League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Dundalk

SHAMROCK ROVERS

If last week’s Dublin derby is the Merseyside derby of Irish football, then this Friday night’s match in Tallaght between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk is the Manchester United vs Liverpool of the SSE Airtricity League.

Rovers, Ireland’s most successful club team, will pit their wits against the 2015 double-winning Lilywhites who hold claim to the title of Ireland’s most prolific provincial team.

The Hoops demolished Bohemians in Dalymount Park last Friday night. Their skipper Gary McCabe opened Rovers’ account just before half-time, and in the process hit the 50-goal mark for the club he signed for in 2011.

A second period brace from Brandon Miele, arguably the league’s best player so far this term, accompanied a sublime left-footed strike from left-back Gavin Brennan, saw the 19-times champions of Ireland leave north Dublin with a 4-0 victory.

The victory over Bohs has somewhat lifted the pressure on manager Pat Fenlon, and a win tomorrow night will see them position themselves just a single point behind Stephen Kenny’s men in the table.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow evening’s encounter, Pat Fenlon admitted that Dundalk are the team that Rovers are aspiring to, and insisted that Kenny’s men are the benchmark for the rest of the sides in the Premier Division.

“We know what to expect from Dundalk,” he told the club's wesbite.

“They are the benchmark for everyone in the league. Back to back league champions takes some doing, so we will have to be the same as we were last Friday against Bohemians and hopefully we pick up the three points.”

Former Dundalk defender and current Rovers right-back Simon Madden has called on the Rovers support to come out in force on Friday night and help the team go within a single point of their visitors.

“The crowd here are great. They have been brilliant all season and they can be a massive factor,” he said.

DUNDALK FC

Out of two cup competitions already, with only one fit striker available and a growing optimism around the league that Oriel Park is no longer ‘Fortress Oriel,’ most teams would crumble, but this incredible Dundalk team continue to defy the odds and currently top the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.

Their performance last Friday night in their 1-0 home victory over Sligo Rovers was widely criticised. They seemed to lack invention and creativity at times, with Ronan Finn their only source of attacking inspiration for lengthy periods of a difficult game.

The Lilywhites have certainly not been at their fluent best at home in 2016. From their five competitive games at their border venue this campaign, they have amassed with victory from only two of those matches, undoubtedly their worst run of home form since Stephen Kenny begun working for the club.

Visiting teams don’t appear to mind playing in Oriel Park anymore, however, they will surely be petrified of Dundalk on the road. Two consecutive 4-0 victories from league encounters away from Oriel, means that their last league defeat on their travels was September 5, 2014, a 1-0 defeat to St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Dundalk though have been dealt a severe blow with the news that striker Ciaran Kilduff will miss the foreseeable future with a back injury that he sustained following a clash with St. Pat’s ‘keeper Brendan Clarke during Monday night’s EA Sports Cup defeat.

His manager, Stephen Kenny revealed his disappointment at the striker’s injury, but has vowed to help the striker return to full fitness.

Kenny told dundalkfc.com: “It is a big disappointment for us to lose Ciaran and he is facing several months out. He started eight out of the ten games that we have played this season and has been a terrific addition. It is one of those unfortunate injuries and we will do everything we can to help him in his recovery.”

This leaves David McMillan as Kenny’s only fit first-team striker the O’Connor brothers and Patrick McEleney still unavailable through injury.

Dundalk FC ‘keeper Gary Rogers was also talking to the club’s site prior to their match with Shamrock Rovers and he admits that it’s one of the club’s biggest games of the season.

“The games against Shamrock Rovers are the kind of games that you want to be playing in. Hopefully we can go there and get the three points and a performance to go with it.”

Referee: Neil Doyle.

MATCH STATS

This will be the 339th meeting in total between Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk: P338; W102, D80, L156.

Dundalk are currently on a six match unbeaten streak against Shamrock Rovers, their longest run against the Hoops since 1991-93.

There hasn’t been a goalless draw between the sides in Dublin for a decade and that came in the First Division in 2006.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 2/1; Draw 11/5; Dundalk 13/10.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Dundalk.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: David O’Connor.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Ciaran Kilduff (back), Ciaran O’Connor (foot), Michael O’Connor (concussion), Shane Grimes (shoulder), Patrick McEleney (groin).

Doubtful: Paddy Barrett (knee).

Suspended: None.