Dundalk's Greg Sloggett on rivalry with Shamrock Rovers: 'Words that are spoken only add to the fire and it makes for a great spectacle'

Dundalk will make their first trip of the season down the M1 as they take on champions Shamrock Rovers this evening.

The Lilywhites are level on points with the Hoops but have played one more game than Stephen Bradley’s side, as they did not play last week due to international call-ups.

Rovers and Dundalk have grown a steady rivalry over the last few years and have played each other three times since September last. The Hoops inflicted a 4-0 win in Oriel Park last season as Dundalk concentrated on their European exploits, while Dundalk picked up wins in the FAI Cup final after extra time and a penalty shootout victory in the President’s Cup earlier this year.

Greg Sloggett has been one of the Louth sides most consistent performers since his move from Derry and has relished the rivalry with the Tallaght side.

“Bar, I guess, Rovers and Bohs, which seems to be a heated rivalry, it’s probably ourselves and Rovers. We’ve been competing at the top end for the past number of years and with that comes a natural rivalry.

"Words that are spoken only add to the fire and it makes for a great spectacle. Do I enjoy that? Absolutely. You’ve got to appreciate these battles, particularly when we have no fans at the moment. You look forward to those adrenaline-fuelled games,” said Sloggett.

A 3-2 defeat for Dundalk in Tallaght which was played in front of a raucous crowd of just over seven and a half thousand pre covid. Big games without crowds have unfortunately become the norm these days, not just in Ireland but globally.

“To some degree, we’ve missed that with the fans because they really make it. I was here at the start of last year when the season was only getting going so my last real experience with supporters was when I was up in Derry and I know how much the fans up there got behind the team and made it a heated environment,” said Sloggett.

Both squads have gone under the knife during the close season. Sean Gannon and Sean Hoare have moved from Dundalk to Rovers, but the loss of Irish international call-ups Aaron McEneff and Jack Byrne for the champions will be difficult to replace.

Rovers have strengthened bringing in the like of Danny Mandroiu but its Chris McCann who will most likely be in direct competition with the Dundalk number ten.

“They’ve had a big reshuffle as well, but they still play the same shape and system. Chris McCann looks like he’s going to be a big player for them and they’re going to be very good again.

"We know two of the players that have left here, and I know a few of the ex-UCD heads who are there as well. They have a great squad, and they will be up there,” said Sloggett.

“Aaron gave them lots of energy in midfield. Have they directly replaced him? I don’t know. Jack will definitely be a big loss so it’s how they adapt to that and whether they change how they play.”

Even with all their success over the last decade, Dundalk have been notoriously slow starters. This season has been no different, picking up a point in Sligo before losing at home to Finn Harps in a shock result.

If Shane Keegan’s side are to turn around their form, Friday night away to Rovers would be a good place to start.

“It’s hard to put a finger on why we haven’t just kicked on over the last two weeks. We played very well up to the sending off against Rovers in the President’s Cup and again for large periods of our last two league games. It’s a massive game and we have no reason not to be up for it so, hopefully, it will trigger us, and we’ll come good,” continued Sloggett.

“We haven’t had the start we wanted. We go into every game looking to win it and we have faith in ourselves that we have a great squad and we just need to gel that and bring it all together. It hasn’t been a good start to the season, but we just have to take each game on its merits and go into Friday night knowing that we can win the game.”

Sloggett played 85 minutes of this fixture in Tallaght Stadium before being replaced by Georgie Kelly as Dundalk hunted an equaliser after an extraordinary Byrne finish.

Since then, Sloggett has become a mainstay of the team, usually ahead or beside Chris Shields in a midfield three. Whatever system or tactic is deployed, Sloggett is ready to perform wherever he is required.

“What the manager wants is what’s going to happen and I’m going to do the best I can. I’m used to playing in a 4-3-3 and in Ireland, that’s what I have grown up learning to play. Three-five-two was quite new to me in some ways, but we have been doing it for a year now, so I feel very familiar with it and whatever the manager says, I’m happy to go with it.

"Again, it’s numbers but positions change on the pitch at any given time and a 4-3-3 can be like a 3–5-2 if, for example, Chris Shields drops between the centre backs and the full-backs push higher. It’s numbers for the sake of numbers,” said Sloggett.

There is more that links these squads than just rivalry or ex-players, UCD have provided a plethora of players who have gone to represent both sides, Sloggett just being one of them. Rovers’ Gary O’Neill will know all about Sloggett from their days at the college.

“We had a good midfield partnership, and, on the field, we had a good understanding. It was the same with Liam Scales and Neil Farrugia, we all played together, and there was a good togetherness. You have different relationships with players and me and Gary were very tight-knit.”

Friendly rivalries are healthy, but there will be no love lost as these sides do battle once more on Friday night.