Keith Treacy: Title still there for goal-shy Shelbourne to claim

One league win in the last seven games and the goals are drying up. Still Shelbourne lead the way in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division title race.

Their lead at the summit is now down to three points, this after a loss away to Galway United on Friday evening, while elsewhere Derry City earned a point late on against Shamrock Rovers after converting a controversial penalty on Foyleside. As for the Hoops, they lie seven points adrift of their Dublin rivals in third, still not out of the race to clinch what would be a record five top-flight titles on the spin.

The trio have six games left to play.

Shelbourne have been looking down on the rest for the past few months. Their trip west saw them again draw a blank as they failed to reply to Jimmy Keohane's early strike for the hosts.

Damien Duff's side welcome Sligo Rovers to Tolka Park on Friday next; a win would be welcome for the home faithful as they look to arrest the slide.

Yet Keith Treacy, speaking on the latest RTÉ Soccer Podcast, feels Shels can deliver the big prize even if it's a case of them crawling over the line.

"It still Shelbourne's to lose," he feels, in spite of their inability to add greatly to their goals-for column.

"They didn't seem to have a gear to get themselves a goal and that's the one real worry from the Shelbourne point of view," he added.

"When they go behind they don't seem to have that gear from an attacking sense to go up those levels. When somebody gets their nose in front that's when it's difficult for them.

"Nobody wants to go and have a game of football with Galway because you will be asked questions of your defence. There will be balls coming in left, right and centre you'll have to deal with; the odd elbow will be thrown so it will get a