From Unison.ie
Soccer Correspondent Gerry McDermott recalls the drama of six memorable last day finishes when the destination of the title went to the last day.
1988
TRAILING Dundalk by a point going into the final game of the season, St Patrick's Athletic needed to beat the leaders at Oriel Park to take the title.
Brian Kerr's side got off to the best possible start when Pat Fenlon converted an early first half penalty to put them in the driving seat.
But Dessie Gorman equalised just before half-time and Dundalk held out for the point they need to take the title after a nerve-tingling second half.
1991
CORK CITY led the table by one point going into their last game of the campaign at home to second-placed Dundalk.
Turner's Cross was in party mood as Cork went in search of the point they needed to bring the League pennant back to Leeside for the first time since 1974.
But, 17 minutes from the end, Tom McNulty popped up to hammer home the goal that gave Dundalk a dramatic 1-0 win and the title.
1993
BOHEMIANS needed only one point from their trip to Dundalk on the last day to finish ahead of Cork City and Shelbourne.
But their bus broke down on the way to Oriel Park and they arrived 45 minutes late to discover that League officials had already offered Dundalk the points.
Dundalk sportingly refused the offer and went out and took the three points on the pitch as Tom McNulty's 66th minute piledriver decided the result.
Bohs ended up tied with Cork City and Shelbourne for first place on 40 points and round robin play-offs had to be played before Cork emerged as winners.
1995
ON the final morning of the season Derry City led the table with 57 points and a goal difference of plus 15. Next came Dundalk on 56 (+14) and Shelbourne also on 56 (+13).
Derry's last game was away to Athlone and although the home side rocked them with a goal after 15 seconds, the Candystripes recovered and equalised through Liam Coyle. Stuart Gauld had a rare miss from the penalty spot after 53 minutes, but Derry still had one hand on the title as the other games were scoreless.
Shels then fell behind at home to St Pat's while Dundalk moved into pole position thanks to goals from Tom McNulty and Mick Doohan in the final 15 minutes of their game against Galway.
The full-time whistle blew first at Oriel Park and although Stephen Geoghegan equalised for Shelbourne they had to settle for third.
All eyes were on Derry but they couldn't find a winner in St Mel's Park and Dundalk went top of the table for the first time that season to take the title.
1998
TELEVISION finally realised the compelling drama that the final day of the League could produce so the cameras were at Oriel Park and Buckley Park as Shelbourne and St Patrick's Athletic went head to head.
Leading by two points Shelbourne only needed a draw in Dundalk but Oriel Park once again became a graveyard for championship aspirants as goals from Brian Byrne and David Ward gave Dundalk a 2-0. Five minutes from the end Stephen Geoghegan pulled a goal back for Shels but they couldn't force the equaliser they needed to be crowned champions.
At Buckley Park, Colin Hawkins fired St Pat's into an early lead but Kilkenny rocked the visitors by equalising and it took a 79th minute goal from Eddie Gormley, greatly aided by a Michael Reddy deflection, to give St Pat's the win and the title.
2001
THE last day of the season saw Shelbourne leading Bohemians by a point going into the final games although Bohs had a seven-goal advantage.
Shels, the defending champions, were at home to Cork City while Bohemians travelled to Buckley Park to face already relegated Kilkenny City.
Bohs strolled to a 5-0 victory with goals from Glen Crowe (2), Dave Morrison, Trevor Molloy and Mark Rutherford but Shels blew it once again as Ollie Cahill scored to give Cork City a 1-0 win and hand Bohemians their first league title in 23 years.
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Tom McNulty has quite a part in eL history, hasn't he?
