August 1st to 4th - Ahead of Shamrock Rovers taking a break from the league for European games, there was a possibility that Derry City could have been just three points behind the leaders heading to Tallaght on Sunday evening. However, dropped points left the gap at seven points before kick off and two second half goals from Rory Gaffney leaves Shamrock Rovers ten points clear with ten games to play. Derry matched the Hoops in the first half, with Michael Duffy hitting the post. Two minutes into the second half saw Gaffney break the deadlock and he sealed the points in emphatic style twenty minutes later. Bohemians are second in the table - ten points behind the leaders - they lost to Drogheda United one-nil for the third time this season. Josh Thomas's winner at Dalymount came inside the last five minutes. Kevin Doherty's side are level on points with Derry now, a point behind Bohemians.

There were two good wins for sides returning from long journey's in Europe. Shelbourne won two-nil in Sligo on Saturday night. Goals from Ali Coote and Sean Boyd leave Joey O'Brien's side just three points outside the European spots. St Patricks Athletic won by the same scoreline in Waterford on Sunday evening - Mason Melia and Conor Carty scored for the Inchicore side ahead of their meeting with Besiktas on Thursday.

The final game in the Premier Division this weekend saw Cork City and their long suffering supporters pick up a long awaited win. Josh Fitzpatrick's goal inside the first five minutes was enough to earn victory over Galway United. It was an unhappy return to Turners Cross for John Caulfield whose side are dropping down the table week by week.

A double round of games took place in the first division over the weekend. Leaders Dundalk won both games - Daryl Horgan scored the winner at UCD on Friday night and that was followed by a four-one win at home to Longford Town on Monday. Their lead remains at six points as second placed Cobh Ramblers won both their games too. Two home games saw them beat Longford Town and Wexford scoring seven goals in the process.

There was late drama involving both of Bray's games - they scored a late winner beating Treaty three-two on Friday night and an even later equaliser at Finn Harps on Monday. With ten games left in the season, the Seasiders are eight points off the lead. UCD's two-one win in Athlone on Monday leaves them with a nine point cushion in the playoff places. Treaty United occupy the final play off spot but were pegged back by Kerry late on in Monday's game.

Just two points separate the top six after the opening weekend of the August games. Derek McDonald leads the way on 67 points. He's a point clear of Brian Donnelly and Terry Haide in second place. Three people share third place a point further back - David Doyle, myself and Niall Hayden. Full details below:

August 8th to 10th - Four of the five games in the top division ended in draws meaning Shamrock Rovers enter the final round of games in the season with a ten point lead over Bohemians. Stephen Bradley's side earned a point in a nil-all draw in Galway on Sunday evening after a trip to Kosovo on Thursday in the Conference League. With their rivals also drawing, a point was a good return even though the performance wasn't the best.

Derry's faltering run continued - they were held to a nil-all draw at home by Cork on Friday night. That leaves them a point behind Bohemians, third in the table. Alan Reynolds' side looked to be heading for a big three points leading Shelbourne late on in Tolka Park. However, John Martin headed home a 90th minute equaliser to earn a point for Joey O'Brien's side.

St Patricks Athletic were the only winners in the Premier Division at the weekend. The game against Sligo Rovers was scoreless until Patrick McLean was controversially sent off on the half-hour (the sending off later rescinded). The ten men then conceded two goals to Mason Melia with Jake Mulraney adding a third. The final game of the weekend saw the points shared between Drogheda United and Waterford after a nil-all draw. Just five points separate Bohemians in second place from St Patricks Athletic in sixth - the European run-in might be the place to look for drama over the final weeks of the season.

In the first division, Dundalk recorded a second big win of the week at Oriel Park Bottom side Athlone Town were hit for six as the Lilywhites continued their promotion push. Second placed Cobh Ramblers won two-nil at third placed Bray to stay in the title race. It looks like the Wicklow side will have to settle for a playoff place after falling twelve points behind the leaders.

UCD also look good for the playoffs. They beat Wexford one-nil courtesy of Mikey Raggett's late penalty at Belfield. The Students opened up a twelve point lead over their rivals with that win. Treaty United remain in the final playoff place despite a two-nil defeat at Longford. The final game of the weekend saw Finn Harps record a one-nil win in Kerry.

