This weekend's wrap-up is a little later than usual because one member of the balls.ie LOI team was physically unable to function yesterday. They will remain nameless to protect me. Anyway, here's what you should know...
1) St Patrick's Athletic are Champions!
Following Dundalk's draw away to Bohs on Saturday night, it became a question of when Pats would wrap up the title rather than anything else. At 7pm on Sunday that was answered emphatically as they beat outgoing champs Sligo Rovers 2-0. Following Greg Bolger's wonderstrike, Pats were always in control and ran out deserved winners on the day. The best team always wins the league and Pats have won it with 2 games to spare. At least one of the balls.ie team (again, no names...) has first hand experience of the (still ongoing) celebrations in Inchicore and can attest to their ferocity. Check out our pick of the best photos from the day here.
2) Bray Wanderers are still fighting
Lost in Pats title win was a hugely important win for Bray Wanderers as they fight to avoid relegation. Bottom before the weekend, Bray saw Shelbourne lose to Cork on Thursday and beat Limerick on Sunday for their first win in 15 attempts. They now have a 3 point lead on Shels with only 2 games to go. Shels travel to Limerick tomorrow night before hosting UCD on the final night. Bray play Bohemians in Dalymount on Friday night and host Dundalk on that tension filled last night.
3) Advantage Derry in the race for 4th
A scoreless draw between Derry City and Shamrock Rovers leaves Derry with a 3 point advantage with 2 games to go as both sides look to snatch fourth and a potential Europa League spot. Rovers continued their wretched away form. They now have only 3 wins and 10 goals (the league's lowest total) in 16 away games. Derry look to have caught a break and will face a likely hungover/experimental Pats side in Inchicore next Friday.
4) Important points for UCD and Bohs
Bohs late, late equaliser at home to Dundalk not only damaged Dundalk's title run, it could prove invaluable in their battle against relegation. They now can't be relegated automatically but if they lose to Bray on Friday, they'll only be 2 points ahead going into the last day. UCD's draw with Drogheda means that Shelbourne must win both their last games (the second of which is against UCD) if they've to have any chance of catching them. Relegation will go down to the last day.
5) The First Division is finished
For one year (and maybe more...), the First Division is over and Athlone barely cared about losing to Longford on Saturday as they were awarded the trophy after the game. The victory matter for Longford though and couple win a win for Mervue and a loss for Waterford, it means that Mervue and Longford will meet in the first round of the player offs over the next 2 weeks. It has been a mini-collapse by Waterford who were pushing for automatic promotion 2 months ago but Mervue's brilliant form eclipsed them on the final day. There have been rumours that the Galway side may be precluded from entering the Premier Division race but FAI sources say that is now not the case. The winner of that tie will play the 11th placed team in the Premier.
We'll have more on Pats title win throughout the week here.
