The 2024 League of Ireland season has been remarkably tight and competitive.
Multiple teams across the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division and First Division are still involved in the title race, the battle for Europe, promotion and scrap to avoid the drop.
Cork City are an exception as they have coasted to the First Division title but the play-off battle is very congested.
In the SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division, three teams have been in with a chance of winning the title going into the final weeks.
The points gap from top to bottom in the men’s top flight of 30 is the lowest since three points for a win was initiated.
But while no teams have stood out from the rest, some individuals have had exceptional seasons and risen above their peers. We take a look at a few of the best.
Patrick Hoban (Derry City)
The last time someone over the age of 30 was top scorer in the League of Ireland was 1999-200 in Pat Morley’s 20-goal season.
The fact that it took the third-highest all-time scorer in the league to do so shows how impressive a feat that is. At 33, Hoban is on track to be the next man this season with 13 goals. He is one goal away from having his third-best season, behind his final campaign with Dundalk before his move to Oxford United in 2014, and his first back in 2018.
Hoban’s main competition at the moment comes from Padraig Amond (more on him shortly) and Shamrock Rovers' Johnny Kenny, who are one behind with Frantz Pierrot making a late charge at Drogheda United.
Hoban has been impressively efficient, coming second among the leading four scoring strikers for minutes per goal and shots per goal.
Padraig Amond (Waterford)
As mentioned above, Amond has had an excellent scoring season. While Hoban is doing so at the age of 33, Amond is three years older.
When he was last competing to be the league’s top scorer in 2010 with Sligo Rovers, his competitors were Gary Twigg, Ciaran Kilduff and Jason Byrne, names long gone from the top of the scoring charts.
What is arguably most impressive about Amond’s season has been a durability not usually seen at this stage of a career. He has started all 32 league games and only twice been substituted. It takes him to 2872 minutes played, the most for any outfield player with only two goalkeepers totalling more.
Brandon Kavanagh (St Pat’s)
After two excellent assists in big wins last weekend, Brandon Kavanagh has a comfortable lead at the top of the assist charts with 12.
Only Dayle Rooney (9) and Dylan Watts (7) have even half his total. In the last six seasons four players have reached at least this many with only Dylan Watts in 2021 doing so at a better rate per time spent on the pitch.
With five goals scored also, just one behind Pat’s top scorers Jason Mulraney and Mason Melia, it has been a breakthrough campaign for the 24-year-old.
Ed McGinty (Sligo Rovers)
Looking at xG, Sligo Rovers should be among the teams fighting relegation rather than competing for a European spot. They have the third-worst xG scored (33.77) and the highest xG against (54.13) by nearly 10 goals.
The main reason the Bit O’Red have been able to defy that has been the performance of goalkeeper McGinty. He has faced 36 more shots than any other keeper (177) and made 30 more saves (134). That leaves him with an xG prevented of 12.02, more than double any other keeper.
The on-loan keeper has stepped up when needed most as the defensive line in front of him has been depleted with the injured John Mahon missing the full season and Nando Pijnaker also having an injury before his recent departure.
Julie-Ann Russell and Jenna Slattery (Galway United)
Galway United fell short in their quest for a first league title but they have provided plenty of entertainment to lead the league with 40 goals scored, 11 more than last year with two games to play.
Over half of those goals (21) have been scored or assisted by one of Russell (above) and Slattery. Their 11 goal contributions each are joint-second in the division.
Success has come at different stages of their careers. Twenty-year-old Slattery has continued her development with Galway going from seven goals scored in 2022, to eight in 2023 and nine so far this year.
Her goals have come through being reliable from the penalty spot (five scored) but also having an eye for the spectacular with two from outside the box.
Thirty-three-year-old Russell has returned as good as ever from a year away and has been a lethal finisher with all her goals coming in the box. Outside it, she also leads the league is dribbling with 11 per game.
Madison Gibson (Athlone Town)
The only player to lead Russell and Slattery for goal involvements has been a key component in getting Athlone Town to the brink of the league title: Madison Gibson with 13. She has scored slightly fewer but leads the league with six assists.
Gibson has stepped up at some key moments of the season. She scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to take a point against Shelbourne in March.
A week later while drawing 1-1 with defending champions Peamount, she registered a goal and an assist to set up the win. In the closing weeks as Athlone have looked to secure the title, she has five goals and an assist in four games, including turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead last week against Shamrock Rovers.
In the coming month leagues, cups, European places, promotions and relegations will be decided.
Players have the opportunity to write themselves into their club’s history with massive goals and moments. But those who have consistently contributed all year should also be remembered.
It is notable that the four men listed above (Hoban, Amond, McGinty, Kavanagh) were signed last off-season.
If one team can sign multiple outstanding individuals after all is said at done for 2024, maybe they will dominate in 2025. But for now, we can sit back and enjoy the competition as teams all over the country fight for every slight advantage to gain sweet success.
