League Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers
Whatever you make of the random fixtures simulator, you cannot doubt that it has served up a thrilling opener to the SSE Airtricity League season as Shamrock Rovers travel down the M1 to face their current League of Ireland Champions Dundalk.
DUNDALK
It’s back to where it all started for Dundalk and Stephen Kenny on Friday night. The Lilywhites started the Dubliner’s reign with a goalless draw in Oriel Park against the Hoops four-years-ago.
Although, this is only one of the several sub-plots to the actual event itself. Both Stephen Kenny and Bradley, will see the three-points as being the only objective but, for the neutrals, seeing how certain individual personnel perform will be a most attractive proposition.
Down through the years, it has been common for players to represent both, and transfer between, Dundalk and Rovers. Club legends like Dermot Keely and Jim McLaughlin among others remain mutually exclusive icons, despite there being a rivalry between the two that borders on hatred.
Things have been no different over the winter months with high-profile moves involving the clubs, although it is the men from the capital who have done most of the bartering, with Ronan Finn and Darren Meenan having shifted their allegiances from the Lilywhites to the Tallaght men.
While, in perhaps a more surprising move, Dundalk academy graduate Michael O’Connor has also made the move to South Dublin.
These departures, along with the exits of Daryl Horgan, Andy Boyle and Alan Keane, have meant that Kenny has been left to rebuild his squad from what could be considered a ruined state.
Kenny has signed Conor Clifford, Michael Duffy and former Rovers striker Thomas Stewart among four others in response, each of whom will need to hit the ground running to soften the impact of Dundalk’s early season injury crisis which sees last year’s leading goalscorer David McMillan, plus Gary Rogers, Sean Hoare and Chris Shields, out injured.
Despite the surprising mass exodus from a team which has excelled in recent times the new signings are seemingly suited to the fabric of Dundalk’s play, each capable ball-players and with points to prove.
Certainly, the Louth side will have a point to prove, in front of their home fans for the first time since hosting Galway United in September, with last Friday’s 3-0 President’s Cup humbling in Cork still at the forefront of the locals’ minds.
Kenny has been quick to quash any speculation around his side’s demise, though, despite losing so many players, telling dundalkfc.com:
“I get the impression that people think we are vulnerable,” Kenny said.
“They think that this team has peaked but we won’t lie down in pursuit of further success. We have worked so hard to be successful. We have worked incredibly hard and we are not relenting in that regard. We are very determined to go and get ourselves ready at Oriel Park in front of a packed crowd.
“The whole thing about the strength of the collective is very important for us. Players who are often unheralded make the difference for us.”
SHAMROCK ROVERS
There is a real belief in Tallaght presently, a sense that Bradley can return the good times and meet the high expectation levels that accompany being associated with Ireland’s most successful football club.
The incomings of Finn, Meenan and O’Connor are remarkable, especially when you consider the success the formers had with the Lilywhites and the potential of O’Connor.
Ryan Connolly, Roberto Lopes and Graham Burke have also joined the Hoops, among six others who have supplemented the ranks at Rovers in the off-season with a title push, or at least more of an involvement at the top than in recent seasons, anticipated.
The four-in-a-row exploits of the Rovers side from the early 1980s are accomplishments which are deeply celebrated amid the club’s fan base, as they revel in its uniqueness in League of Ireland circles.
And, with Dundalk three-quarters the way to equalling that record haul, there appears to be an intent on quelling the Lilywhites’ momentum early doors with Friday night’s visit to the champions’ home an ideal place to show that Rovers mean business.
“Getting a win is massively important for us,” Bradley told the club’s website ahead of their league opener.
“We know it’ll be a tough game as they are the champions and they are at home, but we want to win this game. A win will be massively important to us and will help us gauge where we are in comparison to Dundalk.”
Bradley, as specified, has carried out a dramatic overhaul of the Rovers squad in pre-season, with the age profile of his squad dropping following the exits of several seasoned campaigners.
Gary McCabe, Patrick Cregg, Barry Murphy and Brennan brothers, Killian and Gavin, are all gone from the squad which Bradley took over last summer with several youngsters including Graham Burke and Sam Bone having been recruited.
“Graham [Burke] and Sam [Bone] have fitted into the squad nicely, they have added to the competition in the squad. We’ve seen little bit of what Graham can offer to us, he’s really skilful and the future is bright for him.”
Rovers have no absentees for their trip to Dundalk.
Referee: Neil Doyle
MATCH FACTS
Rovers haven’t won in Oriel Park since September 2014, a 2-1 win in an FAI Cup quarter-final replay.
Five of the last 11 meetings of the teams have ended in draws, the most recent of which came last September when they played out a 1-1 draw at Oriel Park.
Four Dundalk (Ciaran Kilduff, Séan Gannon, Stephen O’Donnell and Thomas Stewart) and four Rovers players (Ronan Finn, Simon Madden, Darren Meenan, Michael O’Connor) will face their former clubs’ tomorrow night.
BETTING
Dundalk 5/6; Draw 5/2; Shamrock Rovers 10/3
PREDICTION
Dundalk 1-1 Shamrock Rovers
Dundalk FC
Injured: Gary Rogers (calf), Chris Shields (groin), Sean Hoare (groin), David McMillan (knee), Shane Grimes (hamstring)
Doubtful: Ciaran Kilduff (leg)
Suspended: None
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
