Shelbourne sights on championship

By Aidan Fitzmaurice

Shelbourne FC intend to make up for their European exit by winning a second straight Irish Premier Division title. Shelbourne went further in Europe than any Irish team in history, playing eight games in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup before losing to Lille OSC in the first round of the latter competition.

Title target
Manager Pat Fenlon says his players will put Europe behind them and concentrate on the championship. "They know that the only way to get back into the Champions League is by winning the title again," said Fenlon. "The players know they have to step up to another level".

Healthy lead
Shelbourne hold an eight-point lead over Drogheda United FC - on whom they have a game in hand - with ten matches remaining. Apart from Saint Patrick's Athletic FC (1998-99), no Irish side has retained the title since Shamrock Rovers FC won four consecutively from 1983-87.

Bohs rebuild
Bohemian FC have experienced a revival under new player-manager Gareth Farrelly. The Dubliners sacked Stephen Kenny after a surprise UEFA Cup defeat by FC Levadia Tallinn but since he left, Bohemians have been unbeaten in the league. Now third in the table, they were disappointed to drop points at home to Longford Town FC when an injury-time goal earned the visitors a draw.

Drogheda decline
Drogheda had become realistic contenders, moving up to second place and also reaching the FAI Cup semi-finals for the first time in 21 years. But September saw their league ambitions fade with shock home losses to Waterford United FC and Longford.

Old heads
Dublin City FC, bottom of the pile all season, gave themselves some hope of avoiding relegation with a 3-1 win at Shamrock Rovers. Manager Roddy Collins has strengthened their survival bid by bringing in three ex-internationals: Keith Rowland (Northern Ireland), Carlton Palmer (England) and Efan Ekoku (Nigeria).

Barren spell
Shamrock Rovers might also face a relegation fight as they have fallen away badly. After sacking manager Liam Buckley in early September, they have gone seven matches without a win. Former Irish international Noel Synnott has been appointed as caretaker, but the board may seek a higher-profile long-term manager.