New boys doing well as table takes unusual shape

THERE is a curious slant to the League of Ireland Premier Division table after the first double-header of the season.

Occupying the bottom three places are St Patrick’s Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk who, between them, have won 11 of the last 12 titles — Cork City, currently in the First Division, won the other in 2017.

Few foresaw that start but the champions were slow starters in 2023 too but made up ground and won snugly.

With a raft of front-line players to return in the coming weeks, Stephen Bradley will not be unduly concerned at the Hoops’ position. The Saints have lost three games on the spin while Dundalk have lost both their outings.

Unlike Daly, who delivered the FAI Cup last year, Stephen O’Donnell doesn’t have as much credit in the bank as a decent 2022 with Dundalk was followed by an indifferent 2023.

The Saints play Dundalk on Friday when defeat for either team would further erode their title ambitions and may prompt early season chatter.

The most striking aspect of the early skirmishes has been the impact of promoted sides, Waterford and Galway, who have each won two of their opening four games.

Standing atop the division are Shelbourne, who have chiselled out three wins by a single goal. Not a lot has happened at Tolka Park since 2006, as Damien Duff keeps telling everyone.

But it’s happening now. A Cup final appearance in 2022 was followed by fourth place and Euro return in 2023 under the Irish centurion.

It’s early days, of course, but having an eight-point advantage on Rovers, with a win over them to boot, has given Shels a foothold in the title equation.

Their presence is as intriguing as it is welcome.