Shamrock Rovers -v- Bohemians

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers are beginning to earn a bit of a reputation for being unpredictable. A 7-0 win over Bray Wanderers back in early April hinted at a team that had found their shooting boots but a narrow defeat to Derry City followed before a puzzling 2-0 reversal against struggling UCD compounded their supporter’s feelings of uncertainty.

More recently Rovers followed up a workmanlike win over Dundalk with a remarkable 7-1 victory over a strong Drogheda United side in the Setanta Cup final last weekend. But again, if Rovers fans thought their side had suddenly become world beaters they had their expectations tames by a creditable but uninspiring scoreless draw against St Pats on Tuesday night.

Winning trophies is never a bad thing and the club will have been buoyed by lifting the first piece of silverware of the season but they will also be keenly aware of how importance it is to generate some positive form in the league. Trevor Croly’s men will also know how much it means to the supporters to put one over on the old enemy.

“Games between Rovers and Bohs are always big games:, said Croly, “and usually exciting affairs. I’m sure all the fans are looking forward to the game, and the players are too. The games are coming thick and fast and it seems like every fixture is a big one for us.”

Speaking of the injuries that have laid low a number of first team regulars Croly said, 

“A few of the injuries we have are as a result of fatigue, but there is no effort in getting the players up for a game like this. There should be a good crowd and a good atmosphere on the night, and hopefully we get a positive result to go with that.”

Rovers will be without Pat Sullivan, Danny Ledwith and Mark Quigley for Friday’s game while Conor Powell has returned to training but will need to be assessed before the game. Lorcan Shannon is another member of the squad who will be unavailable through injury.

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians go into this latest round of the Dublin derby having won two and drawn one of the last three league encounters between the sides. The scoreless draw at Dalymount Park earlier this year followed on from a 1-0 win at Tallaght last September and a spectacular 4-0 triumph over the old enemy at Dalymount Park in June of 2012. In fact, it’s over a year since the Gypsies were last turned over by the Hoops, losing 2-0 in Tallaght on March 30th of last year.

But Bohemians’ current form is less impressive and Aaron Callaghan’s side have not won any of their last four league outings. Nor have they managed to beat any of the eight clubs above them in the Premier Division table claiming just three league wins so far this term, against UCD, Shelbourne and Bray Wanderers.

Bohs boss, Aaron Callaghan, agues that his side haven’t had the rub of the green in recent weeks and feels his men deserved a better return in recent defeats to UCD and Cork City but he knows that concerns about form and fortune become immaterial in matches against their traditional rivals.

“The magnitude of the game speaks for itself”, he said, “given the past encounters between the sides. But I don’t do the history side of things. Every game is taken on its merits”. And of the qualities he expects his side to face on Friday night, Callaghan clearly had the Hoops’ results against Bray and Drogheda in mind when he said, “Shamrock Rovers have shown what they can achieve when they’re on form. If we’re not 100 per cent on the night it’s going to be very difficult.”

Second choice ‘keeper Greg Murray is likely to make his first league appearance of the season on Friday night as a groin injury looks set to rule out regular ‘keeper Dean Delany. Callaghan will also have to plan without Chris Lyons and Roberto Lopes who will both be suspended for the game.

Referee: Tomas Connolly.

MATCH STATS

Bohemians have only won once away from home this season, that being a 1-0 win over Shelbourne at Tolka Park on April 1st.

Shamrock Rovers have kept clean sheets in over half of their league games this season, managing to shut out the opposition’s attack in 7 of their 13 matches.

Shamrock Rovers have recorded more scoreless draws this season than any other Premier Division team with four goalless games to their name.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 2/5; Draw 10/3; Bohemians 13/2.

PREDICTION

A 2-1 win for Shamrock Rovers.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Pat Sullivan, Danny Ledwith, Mark Quigley, Lorcan Shannon.
Doubtful: Conor Powell.
Suspended: None.

Bohemians

Injured: Dean Delany.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Chris Lyons, Roberto Lopes.