April 3rd - Bohemians lost top spot after a nil-all draw in Drogheda. A third consecutive draw for the Gypsies, two of which they failed to score in, saw them surrender top spot to St Patrick's Athletic. The Saints fell behind early on at home to Sligo Rovers but they hit back with four goals to record a sixth win in seven games. Goals from Palmer, Edmondson, Breslin and Nugent sent Stephen Kenny's side a point clear at the top.

Shamrock Rovers needed a late penalty from Graham Burke to earn a point in Waterford. After dominating possession without any killer edge for the best part of eighty minutes, Rovers fell behind to Padraig Amond's opener. Burke's penalty rescued the draw but the champions will need to develop a cutting edge quickly to stay in contention. Game of the night was arguably at Tolka Park where Dundalk shocked Shelbourne winning three-two. David McMillan's side have proven difficult to beat and it was the same case again on Friday night. Arubi and Burns had the visitors two up but goals from Ibsen Rossi and Martin had the sides level late on. However, Ibsen Rossi then put through his own net to give the visitors victory - Dundalk moving up to fourth place with the win.

Derry City are eighth in the table after another defeat. Tiernan Lynch's side, without the McClean brothers and Michael Duffy, slipped to a two-one defeat in Galway. Frantz Pierrot scored the winner for John Caulfield's side inside the last ten minutes.

Cork City extended their lead at the top of the first division to six points, despite being held to a nil-all draw at Finn Harps. The Leesiders dropped points for just the second time this season but the failure of any of the chasing pack to win meant no harm done.

Second placed Bray Wanderers lost two-one in Wexford. Jamie Duggan put the Wicklow side in front but goals from Jake Doyle and Kaylem Harnett gave Wexford the win which saw them climb to fourth in the table. UCD are third in the table after a very good two-nil win in Athlone.

Two Dylan McGlade goals gave Cobh Ramblers a much-needed two-one win in Kerry. That's was just the second win of the season for Cobh. The final game in the first division ended scoreless as Treaty United and Longford Town drew nil-all.

Caroline Carroll tops the first leaderboard in April - her score of 33 points was one better than Joseph Kavanagh in second place. Brian Donnelly is third on thirty points followed by Tommy Hamill in fourth place:

April 6th to 10th - They say a week can be a long time in politics but it can be even longer in the League of Ireland. A week with a double round of games ended with Shamrock Rovers in a familiar position at the top of the table. They beat Shelbourne by the odd goal in five in Tallaght on Easter Monday. Their second Dublin derby in a run of three saw them win one-nil at St Patricks Athletic on Friday night. Jack Byrne's early strike was enough to send the Hoops into first place. It was a second defeat of the week for Stephen Kenny's side - they had already lost two-nil in Dundalk on Monday night.

It's five games without a win for Bohemians now. They would have looked at home games against Waterford and Sligo Rovers as a chance to pick up six points but had to settle for one. They needed a Colm Whelan penalty to earn a point against Jon Daly's side. Despite taking an early lead against Sligo, they lost two-one. Goals from Will Fitzgerald and Sean McHale gave John Russell's side just their second win of the season.

There was no improvement in matters for Derry City either. They drew both games this week - nil-all at Sligo and two-all at Dundalk. They were ahead twice at Oriel Park but surrendered the lead twice. To put the tin hat on it, James McClean was sent off late on for two injury-time yellow cards. Two games were called off on Friday night - Galway versus Shelbourne and Waterford versus Drogheda both fell foul of the weather.

Over 5,000 attended Turners Cross on Monday night to see Cork City host Kerry. The Kingdom went two goals ahead but the leaders roared back in the second half to win four-two. Sean Maguire scored a hat trick to bring his total to eight for the season. The weather halted the Leesiders' progress on Friday night when their game with Treaty United was rained off. The Limerick side remain bottom of the table having lost four-nil at Cobh Ramblers on Monday night.

A two-nil win at Finn Harps continued Cobh's improved performances of late - they climbed to fifth place in the table with that win. Athlone Town beat Longford Town two-nil on Monday but lost one-nil in Wexford on Friday. UCD drew twice in the week - nil-all with Wexford and one-all in Kerry where Matt Britton scored a late leveller for the hosts.Longford's one-nil victory at home to Bray Wanderers on Saturday night means Cork Coty's lead at the top of the table is seven points with a game in hand.

