The Run in: Relegation Zone - who will go down and who will survive

It`s been a strange sort of season. By the time Sean Maguire had finished scoring and had left for Preston in late July, any lingering hope of a title race was well and truly buried. The pre-season talk of several clubs competing for this year`s league, (including Derry and Shamrock Rovers), now seemed like wishful thinking and the fight for survival became the main focus.

Drogheda began the season well and looked solid and competitive till their season suddenly imploded after April. Four wins in their 31 league games to date is a dreadful return and it`ll be interesting to see if two of their more talented players - their keeper Stephen Mc Guinness and their outfield player Adam Wixted - will find Premier Division clubs for next season.

Drogheda`s latest defeat at the Market`s Field should ensure safety for Limerick, who are now five points clear of the dreaded relegation zone. But what of the other four sides? Harps look the most likely to go down, being five points from safety and having a chronic goal difference. Their remaining two games are winnable, home to Drogheda and away to a Bohs team with little to play for, but Harps would have to win both and hope that the other three sides don`t pick up points. In their recent home game against Dundalk, in a poorly attended Finn Park, it seemed as though the Harps fans were already resigned to life in the First Division.

While Drogheda and Harps are relatively small clubs in this division, the same can`t be said of Pat`s, Sligo and Galway. A single point separates the three sides, with St. Pat`s and Sligo on 35 and Galway on 34. On paper, the Saints would seem to have the most difficult run-in, with their remaining two games at home to Cork and away to Derry. A big factor here will be the outcome of the Cork-Derry game and whether or not Cork will already be champions when they travel to Richmond Park.

Draws have certainly cost Sligo and Galway this season. Both these sides have actually lost less games than Shamrock Rovers and Bray, who finished well above them in the league. In the case of Sligo, 14 draws amount to a lot of points dropped and Galway must also wonder how they drew so many, with 13 over the course of the season.

Sligo have a massive home game next weekend. If they can keep their nerve and get anything from Derry, (even another draw), you would fancy them to get all three points in their final game at Drogheda. Derry are assured of European football for next season but they won`t be coming to the Showgrounds to make up the numbers. They’re in a mini-tussle with Shamrock Rovers for 3rd place and need points.

So where does that leave Galway? Their survival is out of their own hands as they sit in 10th place. Next up is a tough away game at the Markets Field and I feel that Galway really need to take all three points to give themselves any hope. Their final game is at home to Dundalk, who are not the kind of opposition you need when you`re desperately trying to stay up. But that said, Kenny may rest players for the cup final and give his fringe players a start.

While we normally associate the business end of the league with a title race, that is unlikely to keep us entertained till the very last day thanks to Sean Maguire and his 20 goals. At least we have an exciting finale at the other end of the table, a relegation scrap to keep our interest till the very end.