Derek McDonald retains his lead in the August competition - he's four points clear of Brian Donnelly in second place. A good week for Gary Donnelly saw him climb twelve places to third. Sean Judd and Gerry Draper also recorded good scores this week to complete the top five for August so far:

August 22nd - With Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne getting a weekend off ahead of their European games next Thursday, the focus was on the battle for the European spots. With Bohemians and Derry exiting the cup last weekend, they both needed wins to consolidate a top three finish. Bohemians had a straghtforward win - they cantered to a three-nil victory over Cork City. Douglas James Taylor scored twice with Dawson Devoy adding a third in injury time. Derry City, perhaps the most inconsistent side in the top division, picked up a big three points in Galway. The home side were ahead through Jimmy Keohane. The visitors equalised through Dipo Akinyemi's goal just before half time. It looked like ending in a draw until Adam O'Reilly scored a 94th minute winner. The Candystripes remain third in the table, a point behind Bohemians and eight off top spot.

There was also late drama in Drogheda - St Patricks Athletic moved to within a point of their opponents in fourth spot with another late winner. Luke Turner scored the all-important goal in the 94th minute. At the bottom, Sligo Rovers continued to close the gap on Galway United. They came from a goal down to win two-one at Waterford. Owen Elding was the difference again, scoring the winner with just three minutes to go. John Russell's side are just a point from safety now...

Dundalk are eight points clear at the top of the first division as they close in on an immediate return to the Premier Division. They scored seven without reply in Limerick, handing Treaty United a hell of a beating. Cobh Ramblers slipped up, drawing two-all at home to UCD. Jonas Hakkinen rescued a point for the hosts, scoring in the 96th minute.

Cian Curtis scored the winner against his old side as Bray Wanderers won one-nil in Wexford. Paul Heffernan's side have pretty much secured a playoff spot now. The final playoff spot remains up for grabs - Treaty's defeat couple with Finn Harps' two-one win over Athlone means the Donegal side are just four points off the playoffs. The final game in the first division saw Kerry beat Longford one-nil in Mounthawk Park.

Derek McDonald has been top of the August leaderboard all month and he holds a nine point lead heading into next weekend's final round of games. Brian Donnelly remains in second place with Sean Judd three points further back in third. Darragh Kenny is fourth after scoring an excellent 50 points this week. Keith Ryan completes the top five. Full details below:

August 29th to 31st - A great week for the league with two teams qualifying for the league stages of the Conference League was tempered by the sad passing of Ollie Horgan after a short illness. The league paid tribute to one of the real characters of the game who brought colour to every ground he visited over the years. The game needs more people like Ollie, may he rest in peace.

On the pitch, Shamrock Rovers are just thirteen points away from a fifth title in six years. The Hoops wrapped up qualification for a second successive Conference League on Thursday night and followed that up with a hard fought two-one win at home to Drogheda on Sunday. The challenges from Derry City and Bohemians faltered again with both drawing. Derry came from two down to draw with St Patricks Athletic while Bohemians were held scoreless in Sligo.

At the bottom, Cork City beat Waterford two-nil to earn only their fourth league win of the season. Sligo's point at home to Bohemians leaves them level on points with Galway United. Waterford's defeat in Cork meas they're looking over their shoulders, just four points clear of the playoff spot.

The game of the weekend arguably came at Oriel Park where leaders Dundalk had to come from behind three times to earn a point against Kerry. That allowed Cobh Ramblers to move six points off the top with a three-nil win in Athlone. Bray Wanderers and UCD could well face each other in the playoffs - a late goal gave the Students a three-two win in their meeting in Belfield. Finn Harps late charge for the playoffs continued - they're only a point behind Treay United after beating their Limerick opponents one-nil on Friday night. A late equaliser from Mikey Rowe earned a point for Wexford after a two-all draw in Longford.

After leading from start to finish, Shelbourne fan Derek McDonald wins the monthly prize for August. He had a comfortable fifteen points to spare in the end from Gary Donnelly who finished second. Craig Whelan and overall Champion-elect Niall O'Donoghue finished the month in joint third. Full details below: