There's been no European football since our last report (in the men's game anyway...), but it may have been a very important week of domestic action.
We might have effectively had both divisions wrapped up while the clubs below them are starting to form into tiers. Conversely, with Shelbourne in Women's Champions League action last weekend, a title race may have developed in their absence.
Here's what you need to know from week 29.
Shamrock Rovers put Dundalk in their place
Cleary 👉 Gaffney 👉 Greene
Brilliant goal on the break which gives Shamrock Rovers the lead! 👏@ShamrockRovers 1-0 @DundalkFC
Watch live 📺 | https://t.co/XzUQXBI22c#LOI | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/BxUzLBJ8lj— SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) August 21, 2022
No European hangover this week for Rovers who put closest challengers Dundalk to the sword with a 3-0 win in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday.
Rovers took their chances well with the tireless Rory Gaffney again at the heart of it all. Dundalk could have moved to within a point of Rovers but now sit seven points behind with a game more played.
It's still a fine season for Stephen O'Donnell's men if they can secure European football and they should. Rovers will speak publicly about how the league is the most important goal every year but privately they must think they have enough breathing room to give the Europa Conference League games everything now.
Their squad is still pretty light but they've a very strong 14-15 every week and in this league, that appears to be good enough.
The race for 2023-24 Europa Conference League
A good week for St Patrick's Athletic with the Saints being the only club in the 2nd to 8th range to win a game. They beat UCD 2-1 in Belfield and now sit seven points ahead of the pack in 4th place.
Derry are four points ahead of them thanks to 1-1 draw in Drogheda. Of course 4th place only qualifies for Europe if the cup winners finish in the top three so both clubs will desperately want to finish in the automatic qualifying spot.
Anything less than European qualification will be a disappointment for both clubs, albeit Pats having to rebuild in the off season.
Damien Duff versus the world
Give me this over someone who doesn’t give a toss every day of the week.
God bless Damien Duff. pic.twitter.com/Y3oyC30qgl— Connor (@_CLMike_) August 19, 2022
We started this season tongue-in-cheekily writing Damien Duff's Shelbourne when discussing the team, such was the interest in one of our finest ever footballers.
Duff has done his best to stay in the headlines since.
Two weeks ago he blasted St Pats before getting into a bit of a war of words with Drogheda manager Kevin Doherty, himself a long time Shels man, following Ryan Brennan's celebration in front of Duff and this week he doubled down on that.
Duff followed their 1-1 with draw with Bohemians with a chest thumping celebration in front of Shels fans. The celebration police throughout the league took offence, others poked a little fun and Shelbourne fans seemed to love it.
We still don't know if Duff is a good manger or not (his team is pretty much where they should be), but Duff is certainly box office.
The WNL has a title race?
GOAL ⚽️ | Wexford Youths 1-0 DLR Waves
Ellen Molloy with a fine solo goal and Wexford are ahead!
Watch it LIVE on LOITV 👉 https://t.co/0oocBKijKl#WNL | #LOITV pic.twitter.com/9PdUbTjuL2— Women's National League (@LoiWomen) August 20, 2022
While Shelbourne were being dumped out of Europe by Valur in Slovenia last weekend, Wexford Youths continued their excellent domestic form with a 4-1 win over DLR Waves and the 2018 Champions are suddenly only two points behind Shels.
Ciara Rossiter may have scored twice but again it was Ellen Molloy who starred for Youths. There's lots of football to be played (this weekend its Bohs v Wexford, Galway v Shels) but the final day of the season sees Shelbourne travel to Wexford.
We couldn't get a final day decider, could we?
Play-offs loom for Galway United
While Cork City need to come back in the second half in Cobh, they did so and got the all important three points. The same couldn't be said for Galway United who lost 2-1 at home to Bray Wanderers and now lie seven points adrift of the leaders.
The challenge for John Caulfield will be keeping Galway focused as they're unlikely to catch City, and they won't miss the play offs. The Premier Division play off representative is Finn Harps at the moment and even they are starting to find some form. They've won their last two home games including a 3-2 win over Sligo on Friday night.
It won't be easy for full-time Galway to get out of the first division.
Cup weekend
After Shamrock Rovers finish up in the Europa League against Ferencvaros on Thursday, all eyes this weekend will be on the FAI Cup. Derry City v Cork City is probably the pick of the games but in general the big sides have avoided each other. The biggest opportunity for a non LOI side to beat a LOI side looks to be Maynooth University Town hosting Treaty United.
Oh and there's 3 big games in the Premier Division next Monday too. More on them next week...
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