League Preview: Derry City -v- Shamrock Rovers

Jack Byrne on the ball with Michael Duffy in close attendance

Jack Byrne on the ball with Michael Duffy in close attendance Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

DERRY CITY

A double is still within the grasp of Derry City. They eliminated Shelbourne from the FAI Cup last week to book a semi-final spot against Bohemians, while the Candystripes sit second in the table four points behind the Reds with seven games to go. 

Ruaidhri Higgins’ side meanwhile have a four-point lead over Shamrock Rovers who visit the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Friday night in a match being shown live on RTÉ2 (kick-off 7.45pm).

City at the very least will be looking to keep pace with the Reds but with a win over the Hoops could help them exploit any additional weakness from Shelbourne who visit Galway on Friday night. 

“It’s another exciting game and one to whet the appetite and one I’m sure our supporters are looking forward to,” said Higgins speaking to The Irish News.

“Hopefully we can get that same energy around the ground and on the pitch and a similar result (as against Shelbourne) would do nicely.

“The more big games like that (the cup game against Shels), especially on live TV, the better. It captures the imagination of football fans around the country and Derry City versus Shamrock Rovers is certainly another one of those.”

Reflecting on the challenge of Rovers, Higgins said: “They are an exceptional team. They have possibly the most depth in their squad than I’ve ever seen in the league and like for like everywhere.

SHAMROCK ROVERS  



The Hoops are somehow hanging in there in the title race and a win on Friday would move them just a point behind second placed Derry City. Their best performance and the domestic highlight of the season for Rovers so far was their 3-1 away win against Derry City when they last travelled to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium back in April.

That was the last time they won back-to-back games prior to this past week, when the Hoops beat Sligo Rovers 4-0 last Friday and followed that up with a 2-1 win in Galway on Monday with Marc McNulty getting the opener with his first goal for the club. They inflicted the Tribesmen’s first home defeat since April.

"I thought we did really well up until conceding the penalty as we controlled the game and created a lot of opportunities,” said Stephen Bradley. “Galway do what they do and they are very well organised. They know how to stay in games. 

"It is a difficult place to go and with John (Caulfield) and Ollie (Horgan) they know what they are doing and have had success this season in the league. We knew it was going to be a tough game but I thought the players were brilliant. They stayed with the game plan and we got our rewards in the end. We kept believing.

"It was great for Marc to score. He is getting sharper and sharper as the weeks go on. He took his goal really well, as he could have snatched at it but he didn't. He was probably disappointed he didn't add to that goal."

Stephen Bradley’s side have just the one league defeat in their last seven matches – picking up 14 points from the 21 available. There are 21 points remaining in the season including the ‘six-pointers’ against Derry this week and the home game against Shelbourne in the first Sunday of October.



The Hoops certainly can’t afford to lose to Derry on Friday but need the three points to realistically stay in the title race. Having sat sixth coming into last week’s game against Sligo Rovers, their position now sitting in third leaves them excellently placed at least to return to Europe again next season. Fourth place would only be good enough for Europe if Derry City win the FAI Cup.

"It should be a good game as it is two good sides. We know they are a team full of good players and we are a top team. It has the makings to be a really good match and hopefully both teams will go to try and win, and we will see a good game of football."

Referee: Damien MacGraith

PREDICTION
1-1 

MATCH STATS

Derry City have the best home record in the league with 30 points gathered from 14 games.

Rovers have the second-best away record in the league with 21 points – Shelbourne top that particular table with 29 points.

The Hoops have the upper hand in the matches between the teams this season. Derry drew 2-2 in Tallaght in early March and lost 1-0 in Dublin 24 in mid-May with Johnny Kenny scoring for the Hoops. Goals from Aaron Greene (2) and Richie Towell won the match for Rovers in Derry in April with Pat Hoban scoring the Candystripes goal in his side’s 3-1 defeat.

Derry City

Injured: Patrick McEleney,Cameron Dummigan

Unavailable: n/a

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Done

Shamrock Rovers 

Injured: Rory Gaffney, Aaron McEneff, Aaron Greene

Doubtful: Sean Hoare

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