Shelbourne -v- Dundalk
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SHELBOURNE
Two of the league’s form sides collide at Tolka Park on Friday night as high-flying Dundalk take on a Shelbourne side who are in a purple patch of their own, albeit sitting at the other end of the table.
From the past 15 points on offer to Johnny McDonnell’s revitalised outfit, they have taken 11 to give themselves a real chance of staying in the top flight.
Top scorer Dean Kelly helped them to a share of the points most recently against Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds when he headed home in the second half to cancel out Jason Byrne’s opener.
However, the Drumcondra side know they will not have it easy against the side currently placed second in the league, not least because they have lost twice to Dundalk on league duty in 2013 as well as being knocked out of the EA Sports Cup at their hands.
They will once more have to do things without a number of big players given the injuries that McDonnell has to deal with.
Robert Bayly, Mark Leech and Paul Crowley have all once again officially been ruled out of contention and joining them on the treatment table are centre back Jack Memery and midfielder Stephen Sheerin.
There are positives in that new recruits Brian Gannon and Paul Andrews, who featured away to Bray last weekend, are in line to play a part in this clash too.
DUNDALK
Dundalk’s title challenge rolls into Tolka as they aim to continue their bid to bounce back in the best way possible following last year’s difficulties.
They put in a superb performance last week to all but end Shamrock Rovers’ title bid thanks to an early double from Player of the Month Pat Hoban and a second half strike from Kurtis Byrne which now sees them sit just one point off the top of the table.
Manager Stephen Kenny does not have too many injuries to worry about although Keith Ward is still a long term absentee having underwent surgery on a cruciate ligament injury while full-back Dane Massey could make a return following a knee knock.
Midfielder John Mountney, who scored in this game earlier in the season, will definitely miss out as he continues to make his way back from an ankle injury while the versatile Mark Rossiter is a doubt with a troublesome hamstring problem.
Kenny knows this will be no easy tie for his team given the form Shels are in under McDonnell and he spoke appraisingly of them, saying: “John McDonnell has done an excellent job since he came in at Shelbourne. They’ve got some great results to their credit and are on a good run themselves.
“For us though, our players have been fantastic and their mentality has been one of their best qualities and their effort in training and every week in matches has been wonderful and we will go to Tolka Park in the confidence that we can win and keep our run going.”
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
MATCH STATS
It has been almost a year (and four games) since Shels registered a win in this fixture, Paddy Kavanagh scoring at Oriel Park on September 21st in a game in which Mark Griffin saw red.
Shels last home victory over Dundalk came last July in a game in which they thrashed the relegation strugglers 4-0 as a Philip Gorman brace, Kevin Dawson strike and Ben McLaughlin own goal gave the Reds victory.
In the corresponding fixture in Dublin earlier this season, Dundalk ran out deserved 3-1 victors with Stephen O’Donnell and John Mountney both striking late to wrap up the win.
BETTING
Shelbourne 13/5; Draw 9/4; Dundalk evens
PREDICTION
Both teams are playing well at the moment and know what is at stake with a victory. Going for a narrow win for the away side. Shelbourne 0-1 Dundalk
Shelbourne
Injured: Robert Bayly, Paul Crowley, Mark Leech, Stephen Sheerin, Jack Memery
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Dundalk
Injured: Keith Ward (cruciate ligament), John Mountney (ankle)
Doubtful: Mark Rossiter (hamstring), Dane Massey (knee)
Suspended: None
