League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Dundalk

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Tallaght Hoops will be looking to recover swiftly from their 1-0 loss to Bohemians in Dalymount Park last weekend when they host table-toppers Dundalk in South Dublin on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Roberto Lopes’ early goal was the difference as Rovers succumbed to their ninth league defeat of the season at the home of their fiercest rivals. It had looked as if Sami Ristila was having the desired effect with Rovers having leap-frogged Derry City and into the all-important third position in recent weeks.

Draws with Dundalk and the Candystripes were vital results as the Hoops seemed to be picking up form with youngsters like Sean Heaney, Aaron Dobbs and Sean Boyd establishing themselves alongside the experience of Stephen McPhail and Gary McCabe – the balance seemed to be perfect.

However, last Friday’s defeat saw Derry regain third place and with just two league games to play after their meeting with Dundalk, Rovers need favours.

Undoubtedly the fixture list has been kind to the seventeen times champions of Ireland, though, with their remaining pair of fixtures, on paper, appearing easier than those handed to the Candystripes.

Rovers host Bray Wanderers before visiting Longford Town on the last day, two games that Ristila will be confident of his side collecting maximum points from.

Compare those games with Derry’s, who play Bohemians tomorrow night, Sligo Rovers on Foyleside while ending their campaign with a trip to Inchicore to play St. Patrick’s Athletic, and you would have to favour Rovers in terms of getting third place.

Football doesn’t work like that though and you must take into account the Hoops’ inconsistency this season when predicting how their season will end.

In terms of Rovers team news, Luke Byrne will not feature again this season having sat out the majority of the campaign nursing a serious knee injury. Trevor Clarke returns to the squad having been away with the Republic of Ireland u19’s for their games in Albania.

Aaron Dobbs is a doubt with a minor knock, however, and midfielder Patrick Cregg will definitely miss out through suspension.

DUNDALK

Dundalk will visit their second-home next evening, when they line-out to face Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium, boasting a solid four-point buffer at the summit of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table.

The Lilywhites reinstated their four-point lead on Tuesday night when they saw off the challenge of Cork City at Oriel Park in a game which had just about everything that you could want: challenges flying in, goals of the highest calibre, tremendous individual battles, an electric atmosphere and both sets of players giving everything for the cause.

There were so many highlights from Dundalk’s 2-1 win over the Leesiders, none more so than Daryl Horgan 37^th minute goal. The little magician busted a gut in dribbling half the length of Oriel Park before letting go and seeing his wonderfully struck shot rattle the roof of the net. It was surely a goal of the season contender and further adds to the Galwegian’s growing reputation.

That victory, their first win in 90 minutes over Cork City since April 2015, has dispelled all notions that Dundalk were growing weary and that their mounting number of games was going to hinder them.

It can be argued that the team’s incredible levels of passion, commitment and desire, exemplified by Stephen Kenny’s reaction at the full-time whistle, can carry them across the line on all fronts between now and the end of their season, which is currently scheduled for December.

One worrying aspect for them is their mounting absentee list with Robbie Benson, Sean Gannon and Ciaran Kilduff having missed their midweek encounter with the Rebels through respective injuries.

The Lilywhites do though have players like Chris Shields, Horgan, Brian Gartland and Rovers old-boy, Ronan Finn performing heroics currently, while Irish u19 international Michael O’Connor also returns to the fray having been teammates with Hoops’ youngster Trevor Clarke in their recent international meet-up in Albania.

O’Connor was also the scorer of a brace in Dundalk under-19s recent 3-1 victory over their Shamrock Rovers counterparts at Oriel Park.

Lilywhites ‘skipper Stephen O’Donnell insisted that his team have won nothing in speaking with dundalkfc.com ahead of their game with his old club.

O’Donnell said: “There is nothing won yet. We have five tough games now and we have the European match as well so it won’t be easy. Shamrock Rovers took a point off us a month ago so we know they will be difficult and Tallaght isn’t easy to go to but we’re looking to get the win.”

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are the only two teams in this season’s Premier Division to have gone no longer than two games without a win.

The Hoops have not beaten Dundalk in the league since May 2013 when they marked Stephen Kenny’s return to Tallaght Stadium with a 1-0 victory courtesy of Sean O’Connor’s goal in first-half stoppage time.

August 1993 was the last occasion when Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk were locked in a scoreless draw in the Premier Division. July 2006 was the last time the sides drew 0-0 in the First Division.

MATCH BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 4/1; Draw 11/4; Dundalk 8/13.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 1-2 Dundalk

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Luke Byrne.

Doubtful: Aaron Dobbs.

Suspended: Patrick Cregg.

Dundalk:

Injured: Robbie Benson (groin), Sean Gannon (calf).

Doubtful: Patrick McEleney (hip), Ciaran Kilduff (concussion).

Suspended: None.