John Fallon: Where were Rovers' rivals in facile fourth title?

Here we look at the travails of those who dared to dream of disrupting history without delivering when the crunch came.

SIGNED, SEALED...: Shamrock Rovers supporters celebrate after the SSE Airtricity Premier Division match between Cork City and Shamrock Rovers at Turner's Cross in Cork. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

AT ONE STAGE, in mid-August, the heady days from the noughties of final day title deciders were being predicted for this League of Ireland campaign.

Three years in a row between 2004 and 2006 the destiny of the Premier trophy was settled in the last 90 minute series of fixtures - Shelbourne claiming two either side of Cork City's epic triumph over Stephen Kenny's Derry City.