League Preview: Dundalk -v- Drogheda United

Dundalk

Dundalk will be looking to make it four consecutive home wins when they host neighbours Drogheda United on Friday night (kick-off is at 7:45pm).

Stephen O’Donnell’s side come into the 169th Louth derby in fine home form. Dundalk are unbeaten at Oriel Park this season, with their most recent home defeat inflicted by Friday’s opponents in February's Jim Malone cup game. A comfortable home win against struggling UCD last month was followed by 2-1 victories over Sligo Rovers and Shelbourne.

That said, the Lilywhites away form this season has been an issue. They have not won on the road so far in 2022, with recent defeats to champions Shamrock Rovers and Drogheda stuttering their league campaign.

Dundalk come into the game in fifth place, just a point off a European spot. After missing out on top four last season, Stephen O’Donnell will be determined to get Dundalk back to playing European football, after memorable campaigns across the continent in 2016, 2020 and 2021.

Dundalk manager Stephen O’Donnell spoke with the clubs media ahead of the derby and expects a tough encounter.

“There’s always a competitive edge to it,” O’Donnell said.

“For a lot of our lads, it’s their first taste of a proper derby at Oriel Park and we’re really looking forward to it.”

“We know it will be a tough game. Drogheda United have been on a good run. They had a bad start against Sligo Rovers last week and were two down after just five minutes, but they came back into the game and lost it at the death after having a man sent off.”

“Between the Jim Malone Cup and the first league game, they’ve beaten us twice this season so it’s not a case that we’re sleepwalking into the game on the back of two convincing wins over them this season.”



“They’ve beaten us twice but, from our point of view, we’re really looking forward to it and we’ll be trying to take the momentum from last Friday’s win over Shelbourne into the game.”

Drogheda United

Drogheda come into Friday’s game in seventh place, five points behind their Louth neighbours.

Kevin Doherty’s endured a tricky start to the season with four defeats in their opening five but have turned their fortunes around in recent weeks. A home win against the Lilywhites was followed by hard fought draws against FAI Cup Champions St. Patrick’s Athletic and top of the table Derry City.

Drogheda won away at UCD before a last-minute Garry Buckley winner denied them a point away to Sligo Rovers last week.

Players from both teams will warm up in Head In The Game t-shirts on Friday night, as the supporter-led mental health campaign launches its annual armband campaign. Every captain in the Premier and First Division and Women’s National League will wear special armbands to mark mental health awareness month.



Kevin Doherty spoke to the Drogheda Independent ahead of the derby and said that it’s set to be a feisty affair.

“It’s a great game to be going into, and not because we have to bounce back,” said Doherty.

“We don’t have to bounce back because I was very, very proud of them in Sligo. It would be great (to complete a hat-trick of wins against Dundalk) and that’s what we’ll be trying to do. It’s a great occasion, it’s going to be feisty and it’s the type of game you love to be involved in.”

“With the resources Dundalk have, absolutely they would be the favourites and the bookies will have them favourites - even UCD were favourites to beat us. But the way we’ve been playing this year, we know we’re a match for anyone on our day.”

REFEREE: Sean Grant

MATCH STATS

In their 98 previous league meetings, Dundalk have won 53, Drogheda have won 20 while 25 have ended all square.

Kevin Doherty’s side have won the last two meetings between the sides. James Clarke and Chris Lyons were on target as Drogheda won the Jim Malone Cup in February, before they won 1-0 in March courtesy of a Dean Williams penalty.

Steven Bradley and Patrick Hoban are top of Dundalk’s goalscoring charts this season with four each, while Chris Lyons and Dean Williams have also scored four each for Drogheda.

PREDICTION:

Dundalk 2-1 Drogheda United

Dundalk

Injured: None

Doubtful: Dan Williams

Suspended: Steven Bradley

Drogheda United

Injured: Dean Williams, Adam Foley and Darragh Markey

Doubtful: Keith Cowan

Suspended: Evan Weir

 

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