For the first time since 2013, it looks like Dundalk will not be Premier Division champions.
11 points behind Cork City with four games left, it looks like Stephen Kenny's side will be playing the bridesmaid's role this season.
A teenage Sean Hoare was on the fringes of that St. Patrick's Athletic League winning-team of 2013, before forcing his way into the side the following year. The centre-half moved to Dundalk ahead of the new season last December.
Part of the team that drew 1-1 with Cork earlier this week to postpone their League-winning party, the 23-year-old thinks the side showed character to level the game in the final five minutes.
With the turnover of players this year, it was always going to be hard to hit the ground running and continue the heights were reached last year. It took a bit of time for new players like myself to embed in the squad. In the last few months, we have shown form and knitted together.
In Turners Cross, we showed a lot of spirit and heart to come back in the second half, and spoil Cork's party.
Cork are unbackable favourites to win the League, having led the league from the first week. Despite that, they have stumbled their way to the finish line and Hoare is still hoping for a slip-up.
While it's still mathematically possible, we can never say never. If Cork slipped up, lost all their remaining games and we weren't there to take advantage we'd be kicking ourselves.
Hopefully they do slip. The 1-1 draw [on Monday] makes it more likely. Cork did make it interesting though, dragging their feet for a few weeks.
While Dundalk's bid for the four-in-a-row looks to have fallen short, the team have still won the League Cup title. This weekend they play Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup semi-final and could complete cup double next month in the Aviva Stadium.
After the gap Cork created in the league, plenty were saying we were not as good as last season. We've won the League Cup and could win the FAI Cup. I think everyone will look back on it as a successful season. We've hit form at the right time. Hopefully we can do the cup double.
While his time on the pitch has been limited compared to previous seasons with St. Pats, he has no regret from moving north to Co. Louth.
I've really benefited from moving to Dundalk. I haven't played as many games as I'd wanted. In doing so, I think I've learned more than I maybe would have from playing every week.
It's been a learning curve. Stephen Kenny is a great manager and I trust every decision he makes.
Pictured at the launch of FIFA 18 Club packs at the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin is Sean Hoare of Dundalk. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
