Drogheda United 1 - 1 Shelbourne - PREVIEW | 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division | extratime.com - The Home of Irish Football

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League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Shelbourne

Andrew Dempsey
Sun, Apr 30 2023

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United host Shelbourne in a Premier Division clash at Weavers Park on Monday (kick-off is at 5pm).

Drogs come into the game off the back of a narrow 3-2 loss away to Dundalk on Friday night.

But it was a game in which they impressed.

Despite losing skipper Gary Deegan to a red card and being 2-0 down, they rallied to bring it back to 2-2 before losing it late on.

“The response from our players was brilliant, absolutely brilliant (after going 2-0 down and down to ten-men),” boss Kevin Doherty told LOI TV.

“I couldn’t have been prouder of the performance. It was brilliant and we deserved something out of the game.

“We started the game brilliantly and finished it just as well. We got done with a bit of a sucker punch at the end but we have to dust ourselves down and go on Monday.

“It will be really tough. We have no left-back. Little things are going against us but I couldn’t be prouder of the lads.”

Drogs will be without Evan Weir who limped off against Dundalk with a recurrence of a hamstring injury, while Jarlath Jones, Darragh Noone and Ben Curtis are already out. Deegan is suspended.

SHELBOURNE

Riding the crest of a wave, Damien Duff takes his Shelbourne side to Weavers Park with a point to prove after a solid start to the season.

But despite that promising start, Duff will be keen for his side to right the wrongs of their last visit to Drogheda.

On that occasion the Reds were beaten 3-1 at the venue, and their boss is gunning for revenge.

“The last time we played there I think we rolled over,” he recalled when speaking to Shelbourne's media team on Friday.

“Is it going to be pretty up there? No. It will be an absolute edge and whatever they bring, we have to bring and match it and more.

“The team talk should be the footage of the last time we were there. That’s the team-talk and your motivation.

“It should still be hurting and I expect and hope the lads will be recharged and highly motivated.”

Matty Smith is expected to miss out with a suspension – joining Shane Farrell in the stands.

Mark Coyle, Kian Leavy, Conor Kane, Sean Boyd and Gavin Molloy are all injured.

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

PREDICTION