Chris Keohan scored 61 points this week to move to the top of the April leaderboard. He has a one point lead over Caroline Carroll in second place. Terry Haide is two points further back in third place. Johnny Waldron is next followed by Andy Dunne and Craig Whelan. The top twelve are separated by just ten points - full details below:

April 17th & 18th - A crowd of over 9,000 saw Shamrock Rovers beat Bohemians two-one to maintain their lead at the top of the table. Graham Burke proved he was the man for the big occasion once again scoring both goals in two-one win. Bohs rallied in the second half but there was to be no repeat of last season's comeback. Colm Whelan's penalty sent him to the top of the scoring charts but some stout defending ensured the Hoops took all three points.

St Patrick's Athletic bounced back from two defeats in a row to win three-one in Drogheda. Aidan Keena scored early on before Pats went three up before half time. Brandon Kavanagh's second half goal was just a consolation as Kevin Doherty's side dropped to second from bottom. Further up the road in Louth, Dundalk climbed to third in the table with a two-one win over Galway United. All the goals came inside the final ten minutes as Declan McDaid scored twice for the hosts with Stephen Walsh pulling one back for the visitors.

Two sides under pressure met at Tolka Park. Barry Cotter and Dipo Akinyemi scored as Derry City beat Shelbourne two-one. The 2024 champions are already twelve points off the leaders with only a third of the season gone. Waterford's struggles continued with defeat in Sligo on Saturday night. Archie Meekison and an own goal gave all three points to John Russell's side.

Hans Mpongo scored both goals as Cork City beat Wexford two-one to go eight points clear in the first division. The chasing pack continued to drop points - UCD are now second in the table after a two-one win at home to Finn Harps - Louis Dignam's winner came in the fifth minute of injury time at Belfield.

Cobh Ramblers' winning run came to an end after they were held scoreless by Longford Town. A third defeat in four saw Bray Wanderers drop out of the playoff places - they lost two-one in Athlone. The final game in the first division saw the points shared as Kerry and Treaty United drew one-all.

Sean Judd leads the overall competition and he is also the one to catch in the April monthly contest. Heading into next weekend's final games, he has a four point lead over Niall Carroll in second place. Joseph Kavanagh is a point back in third place. The top five is completed by Craig Whelan and Darragh Kenny. With ten points seperating first from fith it's all to play for ahead of Friday's games:

April 24th & 25th - St Patricks Athletic returned to the top of the table following a three-one win at home to Bohemians. Despite falling behind within ten seconds, Stephen Kenny's side fought back to win with another two goals from Ryan Edmondsen and a Jamie Lennon strike. The Inchicore side are a point clear of Shamrock Rovers who lost one-nil at Derry City. Fair play to Derry who managed to find a pitch even worse than the Brandywell - James Clarke's goal was the difference between the two teams in front of a crowd of over 7,000.

Dundalk remain in third place despite a two-nil defeat at Sligo Rovers on Saturday night. John Russell's side are up to seventh in the table after a third win on the bounce. Game of the weekend came at Tolka Park. Drogheda United got the better of Shelbourne by the odd goal in seven after coming from two down. Conor Keeley scored a late winner for Kevin Doherty's side. The 2024 champions are only outside the relegation play off place on goal difference after their fifth defeat of the season. Bottom side Waterford scored an injury time equaliser at home to Galway to earn a point. Dean McMenamy's strike in the 96th minute cancelled out Killian Brouder's first half opener.

Cork City's lead at the top of the first division was reduced to just six points. The Leesiders needed a Conor Drinan equaliser to earn a point in a one-all draw at Bray Wanderers. UCD won three-nil at Treaty United to retain second place in the table.

Below them, Wexford are third in the table after a two-nil win at home to Cobh Ramblers. Athlone Town are fourth after winning two-one at Finn Harps. Saturday night's game rounded off the weekend's action with Longford Town beating Kerry by a goal to nil in the midlands.

Subject to the usual sack race proviso, it looks like Craig Whelan is our monthly winner for April. Unless a manager leaves his position before Thursday, Craig wins the monthly prize by just four points. Gary Parsons picked up an excellent 51 points this week to finish second. Niall Carroll finished in the bronze position with Darragh Kenny, Kevin Murphy and Sean Judd in joint fourth place just seven points off top spot: