First Division race hots up

A surprising run of results at the top of the eircom First division of late has left four sides in with a shout of promotion as we hit the halfway mark. Before the break in early June, it looked to all as though Shels’ and Dundalk would be battling it out for the sole promotion spot at the end of the season following poor results for Waterford and Sporting Fingal, however in the four games since then, the gap between the four clubs has decreased dramatically.

Shels’, top and flying with seven wins on the bounce as we ended May, haven’t won since, and after a demoralising 3-0 defeat away to Dundalk in the cup, lost to Longford and could only manage draws at home to Sporting and away at Waterford.

Not to be outdone however, despite beating their rivals in the cup, Dundalk have also failed to impress as they went down to Waterford away and Limerick at Oriel park, before arresting the slide last week with a slender win over Athlone thanks to a late penalty - without which would have resulted in “a disastrous draw” , as our reported chimed.

Given Shels’ poor results, Dundalk will be looking at the recent spell as a missed opportunity however the late win last week may well prove pivotal come the end of the season.

Waterford faced the three sides around them within five league fixtures and after being completely destroyed away at Sporting in May, they began somewhat of a revival. After beating Limerick just before the league break by a healthy margin, they overcame the disappointment of losing to Premier Division side Galway in the cup to beat Dundalk at home before repeating the feat away at Kildare. A home draw last Friday against Shels’ left them one point off the top and far better off than most may have expected.

Far better than even Gareth Cronin may have expected following their defeat away at Shels’ earlier in the season: “There’s a systematic problem that in the last three years Waterford have won one match away from home each season, and it’s obviously a problem”. A problem Cronin seems to have admirably addressed despite the financial difficulties within the club.

Sporting faced a different task. Going into the break they were a distant fourth after losing an action packed game away at Dundalk at the end of May. They then beat Premier Division side Cobh in the cup before they again flattered to deceive in the league, narrowly avoiding a crushing loss to Kildare at Morton Stadium - thanks to two late Robbie Doyle strikes.

However an impressive display away at Shels’ the following week, in which they were unlucky not to get the win, coupled with the failings of both Shels’ and Dundalk the week previous, gave them hope. That hope turned into realisation last Friday with a 4-0 victory over Monaghan to leave Sporting six points off the top and now well in the race.

All four sides meet in the last three weeks of the season and judging by recent results, they may all still be in with a shout, offering an exciting end to anyone involved.

This weeks fixtures:

Wexford Youths v Sporting Fingal

Shelbourne v Limerick 37

Monaghan United v Waterford United

Kildare County v Dundalk

Athlone Town v Longford Town