After a three-week break, the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division returns with a top-two clash on Friday night.
The international window and interval period allowed for such a long stretch of no matches.
It was certainly needed for the players with some teams playing up to 10 games in a matter of five weeks in the race to get fixtures played before the European window.
Those draws happened during the week, bringing excitement, some disappointment and a wave optimism for the likes of Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers.
Nevertheless, focus will return to domestic matters. It would have hard to believe back when the first series of matches was coming to a conclusion that Dundalk would be the team in line to challenge the Hoops at the top of the table.
Stephen O'Donnell’s side have a magnificent home record, mixed with a mean defence, and they’ve continually added to the points total.
They will sit out Europe this year, yet have a place for 2023 in their sights already. When the teams around them turn their attention to Tuesday and Thursday nights, the Lilywhites will have another opportunity to add to their advantage.
Whether they can challenge Shamrock Rovers, it seems unlikely based on squad depth first and foremost.
Secondly, tonight will be pivotal. Victory for Bradley’s men would increase their lead at the top to 11 points and that will be next to impossible to bridge between now and the end of the campaign.
It is a worry for the rest of the season that the title race could be over before it feels like it has even begun.
Derry City have had time to regroup in the break period. It was needed after a very patchy period of results, including a defeat to Sligo and home draw with Finn Harps.
It’s a challenge for Ruaidhri Higgins, who has had to contend with some serious injuries this campaign and arguably being ahead of their targets. Derry were fading before the break as the results showed. Ambitions have increased among supporters given their good start and they will be keen to get back on a positive note at home to Drogheda United.
Keith Long has made good on his promise to add to the Bohs squad with three players joining the group since they played their last game. Long was another boss keep to clear minds and refocus his squad after the heavy defeat to St Pat’s and a home draw with Drogheda.
Tonight Dalymount will be pumped up as neighbours Shelbourne visit for a sold-out clash.
Damien Duff’s men have put themselves into contention for a top half or European finish if they keep up their good form. They’ll move into fifth position with a win in this fixture.
Finally St Patrick’s Athletic are at home to UCD tonight. The Saints will see it as a chance to make some ground up on the sides about them, particularly if Dundalk are to drop points at home to Shamrock Rovers. As recent games have shown, anything is possible, so Pat’s know they can’t let College into the game.
Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Shamrock Rovers are in such a strong position for the stage of the season, so despite this being a vital period of a top-two clash and a Dublin derby next week, there is no major pressure on their league results in the short-term.
Indeed with their Champions League campaign imminent, facing some of their tougher fixtures now will be a welcome development
For Dundalk, it's a chance to test their progress so far in the league, having come close in two matches against the Hoops without registering a win.
Stephen O'Donnell will serve a touchline ban, and is keep his powder dry in the run-up to this clash.
"Ultimately, everyone reacts to what you do on the pitch so your actions are more important than talking about things," he said.
"That's what we focus on. If we were coming fifth or sixth but the work ethic was really good and we were doing things right and not getting the rub of the green, nothing would change with us and nothing will change with us, no matter what our league position is.
"Train well, apply ourselves and work hard for each other; that’s what we focus on. Everything else is just noise. We are only worried about what our actions are and we’ll see where that leaves us.
"How well we play, from an application point of view, will determine where we end up at the end of the season, not what we say in interviews."
Nathan Shepperd and Joe Adams are available after returning from international duty with the Welsh Under-21 side while Brian Gartland is closing in on a return after missing the last four games with a foot injury. The game could sell out.
In the away dugout, Stephen Bradley is not shocked to see Dundalk as the team behind them in the table.
He added: "They are a good side, and we've known that from the first round of games They have a very experienced spine in the team, players that have won leagues.
"It’s no surprise at all where they are in the league, we expect them to be right there come the end of the season, so we know that it will be a difficult game and one that we need to be at our levels to go get the three points."
Bohemians v Shelbourne, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Shelbourne sit a point ahead of Bohemians going into this derby clash at Dalymount Park, a measure of the progress made by Damien Duff's side as well as the struggles of Bohemians.
