017 with the South Dublin outfit with his goalscoring exploits taking the second tier by storm. 

Last year was a bit of a struggle for the 28-year-old as he only scored seven goals during an inconsistent year for the Stradbrook Road side but, as every First Division defence will know, it is never a straightforward exercise in quelling the former Shamrock Rovers man’s predatory instinct in front of goal. 

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Robert Manley 

Having impressed on trial during pre-season, striker Rob Manley looks set to excite the Cabo faithful at Stradbrook during 2019. 



Once of UCD’s famed assembly line, Manley has since gone on to play for Bohemians and Drogheda United following his brief stint at Belfield. 

Now 21, Manley joins Pat Devlin’s forces with some brief Premier Division experience to his name having line out for Bohs three times during his short spell at Dalymount Park.  

The IT Blanchardstown student then moved on to Drogheda where he once again found game time a premium before committing to 2019 at Cabinteely.  

How they did last season:

League: 7th

While it was a frustrating year on the whole for Cabinteely, they did manage to finish above where extratime.ie expected them to finish in the end. 



A seventh placed finish was perhaps a punishing end result for the South Dubliners who, on their day could take anyone in the division with general inconsistencies taking Devlin’s side out of the running for promotion early on.  

FAI Cup: Second Round

For the second year in a row, Cabinteely got through a round of the FAI Cup before falling at the second hurdle to Premier Division side Limerick at Markets Field. 

Cabo won their opening tie against Clare outfit Newmarket Celtic by two goals to one. Recently departed Joe Doyle and striker Luke Clucas got on the scoresheet for the First Division side. 

However, Cabo’s FAI Cup run was to end shortly after with a defeat to then Premier Division side Limerick. Kevin Knight scored a late consolation as the League of Ireland’s newest recruit were knocked out in the second round.     

EA Sports Cup: First Round 

Dealt perhaps an unfortunate draw to Bohemians, Cabo suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to the Gypsies in the First Round of the EA Sports Cup. 

410 hardy souls watched on at Dalymount Park as, despite taking an early lead, Cabinteely were eventually undone by a relentless Red and Black. 

New Cabo signing Rob Manley scored twice in a rout for Keith Long’s side.  

What to expect this season:

With an average age of 20, Cabinteely may possibly have one of the youngest sides to ever compete in the First Division. 

Jack Tuite, Conor Keeley and Daniel Blackbyrne will play a pivotal role in the defensive side of Cabo’s game as they did last year with some fine, composed showings throughout. 

The retention of Kieran Marty Waters will be key as we have seen in many seasons gone by as will the re-signing of Stephen McGuinness who enjoyed a stellar year between the sticks for Pat Devlin’s charges last term. 

Rob Manley could add significantly to Cabo’s attacking prowess while Keith Dalton and Luke Clucas will also be looking to improve on their most recent year gone by in the First Division.      

Jack Watson will also be looking to bring some much-needed experience to the engine room with five teenagers committing in the midfield fold.  

There is an optimism in the Cabo camp that they can in fact reach the Playoffs as almost every side in the First Division will be thinking, however, this will be a difficult enough task in itself. 

This Cabinteely side look to be a side built for the future, and should Pat Devlin have two or three years at the tilt with this squad, Premier Division football won’t look that far away.   

Title Odds: 66/1. 

First game: Bray Wanderers (H) – 22ndof February