Although the mid-season break has been and gone, it is only now that we are truly at the halfway point of the League of Ireland Premier Division campaign. On Sunday night after Sligo Rovers had drawn 2-2 with Drogheda United, each of the top-flight clubs had played 18 of their 36 games. Needless to say, some clubs will be more pleased than others at where they find themselves at this significant juncture in the season.
The happiest managers will be Pat Fenlon, Michael O’Neill and Seán Connor. While Bohemians may not be running away with the league as they did last year, Fenlon must be pleased that his side again look to be the best in the country and their opening of a four-point lead at the top of the table at the weekend could be ominous. Michael O’Neill was an unknown quantity when he took charge of Shamrock Rovers and will have been well aware that there was a question mark hanging over him but the ex-Northern Ireland international has ensured that their move into Tallaght has not been a damp squib by assembling a competitive side which moved into third by defeating St Pat’s on Saturday. Connor looked in real trouble a month ago at Dundalk but three wins on the trot in the league have moved them into the top half of the table. He would surely settle for finishing there.
In contrast, Jeff Kenna and Paul Cook will feel a big improvement is needed in the second half of the season. St Pat’s and Sligo Rovers both qualified for European football this season, albeit that the Bit O’ Red benefitted from the 10-point deductions handed to Cork City and Drogheda United, but they are currently just five points and three points off the foot of the table respectively. Sligo should not have lost 2-1 at home to a poor FK Vllaznia but now have their work cut out to stop their European adventure ending at the first hurdle. St Pat’s do not enter until the second qualifying round, where they will probably face Valletta after they beat Keflavik 3-0 in the first leg in Malta. But for both managers, top-flight survival will be the priority and Kenna will be concerned that St Pat’s have not won back-to-back league games since March.
For the rest, they are probably about where they would expect to be, although Stephen Kenny will probably wonder whether Derry City will regret dropping six points to Dundalk already this season. Cork City stopped the rot with a 2-0 win over Galway United last week and can move to within two points of the top of the table – albeit with a game more played – if they beat St Pat’s at home. St Pat’s won in Turner’s Cross earlier in the season but I don’t envisage a repeat. All but one of their five home wins were on a 1-0 scoreline, the other was 2-1. I’m going to put €10 on each, at 5/1 and 7/1 respectively. I’m also going to back Dan Murray €10 each way as first scorer at 22/1. Finally, I’m going for a double of Sligo and Motherwell claiming away wins in Europe on Thursday – €10 for a potential return of €58.92.
