Dundalk -v- Drogheda United

• P.J. Murray
• Fri, Jul 24 2009


Dundalk host Drogheda on Friday night in a crucial Louth Derby. The sides have faced each other three times already this season with two draws and a Dundalk win the outcome.

Team News
Apart from long term absentee Robbie Farrell (knee) Drogheda have a full complement of players with the return of goalkeeper, and former Dundalk No 1, Steve Williams. Drogheda have also added the services of 21 year old Scott Gibb to their squad. Gibb a current Northern Ireland U21 international and former Falkirk player is a versatile defender being able to cover for all four spots in the rear guard and also act as a defensive midfielder.

Dundalk have Michael Daly back in contention after missing the trip to Galway due to suspension. Dundalk have a number of injury concerns with Liam Burns (hamstring), Darren Mansaram (knee), Michael Collins (back), Tiernan Mulvenna (knee) and Michael McGinlay (thigh strain) all battling to be fit in time.

Managers Comments
Dundalk boss Sean O’Connor says of the upcoming derby "We’re entering into this game under totally different circumstances than when we met Drogheda back in March.

“We went into that game on the back of two defeats, so there was a wee bit of tension trying to get our first win, but we’re on a very good run going into this one, so the circumstances have changed. We have also added five new players - Alex Williams, Kevin McKinlay, Michael McGowan, Peter Cherrie and Paul McAreavey - which has certainly given the squad a freshness, and although squad numbers are still at 17, what we have I think is 17 quality players and I think any one of the 17 players could be in the starting XI and it wouldn’t weaken the side, and that’s a position I love to be in."

Alan Mathews feels the fact that it is a derby is somewhat insignificant and shouldn’t detract from the task at hand. “I’ll leave it to other people to talk about the fact that it is a derby, it’s another Friday night game and we have to focus on trying to pick up three points, the fact that it is a derby can be a distraction. We have some ex-Dundalk players in our squad and they have some ex-Drogheda players in their squad. It will be a good occasion for both players and supporters”

Also Dundalk right back Shaun Kelly is relishing the forthcoming game as he states, "I can’t wait for this one. I think in the last one that we were unlucky getting Chris Turner sent off in the first half which kind of killed off the game, but hopefully this time it will be different. We’re on a good run now, winning five out of our last six games in all competitions, and we’ll be looking for another three points to follow up on last week’s good win at Galway United."

Recent Form
After going six games unbeaten in the league Drogheda lost a crucial game at home to Bray Wanderers on Friday night. The three points garnered by the Seagulls makes it a three way battle for survival at the moment.

Mathews said of the loss “There was no complacency, we dominated the first fifteen minutes, we had good possession and had them on the back foot. They got the goal from their first venture into our half and we somewhat lost our way from there. They then got the bonus of getting the second goal soon after and then they placed men behind the ball which gave them confidence.”

Dundalk recorded a well earned three nil win at Terryland park last Friday. This came on the back of a two nil loss at home to league favourites Bohemians. The Lillywhites have only been beaten once in their last four league games with three wins the other results.

Extratime.ie prediction – An away win 2-1