September 4th and 5th - Shamrock Rovers will head to Inchicore next Friday with a six point lead at the top of the table. Friday night's Ringsend Derby with Shelbourne ended scoreless. It was a game full of effort but fell slightly short on quality. Chances were limited with neither side able to conjure up a winner.

The worst kept secret in the league was confirmed on Friday night. Cork City's return to the top division after one season away was guaranteed after a one-all draw away at Bray. With six games to spare, the Leesiders are twenty points clear of second placed UCD. The Students needed a 95th minute goal from Charles Akinrintayo to leave Cobh with a point. Kerry moved into the playoff positions with an excellent one-nil win in Longford on Saturday night. Cian Murphy scored the winner with just a quarter of an hour to go to send Kerry fourth in the table. Longford dropped a point outside the playoff places. Athlone are two points outside the top five - Peter Grogan's second half goal gave them a one-nil win at Finn Harps to keep their hopes of extending their season alive. The final game in the first division saw Wexford win one-nil at Treay United - Stephen Elliott's side kept their slim playoff hopes alive but need to make up five points on the current top five between now and the end of the season.

A good start to the month with a score of 31 points sees Kev Hardiman take an early lead in September. Four people then compete the top five just five points behind - Carl Toner, Gerry Moore, Jason Maloney and Joseph Leppla - full details below:

September 11th and 12th - All of a sudden we have a three-horse title race in the Premier Division. Goals from Jason McClelland and Aidan Keena gave St Patricks Athletic a two-nil win over leaders Shamrock Rovers to cut the gap at the top to just three points. Both goals at Richmond Park came in the first half with the leaders looking short on ideas and energy, unable to make a comeback. Bohemians remain right in the title mix - they came from two goals down to beat Galway United three-two. Two goals from Colm Whelan gave them all three points when a defeat looked likely at half-time. Alan Reynolds' side are also just three points off the lead.

Things look bleaker by the week for Sligo Rovers at the bottom of the table. With just six games to go, Darren Purse's side are eight points behind their opponents Drogheda United who won the relegation battle two-nil. Former manager John Russell isn't faring much better - his Shelbourne team recorded yet another home defeat - Derry City winning one-nil at Tolka Park thanks for Michael Duffy's goal. The points were shared at the Regional Sports Centre where Waterford and Dundalk drew one-all.

Cork City's title hangover saw them lose three-two at home to Cobh Ramblers - that was Cobh's second win at Turners Cross this season. Second placed UCD were held to a two-all draw at home by Athlone Town. That point keeps Athlone's playoff hopes alive.

Bray Wanderers picked up a big result in Kerry - a one-nil win keeps them looking good for the promotion playoffs too. Kerry remain in the hunt despite that loss. Their hopes were helped by a surprise two-nil defeat for Longford at home to Treaty United on Saturday night. Wexford's three-one defeat at home to bottom side Finn Harps was another blow to their season hopes - a playoff place looks out of reach now.

Shane Coughlan leads the September with a score of 63 points. His score of 42 points saw him open up a lead of 10 points over Gerry Draper in second place. Kev Hardiman is two points further back. Ross Williams and David Doyle complete the top five for the month so far:

September 14th to 19th - Two wins on the road in five days means St Patricks Athletic top the table on goal difference. A four-nil win in Dundalk was followed by a one-nil win in Sligo to send Stephen Kenny's side into first place with four games left to play. Aidan Keena kept up his scoring run, scoring three in those two wins. That second home defeat of the week leaves Sligo Rovers eleven points from safety with four games remaining - it's looking desperate for Darren Purse's side.

There was no little drama at Tallaght Stadium as Shamrock Rovers came from behind twice to end Waterford's thirteen game unbeaten run. John McGovern was the hero, coming off the bench to score twice in the final quarter to send the champions back top for twenty-four hours. Bohemians needed a last minute winner to beat Drogheda United two-one. Dawson Devoy scored the all-important goal to keep the Phibsboro side well in contention in the title race too.

The battle for fourth spot is intriguing too - Derry City moved level with a faltering Dundalk thanks to a one-nil win at home to Galway. Dundalk's defeat at home to Shelbourne was a second home defeat this week for the Lilywhites. It also opened the door for Shelbourne who could move into fourth place next weekend if they beat Galway in their game in hand.

The gulf between Cork City and the rest was perfectly illustrated by their five-one win over UCD who started Friday night in second place. Ruairi Keating scored a first half hat trick with Sean Maguire adding two for good measure. That loss for the Students allowed Bray Wanderers to move into second place in the table - they beat Treaty United two-nil at the Carlisle Grounds.

The final two playoff places are still up for grabs. Cobh Ramblers remain in fourth place despite a three-one defeat in Wexford. Longford Town are in the final playoff spot after one-nil win at Finn Harps. They're only ahead of Athlone Town on goal difference - they beat Kerry three-nil.

With just six games left in the month, David Doyle has a two point lead in the September competition. Joshua Coulahan is second. Shane Coughlan is three points further behind. Brian Donnelly and our new overall leader, Darragh Kenny, complete the top five ahead of next weekend's final fixtures in the month:

September 25th and 26th - Bray Wanderers were the big winners on Friday night. They continued their recent voodoo over UCD, winning two-one in Belfield to climb to second in the table. With three games to go, they have an eight point cushion in the playoffs from sixth place Kerry. The Students should also be fairly safe with four points to pare with three games to go.

After that, just two points separate four teams contesting the final two playoff spots. Longford Town moved to fourth in the table with a two-one win at home to Cork City on Saturday night. Cobh Ramblers came from three-one down to earn a point against Athlone Town. That comeback keeps them a point ahead of their opponents and could prove very valuable by the end of the season. Treaty United's two-one win at home to Finn Harps means the Donegal side will finish a distant bottom of the division irrespective of the results in their final three games.

Just one game took place in the top division - Shelbourne's hope of a top four finish was dealt a blow when they could only draw one-all in Galway.

A sprint finish to the September monthly competition saw Joshua Coulahan top the standings by just three points. Kevin Murphy finished the month strongly but fell just short in second place. Overall leader, Darragh Kenny, finished third with Brian Donnelly and David Doyle completing the top five: