On Soccer: Perhaps it was the suggestion at last week's meeting of club representatives in Dublin that the league season should switch back to the winter that prompted the sudden improvement by Irish clubs in Europe.

It was, after all, originally argued that a shift to summer soccer would help transform the Eircom League's rather miserable fortunes in international competition. There may have been some slight embarrassment on the part of those clubs who had put forward the argument that, with the odd exception, the effect so far had been to make the failings of the Irish sides that little bit harder to explain.

This time around, Shelbourne and Longford's superior fitness was clearly a factor in their wins over Glentoran and Carmarthen respectively and both should be capable of getting themselves into the next round.

Cork City, meanwhile, probably had the best win of all in Lithuania and it would be truly remarkable if the southerners manage to squander a two-goal cushion against Ekranas at Turner's Cross next week.

Back at home, Cork's win in Drogheda may have been of more lasting importance to Damien Richardson's side than the one over Ekranas. There was a hint of good fortune about the win in the end but City, as their manager said afterwards, held on well to take the three points and move seven clear at the top of the table.

Paul Doolin readily conceded his side had not been defending well of late, but what was more surprising than the compounded error that led to George O'Callaghan's goal was the fact the United failed to produce more than a handful of half-chances around goal even after City, who had 41-year-old Phil Harrington in goal, were reduced to 10 men.

City, though, are displaying a growing number of the characteristics traditionally associated with the club's better sides over the years and though Richardson still lacks the sort of options enjoyed by Pat Fenlon - or even Stephen Kenny - there is a growing sense that his team might have enough about them to hold their rivals at bay over the second half of the season.

At nine points clear of defending champions Shelbourne, their position is certainly a good deal better in relation to the club most would see as their main rivals than it was at this stage in last year's campaign. Then, Cork trailed by eight points and it took a remarkable run of late season form to put a respectable look on the final league table.

Derry, of course, are the most improved team of all, with the northerners, who have been second from bottom at the half-way point in each of the last two seasons, now second from top, with a game in hand on the leaders and still looking like very serious contenders.

To date, however, Cork have looked to have an edge over any of the chasing pack. Some of their home performances may have been some distance short of flawless, but they have, nevertheless, beaten both Derry and Bohemians at Turner's Cross, while Sunday's win at Drogheda followed convincing wins over Bray, UCD and Shelbourne in recent weeks.

Along the way they have scored more and conceded fewer goals than any of the other contenders and shown a growing sense of self-belief which they will need to retain if the race tightens up again.

For the moment, they are looking good, although there is clearly a good way to go and there have to be question marks around whether so many players, or indeed a manager, who have never previously won a league, can haul themselves over the finishing line as the pressure begins to mount.

At the other end of the table things are almost as interesting. Traditionally the team who are bottom at this time of the year go down and if we set aside the eight-point deduction imposed on Shamrock Rovers, that would be Finn Harps. The reality, though, is the Dubliners have to overcome the handicap of the penalty imposed on them at the same time as new owners are attempting to reorganise the club's finances.

Rumours persist that Roddy Collins will be shown the door with the man he replaced at Dublin City, John Gill, mentioned as a possible replacement but a spokesman for the 400 Club insisted late last week there were no plans to make a change.

Whoever is in charge, the club's chances of staying up have been further hindered by the fact that Finn Harps have recently started to score a few goals - a key element in any relegation avoidance scheme.

Felix Healy's side have managed 11 in their last nine games compared to just two in eight before that. Four of them came against Rovers, but in the circumstances that will hardly be considered too bad a thing. Of more concern is the fact that seven of the 11 have come from just one man, Kevin McHugh, and what is rare indeed is the Donegalmen's defence concede more than he scores.

If they can put that right over the second half of the campaign they may survive at the Dublin club's expense. If not, Rovers' escape from the very deep hole the club dug for itself over the last few years, may yet be completed. Either way, it should be worth sticking around for.