Bohemian Football Club Crest

For a change, Bohs are chasing from behind, but we are still in the hunt for the title, says Gareth Maher

Bohemians will be encouraged by their recent upswing in form, although they are quickly finding out that the other Premier Division title challengers are also flying high.

The season has just ebbed into its final quarter and this is when things start to get really interesting as teams set their sights on final league positions and/or the possibility of ending up with some silverware.

For Bohs, this should undoubtedly be a testing period as they find themselves in the unfamiliar position of chasing two teams at the top of the table. The champions have rarely set the pace this year, but they are still very much in the title hunt.

A scoreless draw away to Sporting Fingal moved Pat Fenlon’s side onto 50 points. There were many positives to take from the performance, and it was the latest sign that things are steadily improving for the Phibsborough club.

However, their ability to escape from Morton Stadium with a valuable point and one of their most impressive displays in recent months was overshadowed by Shamrock Rovers’ narrow win over Sligo Rovers that moved them seven clear at the top.

There is still all to play for in the remaining eight games as Bohs and St Patrick’s Athletic both know as they keep the pressure on Michael O’Neill’s league leaders. It is all about how the Hoops perform in the coming weeks, as they prepare to visit Richmond Park to play St Pat’s and return to Dalymount Park to face Bohs.

If Shamrock Rovers were to drop points in those two fixtures, then this would really open up into the most exciting title race that the league has seen for a few years. It currently has three teams in the mix, but Rovers need to be caught up with to make the run-in interesting.

Elsewhere, the fight for a European place will ensure that Fingal and Sligo keep scrapping for every available point ,with the Ravens only holding a two-point advantage over Paul Cook’s men ahead of their meeting at the Showgrounds on Friday evening.

Behind them, Galway United are in good form and have leapfrogged ahead of Dundalk and UCD, who continue to struggle for consistency as well as collecting the wins that seemed to come with ease earlier in the season.

The relegation fight is truly alive though. Bray Wanderers have closed the gap on Drogheda United following victory over Dundalk – only their fourth league win this year – and that gives them hope of getting off the bottom of the table.

Only three points now separate the two teams. Is the momentum with Bray? Or will Drogheda’s squad ensure that they don’t slip up in the final round of games?

One thing that is certain is that the league is getting better with each passing week as there is plenty to every team to fight for.