Shamrock Rovers -v- Shelbourne

SHAMROCK ROVERS

League leaders and champions Shamrock Rovers take on second placed Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night in what could be the game of the weekend (kick off 8.p.m).

The Hoops have gone behind in their first three league games of the season but still remain unbeaten after coming back to beat Drogheda and Monaghan, while last week, Gary Twigg’s late, late goal earned them a point in Cork,

Rovers will be without Ciaran Kilduff, who has a broken metatarsal, Conor Wynn, who has a back injury and Stephen O Donnell because of knee surgery. Conor Powell will miss out through suspension after being given a straight red card against Cork City last Friday night.

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Kenny is not expecting an easy game. The former Derry manger also praised Shelbourne. "It will be a right battle on the night. Both teams have had strong starts to the season, taking seven points from nine. Shels have a good team this year. This is our first Dublin derby and we’re back at home, so we know we’ll have to be at our best.”

Kenny is also looking for some improvement from his team after last week’s 1-1 draw in Cork. "There have been some very good individual performances in the last few games, but we know there is room for improvement from our game in Cork last week" added Kenny.

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne have had a tough fixture list to deal with at the start of the season. However, if it wasn’t for Jason McGuinness’s last minute goal for Sligo at Tolka Park on the opening night of the season, Alan Mathews’ side would have full points by now. Striker Philip Hughes has made a fine start to the season scoring 3 goals in 3 league games.

Captain David Cassidy is available for Shels after playing the last 15 minutes of their 1-0 win over Derry last Friday night. Stephen Paisley and Kevin Dawson are also in contention for selection. However Paul Byrne will miss out again through injury.

Shelbourne are currently second in the league behind their opponents on Friday night, but manager Alan Mathews is not getting carried away by their impressive start to the season. “Where we are in the league is irrelevant really at this stage, but it’s a nice position to find ourselves in” declared Mathews.

Referee: Tom Connolly.

MATCH STATS.
It will be the first league meeting between the two Dublin sides since 2005. 

However the two sides did meet in the Leinster Senior Cup in April 2010. Shelbourne won 3-1. 

Shelbourne captain David Cassidy played for Rovers in 2006 and 2007.

ODDS
Shamrock Rovers 8/15  Draw 11/4 Shelbourne 11/2

PREDICTION Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Shelbourne

Shamrock Rovers injury news: Ciaran Kilduff (broken metatarsal), Conor Wynn (back), Stephen O Donnell (knee surgery). 
Shamrock Rovers suspension news: Conor Powell

Shelbourne injury news: Paul Byrne.
Shelbourne suspension news: None.