Aertel Eircom League Focus
eircom League Focus with Mark O'Neill-Cummins
Sligo lead the way in First Division
The eircom League First Division promotion race is really hotting up with Sligo Rovers, Dublin City, Cobh Ramblers and Limerick FC all harbouring realistic hopes of claiming a top two spot.
Dublin City led the pack for a long stretch but the oars appear to have fallen off The Vikings' boat and it's Sligo who have sailed to the top of the table thanks to the efforts of the multi-national team who are complimented by a fine group of local talent.
There's quality all over the pitch at The Showgrounds but new signings Kupono Low and Bosnian Faz Kudozovic deserve special mention for their performances so far this term. Hawaiian Low has impressed with his industry and clinical left boot, while Kudozovic has shown his undoubted quality since switching to the left wing.
However, the real driving force behind Rovers' renaissance has been the form of Liam Burns and Conor O'Grady. Burns, who played more than 160 Games for Bristol Rovers and Port Vale, in particular has been a rock at the back for The Bit o' Red.
Meanwhile, Sligo born midfielder O'Grady, who enjoyed spells with Cork City and Derry City, continues to prove that he is too good for the division with a string of commanding displays in the midfield engine room.
Boss Sean Connor has turned things around significantly since he took over and the fruits of his work are beginning to show.
Cobh and Limerick were also in the mix until recently but both are currently going through bad patches. Limerick in particular are hard to predict.
Following a superb away win over Dublin City, albeit against nine men for most of the game, The Blues proceeded to lose to both Dundalk and Galway. Manager Noel O'Connor stated before the season began that he didn't see his side as First Division champion material but his side's early performances appeared to prove him wrong.
As the games, and the weeks, pass by, you can see where he was coming from and maybe this will not be Limerick's year after all. O'Connor and his set-up are planning for the future and maybe one more season in the First Division is not a bad thing.
Of course, all of this may change by the end of the season. The problem with the First Division in recent seasons has been the number of drawn games and that is somewhat the case again this season. A win for a team in ninth spot often sends them up to third or fourth and a loss can send you right down. It really is snakes and ladders stuff.
