LOI state of play: Damien Duff’s Shelbourne target first title since 2006 as league action returns

The League of Ireland returns tonight and with leaders Shelbourne targeting a first title since 2006, the race for Europe hotting up and the relegation battle coming into view, here is the state of play.

CAN SHELS DO IT?

It’s been 18 years since the Reds last lifted the league title and after an impressive campaign to date, destiny remains in their hands with 14 games remaining.

Having led the club to a first FAI Cup final in 11 years in his first season in charge before securing a long-awaited return to Europe last season, Shels’ resurgence under Damien Duff has continued this term. And with 43 points from 22 games, they sit top of the table.

Second-placed Derry City are two points off the leaders but Duff’s men have a game in hand on the Candystripes. Their lead on champions Shamrock Rovers currently stands at 12 points, having taken seven points from their three clashes so far, although the Hoops have one game in hand.

The Reds flew out of the traps in 2024 with six successive wins amid a nine-match unbeaten run, before they suffered back-to-back defeats to Bohemians and Galway in April.

Duff’s men have suffered just one defeat since then (to Sligo last month) and have won five of their last six ahead of tonight’s home clash with Galway. Duff signed a new long-term deal with the club, as did his staff last week, while they have brought in former Bohs midfielder Ali Coote to bolster their title charge.

As they target glory this term, performing against teams outside of Dublin will be key. Shels have secured big derby wins over Shamrock Rovers (home and away), Bohemians and St Patrick’s Athletic already this term.

However, out of the 10 games they have dropped points in so far this season, eight have come against sides from outside of the capital.

TITLE CHALLENGERS?

With his side chasing a fifth successive league title, Hoops boss Stephen Bradley admitted he’s unsure if his side have what it takes to reclaim their crown, after falling to a sixth defeat this year at St Pat’s before the break. That’s two more than they lost across the whole of last season.

The champions will close that gap should they win their game in hand on Shels. But with a huge Champions League first-round qualifier to come in a fortnight – before the new FAI Cup campaign gets under way – Rovers will need all hands on deck if they are to knock Duff’s men off top spot.

With 15 games left for Rovers, they come into tonight’s trip to Sligo on a run of two wins in eight. But the summer break will have given some players time to rest and recover, with Bradley’s side being hit hard with injuries this season.

Pico Lopes, Dan Cleary, Jack Byrne, Neil Farrugia, Aaron McEneff and Gary O’Neill are just some of the names who have faced spells out so far this year.

“Come November if it’s enough, it’s enough. If it’s not, it’s not. If we keep doing our stuff, let’s see where it takes us,” said Bradley a fortnight ago, after his side lost at St Pat’s to a 96th-minute winner. Only time will tell if Rovers can make up the ground on Duff’s men.

RACE FOR EUROPE?

With newly-promoted Waterford and Galway currently occupying fourth and fifth spot, this season is shaping up to be the tightest race for Europe we’ve seen for a long time.

With most expecting Shelbourne, Derry and Shamrock Rovers to fill the top three spots come the end of the season, we could see a four-way battle for fourth place. That would be enough for Europe should a top-three side lift the FAI Cup.

Keith Long’s Blues have made an impressive return to the top flight and are on 31 points, with six wins in nine putting them in the conversation for Europe, while Galway sit one point behind with a game in hand. John Caulfield’s men have made a good return to the division too, boasting the best defensive record of the season to date with just 13 goals conceded in 20 games.

Below them, St Pat’s sit in sixth on 27 points, but will be well aware that the teams around them all have games in hand. Stephen Kenny’s men secured a huge win over the champions before the break, and having taken the reins last month he’ll hope that victory can kickstart a push up the table for the Saints, who signed goalkeeper Joseph Anang from West Ham this week.

Sligo Rovers sit seventh on 25 points with eighth-placed Bohemians one point behind. With seven points between fourth and eighth, putting a small run of results together could make a big difference.

RELEGATION BATTLE?

Jon Daly has steadied the ship since arriving at Dundalk a little over a month ago with wins over Sligo and his former club St Pat’s before the break.

The Lilywhites sit in ninth, five points off Bohs who have two games in hand on the Louth side. They’ll hope other sides are able to do them a favour as they look to avoid the promotion/relegation play-off later this year.

Dundalk’s neighbours Drogheda sit bottom of the table, three points off ninth having taken 16 points from 21 games to date. Kevin Doherty’s men are without a win since May 6.

Having held St Pat’s and Shels to draws at home this term, they can frustrate teams, but they must start finding victories soon if they are to avoid the drop.

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