LOI Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- St Patrick's Athletic
Credit:
Shamrock Rovers
On the very same date four years ago, Michael O'Neill's Shamrock Rovers secured a 2-1 home victory over a Pete Mahon led St. Pat's outfit in a game seen by many Hoops fans as a pivotal moment in their club's 2010 title winning season.
Four years later and Rovers fans will be hoping their side can take a similarly season changing result from Saturday's game against the exact same opposition.
After marking their return from the mid-season break last week with a comfortable 2-0 win over UCD in Belfield, Rovers supremo Trevor Croly believes his side are in the perfect mindset to fulfill the wishes of the Tallaght faithful.
"We played well last week and got the win, and also kept a clean sheet."
''So we go into this game feeling positive and very much looking forward to what is a big game for everyone involved."
''We know that if we get a win tomorrow night, we go ahead of St Pat’s with a game in hand over them."
''That is a big incentive and the only one we need going into the fixture.''
Unfortunately for Croly, he faces a number of injury worries going into this weekend's grudge encounter. Rob Cornwall and Robert Bayly are both doubts with foot injuries along with Marty Waters (thigh) and Karl Sheppard (stomach).
One player whose name will definitely be on the Rovers absentee list is Luke Byrne who is still recuperating after undergoing knee surgery earlier in the summer.
St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic will make Saturday's short journey from Dublin 8 to Dublin 24 looking to sustain their bid for back to back league titles with a ''Luas'' derby win over the Hoops.
Pat's have been in impressive form as of late, winning four of their last five competitive encounters. The Inchicore side returned to league action after the mid-season break last week with a hard fought 3-2 victory over a plucky Bray Wanderers outfit.
In addition to the much stiffer opposition it will provide the Saints with, Saturday's trip to Tallaght will be played amid a far more intense atmosphere than that of the one surrounding last weekend's game with Bray.
Such a sense of occasion is one Pat's manager Liam Buckley is very much looking forward to.
''Saturday is a big game for both sides."
''It’s a Dublin derby so the players know how big it is for the fans."
''We’ll be well supported by our own fans on the night so we’ll be doing everything to get a result.''
Young defender Sean Hoare has been making significant progress in recovering from an ankle injury and will undergo a late fitness test whilst Ken Oman must serve the second game of his two match suspension and so misses out on the chance to face his former club.
However, there is some compensation for Oman's absence with Kenny Browne making a welcome return to the St. Pat's rearguard having served a one match ban.
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)
Match Stats
Following this week's derby clash, Shamrock Rovers host Dundalk in their next league game. Coincidentally, when Rovers met the Saints on the exact same date four years ago, they also hosted Dundalk in their following league game. The Hoops won both of those games and will be hoping to repeat the same feat four years later.
Out of the two competitive meetings between the sides this season, Pat's have emerged victorious on both occasions. Both of these games took place at Richmond Park and so Rovers will be looking to make home advantage count this time around.
Four members of the Rovers squad previously lined out for the Saints' first-team whilst a staggering ten members of the Inchicore sides' roster at one stage donned the green and white hoops.
Betting
Shamrock Rovers 8/5; draw 9/4; St Patrick's Athletic 8/5
Prediction
1-1 draw
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Luke Byrne (knee)
Doubtful: Robert Bayly (foot), Rob Cornwall (foot), Marty Waters (thigh), Karl Shepard (stomach)
Suspended: None
St Patrick's Athletic
Injured: None
Doubtful: Sean Hoare (ankle)
Suspended: Ken Oman
