Europe's done and dusted and for most clubs this weekend sees the end of the second series of games. We're just about on the home stretch now and every game is crucial with 5 teams thinking they can win the league and 7 teams thinking about relegation. In a 12 team league you can't ask for more. Here's our pick of the weekend story lines to look out for.
1) Will either team win the battle of the Rovers on Saturday?
Saturday evening sees the past 2 league champions clash in Sligo Rovers host Shamrock Rovers. Champions Sligo have stuttered recently and have only won 3 of their last 12 league games. Thanks to their blistering start they only remain 4 points off the league leaders but they'll need to start winning more regularly to keep pace at the top. Shamrock Rovers still believe they can win the title but they're 8 points behind Pats (who have a game in hand) and lie in 5th place. They can't afford to keep drawing games (11 in 21 games so far). In their 10 away games so far, they have won only 2 and scored only 7. If they fail to win on Saturday, they might have to concede the title is gone.
2) Can Pats get back on track?
It's 4 weeks since Pats won a game. In between they've been knocked out in Europe, seen their back-up team knocked out of the League Cup and drawn 1-1 in Sligo. Handily for Pats, those games used up key suspensions and the excellent midfield trio of Bolger, Brennan and Russell can play together for the first time in 2 months in the league. They face a Cork side that is hit and miss recently. 2 good performances and results at home to Sligo and Dundalk sandwiched a disappointing loss to Shelbourne. Pats have set their sights on the league title and they can't afford to drop points in games like this. The game is live on Setanta Sports at 8pm
3) Can Derry recover quickly from their European hangover?
Derry lost 0-3 to Trabzonspor last night in the Europa League but held their own for the guts of an hour before defensive errors killed them. On Sunday they have a tricky looking trip to Thomond Park to play Limerick knowing they'll need a win to keep pace with the leaders before next week's big game with Sligo Rovers. Limerick are the nearest team we have to mid-table obscurity but in this league a run of defeats could see them dragged back into a fight.
4) Can Dundalk keep the pressure up?
Dundalk have won 4 of their last 5 home games as they sit in 2nd place. Last week's draw in Cork may not have been their goal for the weekend but any side that fights back twice to claim a point can take positives from it. Tonight is the first of back-to-back home games for Dundalk and they should have enough to dispose of Bray Wanderers before the visit of Shamrock Rovers next week.
5) Which won of 4 teams will be bottom tonight?
Wins for Bohs and Shels last week certainly made the relegation battle a far broader affair with 5 points covering the bottom 5 teams! Tonight sees 4 of the bottom 5 play each other (the 5th, Bray, travel to Dundalk). Bohs under new manager Owen Heary host Drogheda while Shels travel to UCD. Wins for the 2 northside clubs would see them leapfrog Bray and UCD and incredibly would leave only 2 points separating 8th from bottom (3 points if Bray win in Dundalk!). If that happens Cork might start to get worried too.
Whatever happens, enjoy the games!
