Dermot Keely has said that he will devote the next eight months of his life towards ensuring Shelbourne win the First Division title.

The Reds manager is determined to put the heartache of 2008, when Shels lost the title with the final kick of their last match, behind him.

"I am so driven for the club to get back to the Premier Division, it fills my waking hours," he said. "There will be something missing in my life unless I do. I cannot give up until it's done."

Shelbourne host Wexford Youths in the opening night of the new season and manager Mick Wallace knows that it will be a tough match for his young side.

"We're under pressure playing the team that should probably have gone up last season and they were very unfortunate not to," he said. "It's a fairly daunting opener. I'm sure they'll be well blended."