League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Waterford

Aaron Greene on the ball for Shamrock Rovers in their 2-1 win in Waterford last August

Aaron Greene on the ball for Shamrock Rovers in their 2-1 win in Waterford last August Credit: Hugh de Paor (ETPhotos)

SHAMROCK ROVERS 

Shamrock Rovers entertain Waterford in their last league game of the season at Tallaght Stadium where a win may or may not be sufficient for them to win the league title for the fifth consecutive year.

Kick-off at a sold-out Tallaght Stadium is 7.45 pm with the match available on the RTÉ News Channel (with the Derry City v Shelbourne game live on RTÉ2).

The enthralling race for the league title comes down to last night of action in Dublin and Derry with Rovers and Shelbourne the only two teams remaining who can claim the title.

Rovers must win if they are to secure the five-in-a-row but that won't be enough if Shelbourne also win in Derry. 

The Hoops know that if Shelbourne get all three points against Derry City, which is far from a foregone conclusion, then even a win against Waterford will not be sufficient for them to take the top spot – a position they have not held at any stage this season.

It all makes for an exhilarating finish to the season with second, third and fourth place finishes also still dependant on results across the country on Friday night.

Rovers are finishing the season in a rich vein of form, unbeaten in their last five games in both domestic league and European Conference league games and so they will be firm favourites to overcome a Waterford team who have nothing left to play for in their final game.

The Hoops were at their imperious best when demolishing NIFL side Larne 4-1 in the Conference League last week and they followed that with a 1-0 win over a very dogged but already relegated Dundalk last Sunday evening in Oriel Park.

Manager Stephen Bradley spoke to the Rovers media team before the game and he said: “Waterford have beaten us already (3-1 in Tallaght) and also gave us a tough game down there, so we must just focus on our own performance and win the game 



“Waterford are a good team with a lot of good players, and obviously Keith Long is an experienced manager, tomorrow night is a difficult job so we must focus on our job and try to win the game, whatever happens after that happens.

“All the experience we have built up over the years, both domestically and in Europe, helps you to become more resilient, tomorrow is another big game but every game is a big game at this stage of the year.

He added: “You look at Larne last week, Dundalk, now Waterford and then TNS next week, being at this club means you are playing big games at this stage of the year but these players are ready for that’’

WATERFORD

Waterford were top four contenders in the early part of the season but they were unable to maintain that form and have ended up in the bottom four, regardless of the outcome of Friday night’s match.

They currently sit in seventh position on 45 points, having only won twice in their last ten outings.



They will nevertheless be reasonably happy with their overall performance this season, their first back in the Premier Division, and will also be keen to finish 2024 on a high note by taking the scalp of Rovers in Tallaght.

They showed their resilience when drawing 1-1 with Bohemians in their last home fixture at the RSC last weekend. Trailing to a James Clarke goal in the 87th minute, they delighted their home supporters by forcing a late equaliser from a stunning Sam Glenfield shot in the 93rd minute.

Keith Long spoke to the Irish Sun in advance of the game and insists his Waterford side will not roll over against Shamrock Rovers next week.

“It’ll be a big game at Tallaght on Friday night,” said Long. “They’ll probably sense blood. They have got serial winners in their dressing room and team.

“It will be a big crowd and a hostile environment in Tallaght but that’s the nature of it. That’s the challenge. We want to go in there and perform well.”

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

These two teams shared one win each in the first half of the season, 2-1 to Rovers at the RSC in April and 3-1 to Waterford at Tallaght in May. 

In the most recent game in August, Cory O’ Sullivan gave Rovers and early lead in the 9th minute, Christie Pattison equalised for the Blues in the 52nd minute but Graham Burke nabbed a goal for the Hoops in the 85th minute to give them a 2-1 win.

Rovers have just the one loss in their last ten matches (eight in the league and two in the UEFA Conference League). That one defeat was to St. Patrick’s Athletic, while they have won seven and drawn two. 

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 1/6; Draw 11/2; Waterford 11/1    

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 3 - 0 Waterford 

Shamrock Rovers           

Injured: Rory Gaffney, Sean Hoare

Doubtful:  Danny Mandroiu.

Suspended: Dan Cleary

Waterford    

Injured: Kyle White, Adam Queally.

Doubtful: Sam Glenfield

Suspended: None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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