League Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers

Rovers' Barry Cotter chases the ball during his team's 1-0 defeat in Dundalk last October

Rovers' Barry Cotter chases the ball during his team's 1-0 defeat in Dundalk last October Credit: Ben Whitley (ETPhotos)

DUNDALK

Unbeaten Dundalk welcome back-to-back champions Shamrock Rovers to Oriel Park for the clash of the teams who have won nine of the last dozen League of Ireland titles.

Victory on Monday evening would move the Lilywhites above Rovers in the early season table.  

While the Lilywhites have avoided defeat so far in this campaign, they just have the one win. It looked like on Friday they would claim all three points away to Shelbourne, only for Sean Boyd to equalise from the penalty spot five minutes from time. Pat Hoban had put the Lilywhites 1-0 up with his 100th league goal for Dundalk.

On his return to Oriel Park this year, Robbie Benson is relishing the chance to take on Rovers – a club which the 29-year-old player has done well against previously. 

“I have a lot of good memories scoring against Rovers,” said Benson when speaking to Dundalkfc.com. From the 28 goals scored for the Lilywhites, Benson has netted seven against the Hoops. 

“A lot of the games you play against Rovers are high-octane, big matches and I enjoy that kind of stage so that might play a part in it – but luck and coincidence are probably the biggest factors in it!

“Rovers are going for three-in-a-row, which is a big milestone for any club and there will be a lot of pressure on them this season. They will have to deal with that pressure and if they are feeling it, we will have to capitalise.

“I haven’t scored since I’ve come back to Dundalk so this would be a good place to put that right.”

Benson acknowledged that it is taking a little bit of time for what is quite a new side in Oriel Park to gel but the positive signs are there to see.



“The players who were here from last season are getting used to the new management team, the lads who have come in from abroad are getting used to playing first-team football and the lads who have come from other clubs in the league that weren’t competing for titles have to get used to the pressure of being at the top end of the table.

“It will take time for it all to come together and there will be hiccups along the road but there have been a lot of encouraging signs in the opening few games. I think a better time to judge this team will be 15, 20 games into the season, not after five.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS 

The Hoops travel up the M1 to Oriel Park on Monday on the back of a confidence boosting 1-0 win in the Dublin Derby against Bohemians last Friday night in front of a full house at Tallaght Stadium.

“To win any game in front of a crowd like that but then when you add in it's a derby game, they're obviously great nights,” said Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley. “It was brilliant to get the win.”

Rory Gaffney proved the match winner on the night as he got his goalscoring going for the new campaign ending a fine Rovers move from the back mid-way through the first half.



“It was well worked from Alan (Mannus) and then when we get into the final third there were really good decisions and movement. Ronan's run was really good, and it was a good cross into a dangerous area. They didn't deal with it and thankfully Rory was there to finish it.

“I thought first half we were really good. We played some good football and looked in control of the game. Then in the second half, I thought we managed the game very well and didn't give up any chances at all, really. On the counter, we could have scored one or two late on in the game. But it was about managing the game, which we did really well, and limited them to very little.”

While Rovers’ home form has been excellent - they lost just one home league game last season and are unbeaten in league action in Dublin 24 in 14 matches going back to May last year (including three wins out of three this year). 

However, their away form might be viewed as a bit of a concern. Having won the shortened 2020 title without defeat, since then they have lost seven away from home including both of their away matches this season. They also lost twice in Oriel in 2021. 

“Our motivation is just to get to our levels again,” said Bradley when asked to reflect on those losses in Louth last year. “We've set our standards over the last few years and in the last couple of weeks we've been getting back to them. 

“They (Dundalk) have some very good and dangerous players. They have some players that have been very successful in the league over a long period of time, so he (Stephen O’Donnell)  has a strong core group and bits of quality around it. 

“Hoban scores goals, (Steven) Bradley on the right has been really good for them and (Daniel) Kelly on the left is a real threat with his pace. There's obviously (Robbie) Benson as well so they're a real goalscoring threat and one that we have to respect and be ready for."

Referee: Damien MacGraith

MATCH STATS
Dundalk won both league matches between the teams in Oriel Park last year – 2-1 in  May and 1-0 in October.

Rovers most recent victory against Dundalk was a 3-1 win in Tallaght Stadium last July. The Hoops last victory over the Lilywhites in league action in Louth was September 2020 when they earned a 4-0 victory.

The Hoops have won a record 19 League of Ireland titles. Second in the table is the Lilywhites who have 14 (one clear of Shelbourne in third place).

PREDICTION

1-1 

Dundalk

Injured: None

Doubtful: Brian Gartland, David McMillan, Darragh Leahy

Suspended: None 

Shamrock Rovers 

Injured: Neil Farrugia

Doubtful: Chris McCann, Sean Kavanagh  

Suspended: None

 

    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