This SSE Airtricity League season has so far been about one team and one team only - the reigning champions.
As we approach the mid-point of the season it's looking fairly ominous for the rest as Dundalk continue to set a relentless pace out in front.
They have accumulated 35 points out of a possible 39, a remarkable return. In actual fact it could so easily have been 39 out of 39 but for a crazy few minutes in Tallaght, allowing Shamrock Rovers to peg them back when they were 2-0 up and cruising.
The other two points dropped were in Jackman Park against struggling Limerick as they failed to kill off Martin Russell’s side and got punished by a very late goal.
The question on everyone’s mind is can they be stopped and which club can do it?
From what I have seen so far, it’s going to be an impossible task.
The Lilywhites are so professional in their approach both on and off the pitch.
They are very well organised, goals come from every area and with just five goals conceded in 13 matches, two of which came when down to 10 men against Pat Fenlon’s outfit, goals are given away very rarely.
Some of those characteristics can be seen in their rivals. What makes Dundalk stand out is being dynamic, powerful and in a more simple form, they have the best player in the league in Richie Towell.
Another massive advantage they have over the other clubs is continuity.
They have been together as a group for three years and that means a huge amount.
Stephen Kenny’s group are assembled and his ideas were implemented a long time ago.
It must be so hard for managers here to try and build anything when clubs are turning over players in their dozens season after season.
One of the sides hunting Dundalk down have this problem. Shamrock Rovers are a work in progress and will find it difficult to close in on the Oriel Park side.
When Pat Fenlon came in mid-season last year, he was inheriting an under-performing team, one that was very low on confidence.
He has had to not just steady the ship but try to turn it round.
Whilst doing this he was assessing the group and deciding which players he wanted to keep and the ones to let go.
They have certainly improved from where they were. Without doubt they'll be there or thereabouts in the shake up for Europe but I don't think they can win the league, and nor did I ever expect them to because this team is a developing one.
@ShamrockRovers are unbeaten in 20 consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since a run of 31 from Oct 1956 to Apr 1957
— Karl Reilly (@HistoryLOI) May 19, 2015If they finish in the top three, Pat can keep the majority of the group together and he may only have to add two or three for next year.
That was exactly the case for Kenny this year in adding Gary Rogers and Ronan Finn to his starting XI and a couple of others to the squad.
Assessing the chasing pack further, one side a little bit further ahead than Shamrock Rovers in their development is Cork City.
John Caulfield did a marvellous job last year and kept the nucleus of his squad together. He strengthened the team with Liam Miller, Alan Bennett and Karl Sheppard, again just a top-up of adding that extra bit of quality.
I think Cork are the best equipped to put it up to the Louth side, but I can't see them overhauling them.
Cork are strong, physical and possess a fantastic home record but it's their conservatism on the road where they will fall down.
The squad and the resources should mean they travel to any club in this country without fear and a mindset of taking them on. But it just doesn’t happen and I think they would be much better served taking the same approach to games on the road as they do at home.
There is one other club that have permanence about their squad, but they are under-performing massively.
Liam Buckley has done really well with his squad at St Patrick’s Athletic and they've been together now for three four seasons, but I was still expecting a lot from them this season.
The Saints are my favourite team to watch in the league but unfortunately that may be their downfall this year, being so one dimensional.
Last Saturday's game against Bray Wanderers was a good example. If the opposition is well-organised and not allowing any space in the midfield, Pat’s find it difficult to break them down.
Bray defended extremely deep on that tight pitch at the Carlisle Grounds and they was just no space for them to get in behind and utilise the pace of Conan Byrne, who normally is their out ball.
They've been unfortunate too. The loss of the best striker in the league to injury, Christy Fagan, is felt very hard.
They've struggled also against the other top four sides, picking up just five points from a possible 15. Three of those were against Bohemians, and with all due respect to the start they have made, they’re not a title challenger.
Bohs have had a magnificent season up to this point but whether they can sustain that it remains to be seen.
I tipped Dundalk from the start and 13 games in, my thoughts have only been reinforced.
The only obstacle in their way is the Champions League qualifiers and any resulting games afterwards, be it further rounds in that competition or the Europa League equivalent.
If Dundalk can do well, which we all hope they do as they are representing the league, it may open the door for the chasing pack if they have to juggle European away games and their league campaign.
I do hope for the good of the league and for its interest, Cork and Shamrock Rovers can stay with them for as long as possible, but it will not surprise me in the slightest if that gap continues to get bigger rather than smaller.
