Shamrock are coming from a league campaign that was remarkably similar to what they did in the 2017 season, as they got off to a slow start, improved over time and eventually finished third.
Just like they did in most of the recent seasons, the Dubliners entered the campaign with outside hopes of finishing inside the top two, but it soon became apparent that they were once again no match for Dundalk and Cork.
Stephen Bradley's men had a particularly tough time in April and May, having won only two of the eleven games they played during this period and having sat as low as fifth in the table going into the month of June.
However, just like they did a year earlier, they saved their best for the business end of the season and went on a run of fourteen games from which they recorded eleven wins and a draw to secure the third spot with a game to spare.
All in all, the Dubliners once again managed to meet their minimal goal and qualify for Europe, but there is still a sizable gap between the top two and themselves and it remains to be seen if Stephen Bradley can figure out how to bridge it during the winter.
