John Fallon: A League of Ireland season like no other shaping up for epic second half

Could the league ironically labelled the greatest in the world be enjoying its greatest season in a generation?

Great is a term open to interpretation; to many requiring a final day crescendo to decide the title.

That was the case in 1998 when St Patrick's Athletic availed of Shelbourne's slip-up in Dundalk to prevail. Kilkenny played host to another dramatic turnaround three years later when Bohemians ended their 21-year drought. Shelbourne in 2006 and Shamrock Rovers in 2010 left it to the concluding 90 minutes to complete the job too.

Then there were the climaxes from the fixture computer striking gold with virtual Cup finals.

A packed Turner's Cross erupted when Cork City beat Derry City to the 2005 before the losing manager Stephen Kenny exacted revenge on the Rebels nine years later as Dundalk supremo.

Shelbourne have led the way since the outset of this year's Premier Division but the fact both Shamrock Rovers and Derry City over the Bank Holiday weekend blew opportunities of usurping Damien Duff's initial trailblazers for top spot indicates the destiny of the trophy may go all the way.

Were that not to unfold, this still ought to rank as the most intriguing campaign for years.

Multiple reasons apply for that rationale, the bottom half equally frenetic as the top.

Crowds are on the rise and Jon Daly's sacking yesterday, the fourth of the 20 clubs so far this term, underlines the ruthlessness with which moneyman function in pursuit of success.

Just digest these stats at this point in the 10-team division.

The four teams involved in this summer's European qualification rounds have played 15 matches, the other six on 14 of a 36-game season.

No team has won more than half their games and just