League Preview: Dundalk -v- Limerick

DUNDALK

Dundalk's relentless consistency doesn’t appear any nearer halting with the Lilywhites having started their ‘four-in-a-row’ drive in impressive style: last Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Sligo Rovers proceeded their 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers on the opening night.

Dundalk showed a ruthless efficiency in hammering the Bit O’Red on Saturday night. A sublime free-kick by Patrick McEleney got the champions underway at the Showgrounds before new signings Michael Duffy and Thomas Stewart opened their Dundalk accounts either side of Ciaran Kilduff’s second headed goal in consecutive outings.

The victory put Stephen Kenny’s men back on top of the league table, a place where they have spent the best part of the last three seasons perched, despite having five first-teamers, including 2014 Player of the Year Chris Shields and last season’s top scorer David McMillan, out injured

In their absence, McEleney, Kilduff and Robbie Benson have been to the fore while Duffy has illustrated his copious talents with a goal and two assists. He may not possess the magical feet of his predecessor Daryl Horgan but he’s equally as elusive with his tendency to meander into the central channels proving highly effective to date.

Elsewhere, Niclas Vemmelund and Conor Clifford have played their parts and both earned starts in the absence of Dane Massey and Stephen O’Donnell last weekend, although both are expected to return to action.

Gabriel Sava’s first clean sheet of the season was timely to say the least. The Romanian has largely played as Gary Rogers’ understudy and with Rogers returning to training recently Stephen Kenny has a decision to make as to whether he restores the Meath native between the sticks.

Although Stephen Kenny didn’t touch upon the goalkeeping when previewing tomorrow night’s game with dundalkfc.com, he did issue a plea for the fans to come out in force and help the team to their third consecutive win.

“The crowd was electric in our first home game of the season against Shamrock Rovers two weeks ago and were brilliant again last week,” Kenny said.

“We would like to have that every week. We want that passion at Oriel Park every match. It was very important to us.

“Limerick had an exceptional win themselves on the opening night. But we are at home. We want to capitalise on our home form this season.

“We want to bring our good form from the first two games into tomorrow night to get the victory.”

LIMERICK

Last week’s trip to Derry was a disaster, although the same cannot be said about the 100% start Limerick have made to life back in the top-flight.

The Super Blues followed up their emphatic 5-1 drubbing of Sligo Rovers in their season opener with an extraordinary abandonment of their match with Derry City in Buncrana due to floodlight failure, with the game level at 1-1 and half-time approaching.

On the bright side, Limerick travel to Oriel Park as one of six teams in the Premier Division with an unblemished record, with their opponents being one of that half-dozen, and looking to take points away in Dundalk for the first time since September 2013.

That occasion saw Rory Gaffney net twice in a 2-1 win, but since then the fortunes of the two sides have been dramatically different with Dundalk winning three top-flight crowns in succession while Limerick suffered relegation in 2015 before bouncing straight back with ease at the first time of asking.

Russell looks to have built a stronger squad with the Shannonsiders targeting survival and if Rodrigo Tosi’s debut hat-trick is anything to go by they should avoid the drop comfortably.

Ian Turner, Lee-J Lynch and new addition Bastien Hery make up a very impressive Limerick midfield alongside captain Shane Duggan, while the pace and trickery of Dean Clarke and Chiedozie Ogbene could cause Dundalk’s full-backs serious problems.

Defensively, though, the Shannonsiders look vulnerable with Robbie Williams and Tony Whitehead the central defensive duo that Russell has favoured so far, and while they provide plenty of experience there is a lack of pace which the Lilywhites will look to exploit.

Limerick have been without the Shane Tracy, John O’Flynn and Dave O’Connor through injury in recent weeks and while O’Connor is certainly out with a hand issue, hopes are high that the other two will be fit to play some part in Oriel Park.

Manager Russell spoke with the Limerick Leader in the build up to Friday night’s game, saying: “They’ve (Dundalk) started where they left off last season, they’re the team to beat.

“It is probably the biggest challenge in domestic football at the moment, to pit yourselves against Dundalk, but it's one we want to have and we're looking forward to. We’ll learn quite a bit from it.”

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH FACTS

Limerick beat Dundalk 2-1 at Oriel Park in September 2013, however, that’s their only Premier Division win at the ground in the last 26 years.

The Lilywhites have only kept a clean sheet against the Shannonsiders once since 2007 – a 1-0 win at Oriel Park in August 2014.

Unusually there is only one player playing against his former club tomorrow night – Super Blues right-back Shaun Kelly, who featured for Dundalk under Sean Connor.

MATCH BETTING

Dundalk 5/6; Draw 5/2; Limerick 10/3

PREDICTION

Dundalk 3-1 Limerick

Dundalk

Injured: Sean Hoare (groin), Shane Grimes (hamstring).

Doubtful: Chris Shields (groin), David McMillan (knee).

Suspended: None.

Limerick

Injured: Dave O’Connor (hand).

Doubtful: John O’Flynn (calf), Shane Tracy (back).

Suspended: None.