From goal shy to travel sick - Assessing Shamrock Rovers' title rivals

The final quarter of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division season is upon us, and half of the league could still have a say in who emerges as champions. With just eight points between first and fifth, all is still to play for with European places also on the line.

The season returns from last week’s FAI Cup round with a double-double of six-point contests. This Friday Bohemians (fourth) play Derry City (third) while Shamrock Rovers (leaders) face Dundalk (fifth). A week later it will be Dundalk meeting Derry as well as Bohs going to take on Shamrock Rovers. The difference between taking six or zero points in the next seven days could define seasons.

Shamrock Rovers go into the final phase with the advantage of the experience of winning the last three titles, a four-point lead, the best goal difference and no distractions of cup football. Stephen Bradley will feel like his group knows what it takes to see it out from here.

But what about their rivals? What would it take for any of the other four top-half sides to usurp the Hoops’ four-in-a-row ambitions? Let’s looks at the key factors for each team.

Although currently sitting third, Derry probably have the best chance of taking first place. A win in their game in hand, against a UCD team with only two wins all season, would place them just two points back. They can boast a win over Shamrock Rovers this season, something both Bohs and Pat’s can’t.

But to grab a league title they will need to provide a better answer to the question we posed in our season preview – can they score enough goals at home? So far, they have scored 10 fewer than Shamrock Rovers and eight fewer than each of Bohs, Dundalk and Pat’s.

The Candystripes have had a weakness in hitting the target both at