We’re at the quarter mark of the League of Ireland Premier Division (bar three games outstanding due to the weather) so it’s time to grade the teams so far.
Obviously, the league table is the ultimate grading tool, but we’re grading against pre-season expectation so, for example, a team in fourth may have a higher grade than a team in third.
We will, however, take them in league order. With that preamble out of the way, here we go…
Shelbourne – A
Quite an obvious grade here. While at least one pre-season preview predicated they’d be in the top three this season, there wasn’t a single pundit who suggested they’d be top. Damien Duff’s charges are six points clear and have yet to taste defeat this season so why have they not received an “A+” grade?
Mainly because they’ve drawn the last two games and they’ve only one win by more than one goal this season. Last season, Bohemians were the early pacesetters and some are wondering if Shels will fall away as quickly this term. Three of their next four games are Dublin derbies. Wins for Shels there and they’ll shed most of their doubters.
1 April 2024; Shelbourne manager Damien Duff celebrates after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Derry City at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Derry City – C
Derry City are second, so it might be harsh to have them with a low-ish grade but we can’t give a club without an away win more than a C. Indeed, the Candystripes hadn’t won in three games prior to last week’s thumping of Dundalk.
The flip of that is they’ve drawn away to Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne and beaten St Patrick’s Athletic at home – albeit with the last kick of the game. As we said, the grading isn’t just about results and the vibes in Derry aren’t great. Nothing that a few big wins won’t cure you’d imagine.
5 April 2024; Will Patching of Derry City celebrates with teammates after scoring their side's second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Dundalk at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
St Patrick’s Athletic – C-
If these grades were issued last week, St Pat's might have been lucky to scrape a D. Four defeats in the opening six games saw the first murmurings of discontent with manager Jon Daly since the FAI Cup win last season. Daly’s recruiting skills were being questioned as he changed formation and dropped Liverpool loanee Marcelo Pitaluga from goal.
However, a great win over (then second-placed) Sligo Rovers followed by a dogged win over Shamrock Rovers seemingly has Inchicore bouncing again so Pat's get a C- grade. They have seven games over the next 29 days including away games with Derry, Shels and Shamrock Rovers. If they’re still top three by then, they can be very happy.
5 April 2024; Conor Keeley of St Patrick's Athletic celebrates after his side's victory in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Sligo Rovers – B
Up until last week this was going to be an A. Tipped to struggle by many, Rovers had the standout result of the season with their 5-0 hammering of Dundalk in Oriel Park. A win in their postponed game at home to Galway United last weekend would have put them second in the league.
The addition of Ellis Chapman has been one of the signings of the pre-season along with the return of Ed McGinty in goal. McGinty went off with concussion in their 3-0 defeat by St Pat's. The manner of that defeat was enough to drop them down to a B, but the Showgrounds faithful have to be delighted at the start to the season.
29 March 2024; Ellis Chapman of Sligo Rovers celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Waterford and Sligo Rovers at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Shamrock Rovers – C-
We’ve been here before with Rovers. Last year they started so slowly that we talked ourselves into a title race that was effectively over by the end of the summer. Bookmakers still make the side chasing a fifth consecutive title odds-on favourites for the league despite their nine-point deficit (their game in hand is at home to Drogheda and a win there puts them level with Derry on 15 points).
This year may be different though. There are four teams ahead of Rovers and they haven’t beaten any of them, including losses to Shels and Pats, but the biggest difference may be in goal. The always superb Alan Mannus has retired, and Leon Pohls is yet to prove he’s a capable replacement. Have we talked ourselves into a title race again? Damn it!
5 April 2024; Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley before the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers at Richmond Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Waterford – C+
Waterford ended last year miles behind Galway but there was always a sense that their imports would be of sufficient quality to see them above the Tribesman and relatively safe from relegation trouble. That has proved to be the case and Waterford find themselves in that cluster of six clubs separated by only three points.
They slipped down the grading scale after four games without a win but the 1-0 win away to Bohemians brings them back up to a C+. Another run of defeats will obviously see them slip here too.
4 March 2024; Padraig Amond of Waterford celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Waterford and St Patrick's Athletic at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Galway United – B-
I expected Galway United to struggle this season and by and large, they haven’t. They’ve been in every game and their win in Derry ranks among the best wins any club can boast. Their record against Dublin clubs – four defeats in four games, no goals scored – need to improve but against the teams expected to struggle, United have proved to be better than most of them.
John Caulfield’s side remain the ultimate pragmatists and they probably aren’t the best side to watch on TV but Galway fans won’t care if they stay up and build on it.
29 March 2024; Galway United captain Conor McCormack celebrates with the Galway United supporters after their side's victory in he SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Galway United at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Bohemians – C-
If Bohemians win their game in hand against Dundalk by two goals – far from inconceivable – they’d be ahead of St Pat's - who they’ve beaten – and in third place. So why are they getting a lower grade than most clubs?
When you play so poorly that you have to sack your manager, you have to be graded accordingly. Declan Devine left a big task for Alan Reynolds, but there wasn’t a better candidate for the job on the island. Reynolds has talent to work with too, and if he can get their defence organised, Bohs could be a in a lot better place at the end of the next series of games. Two defeats in his opening three games show it won’t be easy though.
1 April 2024; James Akintunde of Bohemians, third from left, celebrates with team-mates, from left, Luke Matheson, Jordan Flores, Devon Mills and James McManus during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Galway United and Bohemians at Eamonn Deacy Park in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
Drogheda United – C+
It’s always hard to judge Drogheda United. They’re the only part-time team in the division, but most of their players and their manager are full-time. They clearly have the lowest budget in the league, but their use of loans from England has been exceptional. (Young centre half Hayden Cann has been one of the league’s stand out performers.)
They’re second bottom and have only won once this season, but they have only lost once in five games. Drogheda can’t get higher than a C+ with only seven points on the board but they can’t be any lower either.
5 April 2024; Evan Weir of Drogheda United celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Drogheda United and Shelbourne at Weavers Park in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Dundalk – F
Dundalk with three points, no wins, three goals scored, and no manager are currently receiving an F grade. There’s no real choice here. They’ve yet to score a goal at home and that includes games against the side second bottom and the two promoted clubs.
The rights and wrongs of every managerial sacking can be discussed at length, but first year chairman Brian Ainscough has made the decision to sack Stevie O’Donnell and whoever replaces him will have a huge task to keep the Lilywhites in the division, only four years on from their last European group stage football.
29 March 2024; Louie Annesley of Dundalk reacts after his side's defeat in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shelbourne and Dundalk at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
So that’s the ten. Question marks remain for all of them. Will Shels continue at this pace? Will Derry or Rovers get back into it? Will Dundalk get a lift from a new manager (whenever they arrive)? There’s a lot of football left to be played.
See Also: Duff Tired Of "Needless" Ireland Manager Talk As Latest Candidate Drops Out
