October 3rd to 5th - The weather did its best to scupper the weekend's action but all six games eventually took place. Michael Duffy's winner for Derry in the 94th minute at home to Sligo denied Shamrock Rovers the title on Sunday evening. A point for Stephen Bradley's side at home to Shelbourne on Friday night would finally confirm a fifth title in sixth seasons. That win for Derry leaves them looking very good for one of the European spots. The rest will be hoping Shamrock Rovers complete the double so fourth gets a Conference League spot too.

At the bottom, Waterford moved out of the relegation playoff spot with a two-nil win at home to Drogheda United. Goals from Tommy Lonergan and Jesse Dempsey gave the Blues a win in their first game following John Coleman's departure.

Dundalk can clinch the first division title on Friday night despite dropping points in a one-all draw at Athlone. Their lead at the top is four points. Cobh Ramblers beat Bray Wanderers three-one to tie up second place at worst. The final playoff spot is between three teams now. Longford gave themselves an outside chance with a two-one win at Treaty United. They trail the Limerick side by three points with two games to go. Wexford lost three-nil at home to UCD - they remain one point behind Treaty United.

Tommy Tormey top scored this weekend with 28 points and tops the early leaderboard for October. He has a three point lead over Francis Gilligan in second place with Tony McNamee in third. Four players share fourth spot - Gary Parsons, Gerry Draper, Keith Ryan and Kevin McQuaide.

October 10th - The champagne has to remain on ice in Tallaght for at least another few days. Reigning champions Shelbourne ensured they could keep the trophy for a short while more by winning one-nil in Tallaght on Friday night. Kerr McInroy's first half goal was the difference between the teams. Missing key players through international call ups and injury, Rovers only really came to life in the final fifteen minutes after Paddy Barrett received a red card. Some heroic defending ensured Joey O'Brien's return was a winning one and gave Shelbourne a huge boost in their quest for a top four finish. A win in Cork on Monday night will send them ahead of Bohemians into third place and confirm the Leesiders confirmation.

Dundalk's return to the top division was confirmed after a three-nil win at home to Finn Harps. Fans of an open terrace, portaloos and dreadful plastic pitches will be happy to see the Lilywhites playing Premier Division football again next season. Cobh Ramblers will have to settle for second in the table. They lost three-one at Longford Town - the home side's late season rally will see them fall just short of a playoff spot.

The final playoff spot will be either Treaty United or Wexford. Both sides won on Friday night - Treay beating Bray two-one and Wexford winning two-nil in Kerry. The two sides meet in Ferrycarrig Park next Friday - a draw for the Limerick side will be enough to clinch the final playoff spot. A win for Stephen Elliot's side will see them face Cobh in the playoff semi-final. Friday's final game saw playoff bound UCD come from two goals down to draw with Athlone Town. The Students will face Bray Wanderers in an N11 playoff semi-final.

The timely use of a joker scoreline saw Keith Ryan collect 23 points and move to the top of the October leaderboard. He has a one point lead over Gerry Draper with Francis Gilligan a point further back in third place. Tommy Tormey and Gerry Moore complete the top five for October so far:

October 17th to 20th - Still no confirmation of the title for Shamrock Rovers. After scoring twice for Sligo last season, Simon Power scored another winner for St Patricks Athletic against his former employer. Derry City came from behind to win two-one in Waterford so Rovers' next opportunity to win the title will be next Sunday in Derry. Talk about making a gangster movie out of it...

Four wins on the bounce have Shelbourne looking very good for a European spot. They beat Sligo three-one on Friday night. That leaves them in third place, four points clear of Bohemians with two games to go. Bohs slipped to a two-nil defeat in Galway and drew another blank in a nil-all draw at home to Pats on Monday night. With two games to play, just one point separates Bohemians, St Patricks Athletic and Drogheda United in the battle for fourth spot.

The battle to avoid the playoffs sees Galway, Waterford and Sligo all level on 37 points. Galway have a game in hand on the other two, away to Shamrock Rovers in the final week of the season.

The final matter to be resolved in the first division was the final playoff place. Treaty United travelled to Ferrycarrig Park and left with all three points after a two-nil win against Wexford. The Limerick side will now face Cobh Ramblers over two legs. Cobh, already guaranteed second place, ended their campaign with a two-one defeat at home to champions Dundalk. The Lilywhites topped the table with 79 points in the end, ten points clear of their nearest challengers.

The second playoff will be between Bray Wanderers and UCD. The Seasiders wrapped up their league fixtures with a five-one hammering of Kerry. It was an eventful night for Billy O'Neill who scored three but then got a red card for some backchat with the referee while being substituted. That will have implications for their playoff chances. UCD also had their shooting boots on, winning four-three at Finn Harps.

With just six games left in the month, Tommy Tormey looks a good bet to top the monthly leaderboard. He scored 64 points this week and has a 23 point lead. Three people share second place on 81 points - Gary Parsons, Keith Ryan and Niall O'Donoghue - full details below:

October 24th to 29th - Dylan Watts' late free-kick in Tallaght on Wednesday night finally confirmed Shamrock Rovers as champions. Stephen Bradley's side clinched a fifth title in six seasons with a one-nil against Galway. The trophy will be presented following Saturday's final game against Sligo Rovers. The Hoops could have been crowned champions in Derry on Sunday but a two-one defeat meant it wasn't to be for a few more days.

That win for Derry confirmed European football for the Candystripes next season. Shelbourne have also confirmed a spot - a dramatic game in Dalymount Park saw the deposed champions come from two goals down to beat Bohemians three-two. Kerr McInroy scored the winner deep into injury time. Three teams are level on points in the battle for fourth - Alan Reynolds' side will travel to Drogheda looking to improve on St Patricks Athletic's result in Tolka Park to secure fourth spot. Kevin Doherty's side need a win against Bohs and Pats to drop points if they want to finish fourth. Even after all that, the fourth placed team will then need Shamrock Rovers to beat Cork City in the cup final on Sunday week. Not complicated at all....

It's no clearer with three teams also on the same number of points looking to avoid the relegation playoff. A draw for Galway United in Waterford will leave John Caulfield's side safe. Waterford will need to better Sligo Rovers result against a hungover Shamrock Rovers to avoid the playoff. Whoever finishes ninth will play off against either Treaty United or Bray Wanderers for a place in next season's Premier Division..

Tommy Tormey held off a late challenge from Gerry Moore to win the monthly prize for October. The gap at the end was just four points. Third place was shared by Keith Ryan and Niall O'Donoghue. Gerry Draper finished the month strongly to end up in fifth place - full details below: