It has taken longer than anticipated but over the past couple of weeks there have been some indications that the Premier Division table is beginning to take on a long-term shape.

Shelbourne's win on Friday night and Bohemians' draw in Cork the following afternoon mean that, for the first time in this campaign, the top two clubs are two wins clear of the bottom half of the table. Meanwhile, the single game they each have in hand on third-placed Shamrock Rovers offers them the opportunity to put a bit of daylight between themselves and the chasing pack.

It is at the other end of the table, though, that matters really appear to have settled down. Probably the most interesting development has involved Finn Harps. Plagued by financial problems off the pitch, the Donegal club has continued to suffer from inconsistency more than anything else on it. Displays like the 2-2 draw against Shelbourne a couple of weeks back, during which they twice came from behind, suggest they have the ability and nerve required to get themselves out of their current position.

The six-point margin that separates them from UCD and Derry City is starting to look ominous though, and while Gavin Dykes would doubtless love to spend a few quid getting his side out of trouble, the reality is that he is under pressure to cut his wage bill further.

Three or four players have already been allowed to leave, which has had obvious implications for the strength of the team. It is the startling contrast between Harps' home and away form in the league, however, that highlights their perilous situation. In Ballybofey they may not win as many as they would like but they have lost only once, against Cork in midAugust. The team's real difficulty is the fact that they have only once managed to avoid defeat on the road. Implausibly enough, that was at Tolka Park a week after the defeat by Cork.

Above them everything remains very tight, with Derry and UCD trailing St Patrick's Athletic and Galway United by a point. Of these four, Derry and St Patrick's have given the strongest hints that they have the capability to avoid a relegation scrap.

Derry, when they are at full strength, look a decent side and the loss to St Patrick's last Friday week was probably the first time their first-choice 11 has been beaten this season. With their strongest team, they have beaten Bohemians and Cork City as well as drawing with Shelbourne. Liam Coyle's fitness has always looked like being a key factor for Kevin Mahon's side and everything that has happened since the summer has tended to underline this.

Pat Dolan's side, Friday night aside, have gone well (eight league matches unbeaten) since Liam Kelly and Ger McCarthy were paired up front, even if they have only beaten one top six side - Shamrock Rovers - during that time. More ominous is the fact that neither Galway nor UCD have shown themselves capable of picking up many points against the leading clubs to date. Galway's home win over Rovers back in September is the only victory either has managed against top-six opposition.

While Galway struggled a little on that front last season, the students have generally been capable of springing surprises on just about anybody in previous campaigns, a capacity they need to rediscover if the second half of this season is not to involve a scramble for points. The inconsistency of both sides will be of comfort to the likes of Bray and Longford who, despite impressively strong starts, will be wary of growing complacent.

Behind them all Kilkenny City's cause would appear to be lost. With just six points from 13 games, and five players sharing the top scorer's spot with one goal apiece, the prospect of relegation looms at Buckley Park.

Pat Byrne's departure was certainly a blow and, if we are going to criticise clubs for sacking managers early in the season then Byrne surely deserves a bit of stick for leaving of his own accord just six games into a new campaign.

Joe McGrath's attempt to make fairly dramatic changes to his squad have left the team in an ongoing period of transition when it desperately needed to pick up points. With three more players potentially eligible to make their debuts against Bohemians this evening, the new-look team must now hit the ground running.

It's not out of the question, but with just over half of the season remaining McGrath could probably have hoped for an easier way to return to the National League after his painfully short spell with tonight's opposition.