GAVAN HOLOHAN is aware that his Galway United side must take advantage of their drop-zone rivals’ slip-ups.

Limerick lost on Tuesday while points will be dropped by St Pat’s, Finn Harps or both tomorrow.

2 Gavan Holohan Gavan Holohan knows Galway United have to take advantage of relegation rivals' slip ups

Holohan’s Tribesmen face Europe-chasing Shamrock Rovers at Eamonn Deacy Park next looking for a win to lift them out of the relegation zone.

They are in good form too, winning three of their last four league games — the exception a visit to league leaders Cork.

But, with the bottom of the table so tight as three points separate seventh and 11th, the Galway midfielder acknowledges that everyone is glancing at the positions in the division.

Holohan, 25, said: “I probably wouldn’t know the points totals other than it’s fairly tight down there with five or six teams fighting to stay up.

“We said — and it’s easier said than done as you do look at the league table and ask yourself how many points we need — we have to concentrate on ourselves.

“If you start watching others, you can take your eye off your own performances and fall into a bit of trouble.

“We know how others are doing — Limerick losing the other day is dragging them into it — but it’s so tight that a couple of wins and you’re up the table but a couple of defeats and you’re in trouble.”

That has been the tale of Galway’s season. They started with two defeats but dragged themselves out of trouble with just two losses — though only two wins — in their next 12 games.

Then they picked up just one point from their next six games but ten points from 15 since the start of July has given them a fighting chance again.

2 Holohan, left, congratulates Eoin McCormack

Holohan added: “I think it’s been a case that we had a pretty new team with a lot of new players coming in, myself included, and maybe it was a case of finding our best XI.

“We were drawing games we should have won but, lately, maybe we’re getting that bit of luck. We weren’t as clinical in front of goal as we are now so we’re finding form.”

Holohan, a close-season signing from Cork City, has also hit a good patch, bagging four goals in July, having failed to score for his new boss Shane Keegan before then.

He admitted: “It’s either a feast or a famine! Myself and Shane sat down after the break. I suppose in the first half of the season, I was playing a defensive sitting position.

“Although I don’t mind playing there, it kind of limits me. I feel like I can get the best out of myself further forward and since the break, he pushed me into a more advanced role.

“I’ve seen the rewards from it and hopefully it can continue until the end of the season.”