And then there was two?
Last Friday's first round of games after the break had a major impact on the league table.
Shelbourne and Derry City recorded wins to move further clear of four-in-a-row league champions Shamrock Rovers and open up a 15-point gap.
That may prove insurmountable.
At the other end Sligo Rovers’ victory over the Hoops put the bottom two in further peril.
Dundalk seemed to be making inroads when they beat the Bit O’ Red in mid-June, only to see their work undone.
Bohemians remain the side next to the Lilywhites in the table, but with two games in hand, it’s a big ask to overcome the Gypsies.
It looks the like the top two will fight it out for the title, while the bottom duo seek to avoid automatic relegtion.
Time is ticking in the bid to change those scenarios, but a flurry of transfer activity has occurred with the window opening given there is so much to play for.
Many sides making multiple signings, all with a view to changing that outlook.
The number of debuts tonight will reach double figures as a result of all the early activity.
The league leaders play the side bottom of the table in Drogheda United.
Shels have found it difficult against Drogs this season, with two draws so far, a sign of just how competitive the campaign has been.
But the three victories in 22 matches tells a story now for the Boynesiders.
Derry travel to Sligo as they look to make it five wins on the spin.
The Bit O' Red are buoyed by three points last week so an exciting clash is in store.
Elsewhere Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are in a real need for points.
The duo have dominated the league for much of the last decade and find themselves in more difficult times currently.
The meeting of Waterford and St Patrick's Athletic could be a big one in the race for Europe, while Galway United and Bohemians are also looking to a much-needed win.
With European fixtures beginning next week and the FAI Cup to follow, four sides will not play in the league for the remainder of the month.
It puts a lot of importance on these five matches.
Drogheda United v Shelbourne, Weavers Park, 7.45pm
It's a real contrast of emotions for Drogheda United and Shelbourne going into this fixture.
It has been a dream 12 months for Shels are they prepare for the first European match in nearly two decades next week, while leading the league and making some very impressive signings.
United have really struggled in the summer months, however.
While they have been unfortunate, defensive mistakes and inability to see out matches or score at vital times has cost Drogheda dear.
It felt as if they would eradicate some of the traits which have left them in the bottom two for much of the year but that hasn't arrived and last week's heavy loss in Derry was a real low point.
Damien Duff is wary of what Drogheda bring despite their winless streak.
He said: "It is a very dangerous game, Drogheda, especially away, it's always a difficult place to go but we realise the task that is at hand.
"I know Kevin will have them highly motivated and they have a lot of players in their squad that are always highly motivated when they play Shelbourne but we just have to make sure we play with a real cutting edge"
"We have our own motivations to do well. It is always a very tough game but we are fully prepared and ready"
"Pressure has been mentioned many times but I think I'm speaking for all the lads, we don’t feel any pressure, I’ve been in polar opposite positions in a league when I was a player, been up the top, been down the bottom and believe you me, being down the bottom is not a nice pressure but, up the top is a pleasure.
"Everyone is training well, working hard with smiles on their faces but yeah, only one league game in July, so it is imperative we come out with a positive result"
Harry Wood is available after his permanent move to Shels this week, along with Sam Bone and Ali Coote.
Duff admits it is a lift: "Three massive additions to the squad, to the culture, and to the standards around the place and obviously tying in with all that they're bloody good players and it is a pleasure to have them."
Things could change for Drogheda with their own influx of players.
Shane Farrell has moved from the Reds, although it remains to be seen if there is deal which means he can't play in this game.
Elicha Ahui and Douglas James-Taylor also come into contention, with the latter likely to feature after a red card for Frantz Pierrot last week.
Doherty told the Drogheda Independent: "The challenge is clear for everyone to see.
"We are bottom of the league and they are top and they are flying. They've made some really good signings themselves and they’re looking to push on and win the league, and the way they are going, nobody would be surprised if they did.
"Damien has done a great job and they’re very difficult to play against and score against, but we should have beaten them the last time they came to our place.
"There’s no hiding that we’re on a bad run of results, but we know what we have to do - we have to be at it 100% of the time. But we’re in our ground and we love playing there, and we don’t have to travel outside of Louth and Dublin until we play Waterford in October, so that will help."
