The 2020 Airtricity League entered it’s final stages with Match Series 18 in the Premier Division completed on Monday evening. With the title already in the grasp of Shamrock Rovers and second place assured for Bohemian, the focus was on the race for third place and the guarantee of European participation next year together with the challenge to avoid ninth place and the battle to avoid relegation in the play-off contest with First Division side Longford Town who defeated Galway United by two goals to one in the First Division Play-Off Final on the evening of Friday 6 November.
Dundalk retained their hold on third place despite going down to a two nil defeat by Oriel Park visitors Sligo Rovers to guarantee European involvement next year. Finn Harps started the evening two points adrift of Shelbourne and Derry City and anything less than victory over visitors Waterford would condemn them to that play-off role. The Ballybofey side rose to the challenge and defeated Waterford by one goal to nil. Shelbourne were the most vulnerable should the Donegal side succeed and the ‘Reds’ find themselves in the relegation play-off following their two nil defeat by champions Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park. Derry City were able to breathe a sigh of relief with a one all draw against already relegated Cork City in Turner’s Cross. The Richmond Park meeting of St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemian ended in a two one success for the visiting ‘Gypsies’.
Shelbourne will now face Longford Town in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off Final on Saturday the 14th November 2020.
Last Saturday afternoon, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City played the previously postponed match in Tallaght Stadium with the hosts comfortable two nil victors.
P W D L F A G/D Pts
Shamrock Rovers 18 15 3 0 44 7 37 48
Bohemian 18 12 1 5 23 12 11 37
Dundalk 18 7 5 6 25 23 2 26
Sligo Rovers 18 8 1 9 19 23 -4 25
Waterford 18 7 3 8 17 22 -5 24
St Patrick’s Athletic 18 5 6 7 14 17 -3 21
Derry City 18 5 5 8 18 18 – 20
Finn Harps 18 5 5 8 15 24 -9 20
Shelbourne 18 5 4 9 13 22 -9 19
Cork City 18 2 5 11 10 30 -20 11