League Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers

• Macdara Ferris
• Mon, Oct 13 2014




DUNDALK FC

League leaders Dundalk are looking to make their game in hand over Cork City count in the tight title race when they play Shamrock Rovers in Oriel Park on Monday night. In front of an expectant and large home crowd (kick off 7.05pm), plus the RTE Two TV audience, Stephen Kenny’s men will be focused on going three points clear of Cork with three games remaining.

 

A win would put them in a good position to pick up their first league title since 1995 as they travel to Bray next Friday before welcoming Cork City to Oriel Park on the final night of the season. The Lilywhites have a +20 goal difference advantage over the Leesiders.

 

On Friday night Dundalk went to Athlone and won 3-0. A second half brace from top scorer Patrick Hoban took him to 19 league goals and 23 in all competitions. Richie Towell’s excellently taken goal in the final minute wrapped up the win.

 

Dundalk go into battle against the Hoops at Oriel Park once again; this is the third time in four weeks and the fourth time overall in Louth in 2014. Sean Gannon, who previously played 22 games for Rovers, was pleased with last Friday night’s win as he explained to dundalkfc.com.

 

“It’s a good win for us,” said the 23-year-old. “They were very hard to break down in the first half and they were very compact. We had to be patient. It’s a massive three points for us.

 

“Another big one on Monday and we know that Oriel Park will be packed to the rafters and that will be great for us. It will give us all a lift.

 

"Rovers are a good team we know that but we have full confidence in ourselves and hopefully we can get another big three points.”

 

Stephen Kenny will have to plan without the services of striker David McMillan, ruled out for the remainder of the season following surgery on an ankle ligament injury. Simon Kelly is doubtful due to a calf problem.

 

Dundalk captain, and former Shamrock Rovers player, Stephen O’Donnell has completed his recovery from the serious knee injury. Last Friday he made his first appearance for the Lilywhites since picking up that injury back in April when came off worse in a tackle with Rovers’ Shane Robinson.

 

SHAMROCK ROVERS  

The Hoops’ only win over the Lilywhites this year came in the FAI Cup quarter-final replay when two late Karl Sheppard goals in Oriel Park earned the Hoops a 2-1 win. The teams have played each other eight times this season and in all four cup competitions, with Dundalk winning the most recent clash 3-2 in the EA Sports Cup final which was hosted in Oriel Park.

 

Rovers come into this game after winning 1-0 at home against Bray Wanderers last Friday night with Sean O’Connor’s late first half goal earning the Hoops all three points.

 

“Sean’s was a good goal but we could have scored a few more,” was Fenlon’s assessment of the Bray match. “The only thing I could probably complain about was not finishing them off. We needed to be a bit more clinical in front of goal.

 

“The players showed good attitude having been beaten in the cup semi-final during the week. That is hard to get over but they did so quickly. They played well enough and created six or seven good chances. Their ‘keeper played well.”

 

Rovers currently trail third placed St. Patrick’s Athletic by seven points with the Hoops having four league games remaining, including Monday’s match in hand over the Saints. If they are to leapfrog St. Pat’s into the final European spot, Rovers will really need to win in Oriel Park.

 

“It is a massive game for them but it is still a big game for us. I’ve said to the lads we need to keep going. If Pat’s do slip up, we want to make sure we have a chance to catch them. We go into the game trailing them by seven points so our target is go four behind them next Friday.

 

“The games against Dundalk have been good and have also been tight this season. We have gone up there twice in the last few weeks and done well enough. We won one and lost one. The players are looking forward to going there for a game which will have a great atmosphere.”

 

Barry Murphy, David O’Connor, Stephen McPhail and Dean Kelly are all doubts for the match. Ronan Finn who scored an injury time equaliser in the 2-2 draw in previous league game this season in Oriel Park (see here) is suspended.

 

Referee: Robert Rogers.

 

 

MATCH STATS
 

Dundalk are unbeaten at home against Shamrock Rovers in the league over the last four matches and will be looking to stretch that to five for the first time since a period between 1997 and 2001.

 

Dundalk will be looking to keep back-to-back league clean sheets against the Hoops for the first time since 1993.

 

The overall league record for goals in a season is 77 which was set by Shamrock Rovers in 1922-23. However the Lilywhites are eight goals away from bettering that and have four games to do so. They are the highest scorers in the country with 70 goals in the league and now 104 goals overall with 17 different scorers and have reached the century mark for the first time since 1968-69.

 

BETTING
Dundalk 5/6; Draw 9/4; Shamrock Rovers 10/3.

 

PREDICTION
2-1 home win.

 

Dundalk

Injured: David McMillan.

Doubtful: Simon Kelly.

Suspended: None.

 

Shamrock Rovers  

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Barry Murphy, David O’Connor, Stephen McPhail, Dean Kelly.

Suspended: Ronan Finn.