League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- St. Patrick’s Athletic

Hoops skipper Pico Lopes leads his team in the pre-match handshakes with the Saints ahead of their league game in Inchicore in April 2024

Hoops skipper Pico Lopes leads his team in the pre-match handshakes with the Saints ahead of their league game in Inchicore in April 2024 Credit: Matthew Lysaght (ETPhotos)

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops, having lost at home in the league for the first time in 12 months on Monday, will be looking to get back to winning ways against managerless St. Patrick’s Athletic.

The game is live on RTÉ2 with an earlier kick-off (7.45pm) than usual at Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers are facing into their first Friday in three weeks where they don’t have a game to follow in three days time. The fatigue of those games, combined with Rovers long injury list (although somewhat shrinking), are factors according to Stephen Bradley for Rovers losing to 3-1 Waterford earlier this week.

“We’ve had a lot of games and a stretched squad, but they’ve been really good and have stepped up,” said the Hoops Head Coach speaking to shamrockrovers.ie. “But Monday looked like a game too far for us. We can’t fault their effort or desire to get something out of the game. 

“We were just off our levels and to be fair to Waterford, they were very good. I don’t think there’s any getting away from we looked a little bit flat. That can happen from time to time, they’re only human.”

The positive from Monday was more game time for Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia.

“They were excellent when they came on. They gave us real energy, took the team forward, which you’d expect as they haven’t played a lot. The other positive is we could easily have won or drawn the game with the chances we created.”

While the Saints travel to Tallaght without Jon Daly, who has left the managerial hotseat in Inchicore, Rovers won’t be taking anything for granted having lost to the Saints last time they met.

“I think Pat's showed over in Inchicore when we played there, while we controlled the majority of the game, they punished us in the second half.

"We know they’ve got attacking players like Waterford that can really hurt  you if you switch off. So we need to be switched on and respect what they have in the attacking part of the pitch, because what they have is really good.”
 



ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Former Shamrock Rovers player Sean O’Connor will be the man in charge in the visiting dugout on Friday with Jon Daly’s departure from the Athletic during the week.

The 1-0 loss in Sligo on Monday precipitated the decision by the powers that be at Pats to relieve Daly of his duties at Richmond Park.

That result, their seventh defeat from 15 games, leaves the Saints in seventh position in the Premier Division table. They are four points clear of the relegation play-off position but a win in Tallaght would move them to within three points of Shamrock Rovers who currently sit second in the table.

Speaking to the Irish Sun, Saints skipper Joe Redmond said: “Jon put in so much work and never left a stone unturned. He gave everything to the club.

“He put everything into us and made us believe again. He got us an FAI Cup during his time in charge. I’ve the utmost respect for Jon.



“The news that Jon was gone was tough. It is for any group to see your manager leave. As players, we take responsibility too.

“As a team we need to regroup. We’ve got important fixtures coming up.”

Of the 190 league meetings between the sides, the Hoops have won 79 wins to Pat's 62.

Rovers last away defeat was to the Saints who beat the Hoops in a come from behind 2-1 win at Richmond Park.

Darragh Nugent had put the Hoops 1-0 up early on, before two goals in three second-half minutes turned it around. Joe Redmond, who will miss Friday’s game, equalised with a header before former Rovers underage player Alex Nolan secured all three points.

When the teams last played in Tallaght, the Saints lost 3-1 in the season curtain raiser President's Cup Final in February. The Hoops scored through Josh Honohan and a Trevor Clarke brace before a late Jamie Lennon goal for Pat’s.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

Johnny Kenny has scored in the last four league games for Shamrock Rovers and sits third in the top scorer list a goal behind his teammate Aaron Greene – who won the player of the month award for April – and three behind top scorer Pat Hoban.

Rovers won three of the four league matches between the teams last season, with the other ending all square in Tallaght, with Eoin Doyle and Jake Mulraney scoring for the Saints while Richie Towell and Jack Byrne on strike for the Hoops.

The Saints haven’t beaten Rovers in the league in Tallaght since March 2016 when Billy Dennehy and Christy Fagan got the goals in a 2-0 victory. The Hoops are 13 league games unbeaten (with seven wins) against the Saints in Dublin 24.

Rovers have scored in a club record 54 consecutive home league games dating back to a 1-0 loss to Sligo Rovers three years ago this month.

PREDICTION

2-0 home win

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Lee Grace, Gary O’Neill, Aaron McEneff, Dylan Watts, Rory Gaffney, Sean Hoare,

Doubtful: Richie Towell.

Suspended: None

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Ryan McLaughlin, Axel Sjoberg 

Doubtful: None

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