LOI Champs Open Defence With Massive Game Against Buckley's Fingal

League of Ireland Premier Division Champions Bohemians will open their 2010 season against newcomers Sporting Fingal, it was revealed today.

Liam Buckley's side could scarcely have been handed a tougher start to life in the Premier Division than a trip to Dalymount on the opening day of the league.

Shamrock Rovers, who will be hoping to prevent the Gypsies from claiming a third successive title, will start away to Sligo Rovers, while Galway United travel to St Patrick's Athletic.

Cork City will be at home to Dundalk on the opening day, pending the decision of the Independent Club Licensing Committee and the outcome of a High Court case involving the troubled club.

In the First Division, two of last season's top flight clubs will meet on the opening day as Derry City host Bray Wanderers at the Brandywell.

The league's two newcomers, Salthill Devon and Mervue United will both be at home for their openers. Mervue host Limerick, while Athlone Town will travel to Salthill.

Bray Wanderers were highly critical of the way that the League of Ireland issued the fixture list.

General manager Jack O'Neill said: 'We are absolutely dismayed that the League of Ireland has issued a set of fixtures which places Cork City, who currently have no licence, to play in the League of Ireland for the coming season in the Premier Division, while Bray Wanderers, who obtained a Premier Division licence, have been placed in the First Division.

'As the 10th ranked team to receive a Premier Division licence from the Independent Licence Committee we find it staggering that the fixtures have been released in such a fashion.

'It is our belief that the release of these fixtures in such a format is inherently flawed and should not have been released in this format in advance of the outcome of the High Court case involving Cork City and the decision of the Independent Club Licensing Committee on Monday 22 February.'

View the season's fixture list here, courtesy of www.loi.ie.