League Preview: Shelbourne -v- UCD

• Patrick O'Connor
• Thu, Oct 26 2023




SHELBOURNE

It’s now or never time for Shels as they head into their last home game of the season with a place in the top four still within their reach, albeit without having full control over their own destiny.

The Reds have two games left in their season and even if they claim the maximum six points on offer, they may still lose out on a much coveted fourth place.

The top four situation is now much clearer, three places are already accounted for and the fourth place now rests between Shels and Bohemians. The final outcome of European qualification is dependent on league points but also on the result of the FAI Cup Final between Bohs and St Patrick’s Athletic on November 12^th.

Damian Duff will be well aware of the various permutations but all his charges can do is beat UCD this weekend and follow that up with an away win at Drogheda in their last match on November 3^rd

They currently sit in fifth place on 54 points with Bohs in fourth place on 55 points.

Damian Duff spoke with the Shelbourne media team this week and said “They (UCD) are a very dangerous team, this is as dangerous as any game in the league. A lot of teams the problem they have is they disrespect it, that’s a mistake we won’t be making.

“The night that’s in it, with what’s at stake, we can’t disrespect the game or UCD. It is a night where we need everyone on it - players, staff, and the fans. When we have that energy and enthusiasm, that proper life in the stadium. We can be an unstoppable force.

"My message for players, staff, and fans too, you need to be on it, we can’t afford for anyone to be flat tomorrow.”

A big attendance is expected for the final home game of the season and Duff has urged fans to arrive to Tolka Park early and be part of the display planned by Briogáid Dearg (BD).

“There’s an old Jock Stein quote I walked by on the wall by every day at Celtic, ‘football without fans is nothing’, across the board any club, any country, any league, this is so true.

"Here at Shels over the last two years, Shels is nothing without fans, it’s nothing without BD, what they do, amazing, we’d be lost without them. I’d encourage everyone to be there early.

“A couple of people have mentioned to me this week, they want everyone in the Riverside by 7.25pm, 20 minutes before kick-off, to ensure they all create an atmosphere that has Tolka on wheels. They’re our 12th man, 13th, 14th man tomorrow, I genuinely mean this and I don’t say it lightly, they’ve put points on the board this season.

"They’ve played a huge part, and I know they will play a big part for the next two games as well.”

UCD

UCD’s fate has been clear for some time, they are heading back down to the First Division having only accumulated 11 points over the 34 games played so far.

They finish off their season with this away game at Tolka Park, followed by a home game against Dundalk on the final weekend of the season.

There will be nothing at stake for either side in the Dundalk game, but not so at Tolka Park this Friday night where they can still have an impact on the league placings at the top end of the table.

Their recent form has been poor with only one point out of a possible 24 in the last eight games, albeit that being a credible 0-0 draw at home against title winners elect Shamrock Rovers.

They have also only scored one goal in those last eight outings, Matthew Alonge’s strike against Bohemians in Belfield earlier in October.

The Students will find it difficult to reverse that trend this Friday night as they face a Shelbourne team which has the best defensive record in the league, only conceding 23 goals in league games all season.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

UCD have a very poor record against Shelbourne, never managing to beat them in any of the last eight games between the two sides. They have managed four draws however, a statistic that Shelbourne will do well to bear in mind as they go in search of all three points on Friday night.

This will be Jack Moylan’s last home game for Shelbourne as there is an agreement in place that he join Lincoln City when the LOI season finishes.

He will join a club with a very heavy Irish flavour with Danny Mandroiu, Sean Roughan, Paudie O’ Connor and Dylan Duffy all having spent time in the LOI. The club was managed by another Irishman, Mark Kennedy, but he was relieved of his duties recently.

BETTING

Shelbourne 1/10; Draw 13/2; UCD 18/1

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 3 - 0 UCD

Shelbourne

Injured: None

Doubtful: Will Jarvis, Andrew Quinn, Jad Haiki, JR Wilson

Suspended: None

UCD  

Injured: None

Doubtful:  None

Suspended: None

Rob Slevin: ‘Ollie (Horgan) showed up in Carrigaline, deep into Christmas. The lengths that he goes to sign someone, just speaks volumes about him.’ https://t.co/9RuDa6xidHpic.twitter.com/Iw4G53YqQZ

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 26, 2023