PHOTO: Seb Daly Sportsfile
One third of the 2025 League of Ireland season has now been completed and it looks to be the most competitive League of Ireland we have ever seen. Just three points separate 1st and 7th place after twelve games. Meanwhile, the battle to avoid the drop is just as thrilling with four points separating 8th and 10th. With such a tight league table, power rankings are incredibly difficult. But we’ll give it a go.
10th – Cork City
It was a toss up between the two Munster clubs for the bottom slot of this edition. And while the Rebels did get the better of their Munster rivals with a late turnaround at Turners Cross on Easter Monday, City dropped two points as they led fellow strugglers Sligo in the most recent matchday. However a red card for Joshua FitzPatrick gave Sligo the chance to salvage a point and they did just that with a last minute equalizer. It must be said that Cork have responded to the injuries of Sean Maguire and Ruairí Keating quite well.
9th – Waterford
The only reason the Blues aren’t tenth is their most recent win over in-form Derry City at the RSC. Matt Lawlor has come in on an interim basis and nearly masterminded a maximum points weekend if not for a dramatic finish from Cork City at the Cross. However, the Blues came away with a gutsy win over the Candystripes,who had won three of their last four prior to the meeting on Friday night to quell the tide of their losing run. Back to back trips to Dublin await in Bohs and Shelbourne before bogey side Galway United come to town. A big run of games for the south-east club.
8th – Sligo Rovers
Four points from their last available nine brings the Bit O’Red to eighth. A 4-0 win over Waterford and a last gasp draw against Cork City could prove crucial come the end of the campaign. Sligo’s young squad look to be finding results as the season progresses. However, their poor start leaves them lagging behind the Munster duo in the league standings.
7th – Derry City
Just when the Candystripes start to find a bit of form, a spanner in the works appears out of nowhere. Having picked up nine points from their previous twelve before their visit to the RSC on Friday night, everyone had Derry for three points against Waterford. But the Candystripes never appeared to get going. A really frustrating result for Tiernan Lynch’s side considering a win would have taken his side joint top.
6th – Shamrock Rovers
Eight points from your last fifteen is not exactly a bad return. That is unless you are Shamrock Rovers. A bit of leeway could be granted given the fact the squad were kept going with their European run and do appear to be finding some sort of a groove as the season goes on. However, the DAublin derby loss to Bohs will have been a sore one for Stephen Bradley’s charges who have now gone three games without a win.
5th – Drogheda United
Another team that are winless in their last three matches, Drogheda United have stumbled in recent weeks. However, looking closer into the matter, Drogs have held both Shelbourne and St Pat’s to a draw before their most recent defeat to Galway United on the west coast. With Sligo and Cork next up, it presents a real opportunity for the surprise package of the season to get back to winning ways.
4th – St Patrick’s Athletic
It is a bit bizarre to have a side with just one win in their last five in fourth place in the power rankings but it just shows how competitive this season has been so far. Stephen Kenny’s side are not in a bad position in third place, just one point off leaders Galway and Drogheda. The former of which they play on Friday night at Richmond Park in a mouthwatering contest of two very contrasting styles. Caulfield vs Kenny at the top end of the league, where have we seen that before?
3rd – Shelbourne
The reigning champions have found a way to get Mipo Odubeko in the goals in recent weeks with three goals in his last four games. Shels are keeping the train on the tracks as despite only winning one of their last five, if they are not winning, they are drawing. Damien Duff’s side currently boast the least amount of losses in the league so far this season with just one. A quite impressive achievement considering the level of competition this season.
2nd – Galway United
The Tribesmen have been patchy in recent weeks but do find themselves joint top of the league on twenty points. They are also the joint top scorers in the league along with Shamrock Rovers. A real acid test awaits Galway with an away trip to Stephen Kenny’s St Pat’s before welcoming this week’s power rankings leaders to Eamonn Deacy Park.
1st – Bohemians
The North Dublin side’s faith in Alan Reynolds appears to be paying off with four wins from their last five matches. What was just a few weeks ago looking like a relegation scrap has now turned to an unlikely challenge at the top end of the league. Reynolds has really turned the tide in Phibsboro. His popularity surely increasing after recent victories over Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s. The manner in which will be even more sweet as they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in Tallaght with a last gasp winner. To then do nearly the exact same against Pat’s on Friday night with two goals in added time. Waterford are next up for the league’s in form side where a win would solidify credentials as challengers.