Credit:
Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers
- Emmet Maloney
- Sun, May 02 2010
Michael O’Neill takes his Shamrock Rovers north to face Dundalk at Oriel Park on the Bank Holiday Monday evening (kick-off 7.45pm). The home fans will be hoping for a repeat of the result the last time they met, down in Tallaght, when Dundalk ran out deserving 2-0 winners. Goals that day from Neale Fenn and Stephen Maher saw them home but since then Rovers have been unbeaten and will be desperate to avenge that defeat.
Lilywhites back on track
Dundalk will be looking to get their home form back on track after a shock 3-2 defeat by Bray Wanderers last time out at Oriel. The performance that night was below par and maybe the Dundalk players underestimated their visitors. However they quickly got back to winning ways with an excellent performance at Hunky Dorys Park with a 3-1 victory in the Co Louth derby. A brace from young centre half Garry Breen and a fine finish by Ross Gaynor brought them all three points. There is no way that Dundalk can underestimate their visitors this time and a performance more like the one they turned in against Bohs will be needed to get a positive outcome.
In form Hoops
Shamrock Rovers meanwhile were beating St Pats at Inchicore 2-1 where a double from Thomas Stewart was enough to see them leave with all the points, they could even afford the luxury of a missed penalty from James Chambers. Things have certainly turned around for the Hoops since their slow start to the season and have been unbeaten in their last eight league games, winning five and drawing three. They have also yet to taste defeat away from home so will travel with high hopes of getting something from Oriel. Getting goals was a problem for the Hoops earlier in the season but they are now finding the net more regularly and the return from injury of Gary Twigg can only help on that front. Michael O’Neill gave his thoughts on the game to the club web site “Dundalk reacted very well to the home defeat by Bray last week by getting a good win in their derby game in Drogheda on Friday. They’ve been on a good run, so we’ll be expecting a tough game up there on Monday. But we always are against Dundalk. We let ourselves down against them last time out, so we certainly don’t want that to happen again.”
Happy return for Turner?
Last season the Hoops left Oriel with victories both times but this Dundalk outfit are very different from the one they faced last season as Ian Foster has turned them into real title challengers with a threat of goals throughout the team. Chris Turner is back in training for Shamrock Rovers and will be looking to get a run out at Dundalk where he was so impressive last season.
Venue: Oriel Park, Dundalk
Paddypower.com Odds: Dundalk 13/8, Draw 21/10, Shamrock Rovers 13/8
Dundalk:
Suspended: none
Injured: Alan Cawley (Cheek), JJ Melligan (Calf)
Doubtful: none
Shamrock Rovers:
Suspended: none
Injured: Pat Sullivan (knee), Craig Sives (calf), Don Cowan (groin) and Enda Stevens (groin)
Doubtful: none
Extratime.ie Prediction: 2-2, two of the Airtricity Leagues form teams to serve up a treat.
About Emmet Maloney
Emmet Maloney has yet to write anything about themselves but click on the bio link to view all past work.