Opinion - The sensational six-team relegation battle

SSE Airtricity League reporter Tom Clancy looks in detail at the six-team relegation battle, offers his analysis and insight, and offers his prediction on what the situation will be come the end of the season...

While the mid-season break allowed many players and coaches the time to rest and recuperate, the entire bottom-half of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division would be forgiven for being stressed. Just six points separates Bohemians, 7^th, and Galway United in 12^th. 

It appears that the entire bottom half are in danger of dropping down to a 10-team First Division for 2018. As soon as a team has moved away from the drop zone, they are hauled back in. The games will appear to carry even more weight during the second half of the season as the pressure mounts on two recent league winners, three sides who have been promoted in recent years and a side who have never played in the second tier of Irish football.

Three loses on the bounce prior to the break might prove costly for Galway United. The Tribesmen hadn’t suffered a defeat in nine competitive games, but defeats to Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians and Derry City have seen Shane Keegan’s side slide to the bottom of the division. Despite boasting the joint-fourth best defensive record in the division, Keegan has been left frustrated with a lack of goals, former Ipswich Town striker Ronan Murray has notched 6 of their 15 goals thus far. The team have scored twice in just two games, beating Finn Harps and Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park.  They need Vinny Faherty and Padraic Cunningham to start firing if they are to extend their three-year spell in the top tier. Ultimately, I believe that their good defensive structure game should see them pick up enough points to climb the table quite soon, especially should they start finding the net more often.

St. Patrick’s Athletic most recently earned a point in Tallaght, which was enough to see them climb off the bottom. However, their run of just one victory since the end of March is concerning for the Inchicore faithful. Liam Buckley has seen his side take just seven points from eight home games, the lowest in the division.  Injury to Christy Fagan has seen goals hard to come-by, but the striker did find the net to hault Shamrock Rovers. The influential forward must add to his four goals , while Conan Bryne (3) and Kurtis Byrne (5) will be hoping for more in front of goal. Two clean sheets in 17 outings will disappoint Gavin Peers and his colleagues, but Conor O’Malley has been in inspired form to earn the Saints valuable away points against Derry City, Bray Wanderers and Shamrock Rovers.  The worry is that the Saints concede too many chances and have struggled at home thus far, making them a real contender for relegation.


Sligo Rovers occupy the third relegation spot at present; Gerard Lyttle has added Seamus Sharkey and Rhys McCabe in recent weeks, as his side look to improve on just two league wins since the middle of March. A comprehensive defeat of Limerick was followed by a humbling loss to Dundalk, as Lyttle continues to find his sides best combinations since replacing Dave Robertson in the hot-seat. Improving their away form will be crucial, the Bit o’ Red have suffered heavy defeats to Limerick and Dundalk, though that Oriel thrashing was their only away loss in their last five. Kieran Sadlier’s influence has been clear but others will need to follow suit for the 2012 Premier Division champions.  Sadlier has netted seven times thus far, while proving a consistent danger on the flanks. A full-time team with the potential to add new players should see them safe, but Lyttle will need to see a vast improvement soon.

 

Drogheda United have gone goal shy of late. Pete Mahon’s side have failed to score in their last five outings, however, three successive 0-0 draws has kept their heads above water for now. Unsurprisingly, given their recent baron spell, the Boynesiders are the lowest scorers in the league, with just 13 goals – as many as Gary McCabe and three less than Sean Maguire.  Despite winning their opening two games, they’ve added just two more since, with Adam Wixted (3) their top marksman. The loss of Gareth McCaffrey, who had scored twice, appears to have been negated by the signature of former Ireland under-21 International Ryan Masterson. Drogheda United started the season with two wins on the bounce, but they’ve won just two times in their 14 outings since. Their goal difference has become the worst in the division while the 13 goals represent the lowest in the division. Longford Town were relegated after scoring just 25 goals last season, Drogheda will need to improve going forward to stay up.

Finn Harps have steadied themselves with a decent run prior to the break. After having an injury crisis a number of weeks ago, the Donegal outfit ended a run of five consecutive defeats with a brace of victories over St. Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick. They followed this up with another point against Sligo Rovers. The lack of depth in the Finn Harps squad has seen Ollie Horgan unable to name a full bench on occasion; with the Donegal side doing admirably to jump ahead of their rivals in the table through their recent run. I feel that their tight squad may find it difficult to maintain consistent form to stay above 10^th spot. Their clear improvement in front of goal this season has been contrasted with concession of 32 goals, the highest number in the division.

Bohemians, 7^th, also climbed the table after impressive wins over Galway and Bray. The recent 0-0 draw with Drogheda sees them four clear of the relegation zone after indifferent form without Dinny Corcoran. The Dublin 7 side lacked a goal scoring touch without Corcoran, failing to score in six out of seven games between the end of March and May 19^th. The return of Corcoran proved inspirational, as he scored three of their four goals in their pair 2-1 away wins in Wicklow and Galway. Bohemians played some games without a natural striker in Corcoran’s absence, which will have frustrated Keith Long.  Former Usher Celtic man Steo Donnelly has been added to the strike-force, though coming from junior football, he is unproven at this level. It appears a fit Corcoran will be key for a club that have never been relegated.

The battle for the drop should prove to be exciting until the final day of the season in October, with  July likely to be the pivotal month for many sides. The transfer window may allow some sides to improve their squads to move clear of danger. Finn Harps and Drogheda United have operated off tight budgets, something which could cost them their place in the division by gameweek 33. St. Patrick’s Athletic are unfamiliar with this situation and have failed to build on their back-to-back wins in gameweeks 6 and 7. This reporter believes that Galway United, Sligo Rovers and Bohemians should have enough to retain their Premier Division status.