The best of Bohs came in the last clash between the teams, a 4-1 victory at Tolka Park, and the worst of Shels.
Damien Duff's side have learned from such defeats are sit in a very healthy spot in the table.
JJ Lunney penned a new deal in Drumcondra this week, and as Bohs wait for 1 July to be able to play their recent new signing, there is a very important three points on offer in the short-term.
Shelbourne boss Damien Duff has said there's "no better game" to come back to as the season resumes.
Duff said the break came at "the right time and the wrong time" as the Reds welcome back bodies for the second half of the season.
"We’ve had a mini-preseason if you will so the lads are ready to go and get right back into it" he said.
"The lads know it’s a derby so there’s always those things to tap into but we’ll be ready to go," he added.
Shelbourne will be without Sean Boyd through suspension after he accumulated a number of yellow cards in the first half of the season.
The Reds, however, welcome back Brian McManus and Adam Thomas into the frame for squad selection after their recent injuries while Sean McSweeney nears full fitness having missed the first half of the season.
"We’re halfway through the season now and I’d like to think the fans can identify with the team now. They’ve been amazing for us and the lads get that with some amazing nights so far," Duff said.
"Everything we do is to be inclusive for the fans, the Club, the staff and players and we have built that togetherness. So we’re ready to go," he added.
Lewis Webb and Jordan McEneff have both ended their loan spells.
Derry City v Drogheda United, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
Drogheda United were dealt a blow this week as loan player Sam Long and Sean Roughan returned to parent club Lincoln City.
The duo were a key part of their sold season so far. Kevin Doherty will go in search of replacements to join in July.
In the mean time they face the trip to face Derry.
Doherty's side recorded wins over Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers and a draw with Bohemians in their last three games so an out of sorts Candystripes will hold not fears.
Derry boss Ruaidhri Higgins feels a disruption in momentum might aid his side.
"The break probably came at the wrong time for them as they were on a really good run" he said.
"They'll be determined to pick up where they left off three weeks ago so we have to be ready for that."
"The time off has given us an opportunity to shake off a few injuries, and both Cameron Dummigan and Patrick McEleney are now ready to go, which is great news for us.
"It was good to get a short break but we were back early enough and the boys have been back into their schedule very quickly.
"We're looking forward to getting going again on Friday ahead of what looks like being a really busy second half of the season."
While Dummigan and McEleney return, Ronan Boyce will have a late fitness test for the home side.
St Patrick's Athletic v UCD, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
The Saints learned their European fate yesterday when the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifying draw took place in Switzerland.
They face a trip to either Moldova or Slovenia in the second qualifying round.
With those game five and six weeks weeks away, there is plenty of time for Pat's to build some confidence in the meantime.
They'll see this as perfect opportunity having bagged six points already against College.
The Students come into the game at the bottom of the table, with one win from their opening 18 games. They've drawn six and lost 11 matches so far, in their first season back in the Premier Division.
Before the summer break, they did hold Sligo Rovers to a 1-1 draw. If they did manage to find a second win of the campaign, Andy Myler's team would move up into ninth place at the expense of Finn Harps.
Jamie Lennon is back in full training for Pat's after recovering from a broken foot while Paddy Barrett has also returned to the training pitch as he recovers from an operation.
Adam Murphy and Ronan Coughlan (both hamstring) will miss the game.
Saints assistant boss Jon Daly said: "It was nice to get a little bit of a break where you can actually let the lads get away, recharge the batteries and then focus on the next half of the season.
"I think it has been really good for them and it has also been really good for letting the injured lads get a bit of time to come back.
"Having watched their last game before the break against Sligo, I thought they were very good, in the second-half particularly. I thought they pushed Sligo right to the end and were probably unfortunate not to actually come out with three points from the game so we know.
"Like most games in the league, if we are not at it, and we don't move the ball quickly and play the tempo then we cause ourselves problems so it is important that we play the game as much as we can in their half and take our opportunities in the game when they come."