Sligo Rovers v Derry City, The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
The last meeting of these sides was something of a turning point.
City were poor in the first half and needed a late penalty to claim a point when they were expected to come away with the win.
The result also has stoked something of an upturn for Sligo with three wins from their last five matches.
The Candystripes know any dropped points could allow Shels to move more than three clear at the top and on form alone they have a more difficult challenge this evening.
Manager Ruaidhri Higgins said: "We've got real momentum at the minute and we're playing well. What's happened in the last three or four games there is irrelevant to be honest.
"We've won four games on the bounce at present and our only focus is trying to make it five.
"Obviously it will be far from easy. Sligo have put in some big performances of late."
For the Bit O' Red, a few more positive results could secure their safety and it isn't beyond the realms of possibilty they could challenge for the European places.
Perhaps it isn't a coincidence that the end of a long run of injuries has helped these sides come into the game with more points on the board and confidence behind them.
Sadou Diallo and Cameron Dummigan have made good contributions since they returns for City.
Patrick Hoban got on the scoresheet again in the five-goal rout of Drogheda, so they are primed.
Colm Whelan, who came on as a late substitute in that game having played little football in the last wo years, is expected to be on the bench again while new signing Jacob Davenport could also be included.
A former Candystripe could make his first appearance for Sligo with Stephen Mallon eligible for the first time.
He could come in for departed loanee Fabrice Hartmann having trained with his new club for the last few weeks.
John Mahon and Conor Reynolds remain sidelined for the home side with respective achilles and leg knocks.
Rovers are further boosted by the signature on a permanent basis of defender Ollie Denham.
Goalkeeper Ed McGinty has committed himself to Sligo until the end of the season after his loan deal from Oxford was extended.
Bit O' Red boss John Russell said: "It's going to be another tough game against a team chasing league silverware.
"Derry have threats from all sides and we have seen that in recent weeks and in the games we've played them in this year.
"There's a real feeling of positivity around the club at the moment and we're looking to draw from that this Thursday."
Shamrock Rovers v Dundalk, Tallaght Stadium, 7.45pm
Shamrock Rovers have overcome many blips when winning their four league titles on the spin.
But this is certaintly the most the testing since the first trophies of the Stephen Bradley era arrived.
Their injury list has hit double figures at times this season.
That is not something Bradley wants to lean on too much, however.
He said: "I don't think there’s any hiding away from the fact that obviously we’ve had a lot of injuries and trying to get bodies back, and get them back without re-injuring them and finding that balance. But we don’t look for excuses.
"We’ve set really high standards for ourselves and the league the last few years and that’s what we hold ourselves to.
"So we’re not going to start looking for excuses, we had enough chances to win in Sligo last week, and if you can’t win the game, make sure you don’t lose it. We all know what Simon Power’s strength is and we just allowed him to go and do exactly what he wanted when he came on, which was really poor."
Seán Hoare, Aaron McEneff, Trevor Clarke and Jack Byrne did make their return in The Showgrounds last week.
Darragh Burns and Dan Cleary will be able to feature tonight and Lee Grace, Neil Farrugia and Seán Kavanagh are in training.
Rory Gaffney has a few more weeks on the sidelines.
Dundalk have taken four points from the champions this year - a remarkable outcome given they only have 15 from their other 20 games.
Jon Daly was not in charge of those games, but Bradley has been impressed by the Lilywhites supremo.
"I really like Jon Daly and his teams, and how they set up. He has shown some really good times at St Pat's and it's small margins between success and what’s deemed failure.
"But I think Jon is very clever tactically, you can see what he’s trying in both attack and defence, he has good ideas.
"He signed a lot of players recently too, but we know we’ve yet to beat Dundalk this season so we know it will be a difficult game. So, Jon has shown himself to be a very good manager and knows what he’s doing."
Dundalk have certainly acted quickly in the window and the problem Daly may have is gelling his team quickly.
Zak Johnson will play the final game of his loan spell while Zak Bradshaw has already departed. Louie Annesley has also moved to Braintree Town.
