League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Derry City

Action from the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium when the teams met in July when Rovers won 4-2

Action from the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium when the teams met in July when Rovers won 4-2 Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

SHAMROCK ROVERS

After yet another late win for Rovers last week, a 1-0 victory over St. Patrick’s Athletic, saw the Hoops move nine points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand over the Saints in second place, all opinions seem point to the Hoops retaining their champions crown.

Indeed some people are looking so far ahead, they see this fixture against Derry City (kick-off 8pm) as being a match between the two teams that will go head-to-head for the title next season.

Ahead of Friday’s game against the Candystripes, Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley noted their opponents have “been good. They'll work extremely hard like they always do and they've some good players. We know it's going to be a difficult game but it's one we're ready for and one we're looking forward to."

His Rovers team come into the game with confidence having secured last week their eighth win in their last nine league games. 

“Everyone was delighted (with the win over Pat’s). It was obviously a Dublin Derby and we're playing our closest rivals. We knew it was an important game, so we were delighted with the three points but more importantly parts of the performance and the clean sheet was really good.

“When you win games in the last minute it's always nice, especially when you add in that it's a Dublin Derby and that it was first against second, that just adds to it again."

The game is set to be Tallaght’s largest league crowd since February 2020 with 4,000 Shamrock Rovers fans in attendance for this sold out match – there was no away ticket allocation for Derry City.

“It's great to play in these grounds with the crowds back in. Sligo and then Pat's last week, it was great to see the fans back in and it's going to be brilliant to see 4,000 in Tallaght this week. 

“We're getting back to some sort of normality, and I think you can see the quality of the games around the league has gone up and the intensity has gone up since the fans are back in, which is great to see."



DERRY CITY

With Sligo Rovers not playing till Saturday, Derry City could move joint third with a win in Tallaght Stadium. Not an easy task as the Candystripes haven’t secured three points against the Hoops since a win in Tallaght four years ago.

However, Ruaidhri Higgins’ side travel to Tallaght having secured 17 points from the last 21 on offer and they are unbeaten in their last seven matches.

Their most recent defeat was a painful one when they gave up a 2-0 half-time lead in the Brandywell to lose 4-2 against a Hoops side whose match preparation right up to kick-off that day was distributed by COVID-19 issues in their camp.

Since City have won five and drawn twice as they eye up the target of European qualification which is very much in their hands.

Higgins noted the challenge they face on Friday. "They're the best team in the country and have been for a couple of years now," said the City boss.



"They have real quality all over the park and are clear at the top on merit. Rovers are the benchmark for the league and we're very much improving so it should be a good contest.

"Tallaght is a fantastic venue for football as well, so we'll look to go there and be positive."

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

It is four years since Derry City last beat Shamrock Rovers – that was a 2-0 win in the Tallaght in August 2017 thanks to goals from Aaron McEneff and Barry McNamee. In the 13 games since then Rovers have ten wins along with a scoreless draw in April 2018, a 2-2  draw in Tallaght in June 2019 and last May’s 1-1 draw in Dublin 24.

Last week’s 1-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic saw Rovers keep three clean sheets in a row for the first time this season.

Rory Gaffney is top scorer for the Hoops this year in the league with nine goals. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe is the City player with the most goals thsi year - he has seven (which includes two scored for Dundalk). 

PREDICTION

1-0 home win 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: None. 

Doubtful: Sean Kavanagh, Sean Hoare, Graham Burke.

Suspended: None.

Derry City

Injured: None

Doubtful: Marc Walsh

Suspended: Joe Thomson

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile