Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers

• Emmet Maloney
• Mon, Sep 13 2010


Michael O’Neill takes his champions elect north to Oriel Park for this Airtricity Premier League showdown (kick-off 7.45pm). It would take the most biased of Lilywhites to see anything other than a positive result for the Hoops but the unpredictability of football is why we love the game so much.

Lilywhites win at last
It was no secret that the Lilywhites were on a long unsuccessful run of largely defeats in the league prior to Fridays game at Hunky Dorys Park. The pressure on Ian Foster and his charges was reaching breaking point and a bad reaction from the crowd followed their 0-2 defeat at home to Bray in the last game at Oriel. However the win at Drogheda coupled with the visit of the league leaders and the potential return of Neale Fenn should bring the home crowd 100% behind the Lilywhites and make for a spicy atmosphere.

It will be interesting to see how the Dundalk boys react to lining out against the Hoops, no one will need reminding of the controversy surrounding their last visit, and last league defeat, when ex Drog James Chambers and manager Michael O’Neill were sent off and Garda dogs had to be used to control the visiting fans.

Since that match of course the fortunes of the two clubs have differed widely, whilst Shamrock Rovers have gone on a 17 match unbeaten run, Dundalk have been able to muster a meagre haul of just 12 points with 10 defeats. One of the few bright spots in the Dundalk firmament has been the form of new boys Matthew Tipton, Daniel Kearns and Dean Bennett as well as the long awaited return from injury of skipper Liam Burns.

Hoops sitting pretty
The Tallaght team find themselves 7 points clear of nearest rivals Bohemians and will be hoping to maintain their sparkling form on Monday night. They will of course remember that two of the three league defeats they have suffered this season were at the hands of the Co Louth boys and thus won’t be taking their trip up the motorway for granted.

They boast the leagues tightest defence and are second top scorers so Dundalk will have it all to do to get anything from this fixture. In Billy Dennehy and Garry Twigg they have the form goal scorer and leading poacher in the charts, 14 goals in 8 league games between them, so the odds just get stacked higher and higher against Dundalk.

O’Neill targets three points
The Hoops manager laid out his thoughts on the game “The last game we lost this season was away to Dundalk, so we’ll be looking to ensure that does not happen again. We didn’t play very well that night, but we have gone on to have a great unbeaten run since then. We will be going into this game looking for a win.”

Venue: Oriel Park, Dundalk.
Paddypower.com odds: Dundalk 4/1, Shamrock Rovers 8/13, Draw 12/5.
Referee: T. Connolly

Dundalk
Injured: Alan Cawley (back) .
Doubtful: Liam Burns.
Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Pat Sullivan (knee).
Doubtful: Robert Bayly (knee), Dan Murray (knee).
Suspended: None.

Extratime.ie prediction: It is very difficult to see anything other than an away win from this fixture, unless Pat Fenlon has entered into a pact with the devil this week. So Beelzebub’s influence apart, Dundalk 1-2 Shamrock Rovers.