Scott McGill, Bobby Faulkner, Hayden Cann, Jad Hakiki and Norman Garbett have moved to Oriel and several more are likely to follow.
That is far from ideal. Needs must for Daly in his bid to overhault the strugglers.
He said: "We must go to Tallaght fully focussed, we're on our game, and if they’re not on their game, we make sure that we punish them. It will be a tough game, I’m well aware of how good they are, they’ve got a lot of players back now, so they’re nearly back to full strength.
"There will be a lot of people writing them off, but there’s still plenty of football left to play, and I’m sure there will be loads of twists and turns before the end of the season.
"I was very disappointed not to come away with anything out of the game against Waterford last week, but sometimes you don't get what you deserve in football.
"I don’t think playing [Shamrock] Rovers at any time is a good time, especially away. They’re a good side. They’ll be disappointed with the result in Sligo, I was disappointed with it as well because I would have liked them to get three points to keep Sligo a little bit closer to us."
Andy Boyle and Jamie Gullan are doubtful for the visitors while Dara Keane is injured.
Waterford FC v St Patrick's Athletic, RSC, 7.45pm
If Waterford are to make Europe, games such as a tonight are pivotal.
The promoted side have put themselves in pole position being in third place and with extra games to play on sides.
In a league which has seen teams change course on several occasions, a win for Pat's could have them looking toward the top four and within three points of the Blues.
With Stephen Kenny beginning to make his mark on the squad in Inchicore, this game has potential to be a springboard.
The Saints played well in patches aganst Bohemians last week with a breakthrough goal proving elusive.
Speaking ahead of the game, Kenny said: "We're looking forward to going to Waterford. They've had their best season in many years and Keith Long has done a fantastic job there.
"They've got promoted and pushed right up the table. It's a game that we'll have to earn the right to win.
"We've only conceded one goal in our last three games and we had such a strong finish against Bohemians but we couldn't quite get the winner that we really wanted.
"We'll have to be at our best to get a result."
The clean sheet and goals in Oriel proved just how far Waterford have come this season under Long.
Having turned Bohemians into one of the top performers in the league from a low base, he looks to be repeating the trick at the RSC.
Maleace Asamoah and Barry Baggley remain on the injured-list for the Blues.
The club added two new signings on Thursday evening in Kyle White and Sam Bellis.
Long said: "Kyle is a box-to-box midfielder, with good energy that will give us balance as a left footer in that position. He played against us and scored in the RSC last summer for Fleetwood, and played against us in pre-season where he impressed with his work rate and output.
"Sam is a striker who offers us something different to what we have currently at the club. His football education has seen him work at Manchester City & Southampton's academies respectively, so he’s an intelligent footballer with good game IQ, soft feet and an eye for goal."
The Blues boss has hinted it may take a couple of weeks for the new players to bed into the club and reach neccessary sharpness levels out of season.
Ryan McLaughlin (calf) is the only absentee for Pat's with Joesph Anang and Al-Amin Kazeem pushing to be available after officially joining the club this week.
Galway United v Bohemians, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
These two sides were looking forward to the transfer window, needing reinforcements in the case of Galway United and a new look for Bohemians.
Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, Bobby Burns and Jimmy Keohane have come in, tempered by the loss of impressive left-back Al-Amin Kazeem opting to switch to St Patrick's Athletic after his contract at parent club Colchester United ran out.
Ross Tierney, Scottish midfielder Archie Meekison and centre-back Leigh Kavanagh have all arrived in north Dublin with several of Declan Devine's recruits from European countries departing.
Many would have expected Galway to be around the relegation positions and Bohs further up the table at the start of the year.
It hasn't worked out that way and like other fixtures tonight, this is a real six-pointer with a view to pulling clear or bring a rival closer.
Bohs are the most likely side to be dragged into the bottom two with Dundalk being just two wins away.
There are extra games to play for the Gypsies but they will be far more comfortable with points on the board.
This has been the first real blip for Galway with three defeats in four.
They were all difficult away games and John Caulfield will welcome a return home this evening.
