20.00 13 May 2016 -
Referee:
League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Shamrock Rovers
- Macdara Ferris
- Thu, May 12 2016
WEXFORD YOUTHS
Wexford Youths welcome Shamrock Rovers to Ferrycarrig Park for the very first time in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League (kick off 8pm).
The Warriors did play the Hoops at home twice in 2014 in the First Division when Shamrock Rovers had a B team in the second tier of the League of Ireland.
Shane Keegan’s men come into the game on the back of a 4-2 midweek away win in Longford which took his team up to tenth in the table and left Longford routed to the bottom of the league.
They are now looking for only their second home win of the season. The Warriors have just the one home victory in the Premier Division to their name, a 2-0 victory over Bray Wanderers on April Fool’s Day.
"Tuesday night's victory in Longford was a great result,” said Shane Keegan speaking to his club’s website. “We played some super football at times and the work rate was through the roof.
“If anybody doubted the belief or commitment of these lads, then they got their answer. We had a tough couple of weeks but then that was always going to be the case."
Keegan knows his team face a much more difficult task when the Rovers come to town. However, while the Hoops defeated Wexford 2-0 in Tallaght earlier in the campaign, Keegan’s team impressed everyone in attendance with their performance in Dublin.
"Shamrock Rovers have one of the most talented playing squads in the league, but this Friday they will be just another team that we believe we are capable of taking on, and giving a real fight.
“Our performance in Tallaght showed that while we respect them, we won't fear them. Barry Murphy was in inspired form that night and the lads are looking forward to having another crack at them"
Danny Furlong is a doubt having picked up a knock against Longford Town. Keegan has no suspensions but Peter Higgins, Lee Grace and Aidan Keenan continue to be on the club’s injury list. However Shane Dunne is available for his first start of the season following his return from injury.
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Having lost three league game out of four, the Hoops have bounced back with three successive wins and will be eager to make it four in a row on Friday night in Wexford.
Mid-week in Tallaght, Rovers dispatched their namesakes from Sligo 3-0 for what was also the Hoops’ third clean sheet in a row - their eighth shutout from their 12 league games to date. Craig Hyland continued in goal for the Hoops after making his season debut in the league in last Saturday’s 2-0 away win against Longford Town.
Gary McCabe scored twice against Sligo with Gary Shaw scoring the third goal, his first for the Hoops since his move to Tallaght this season. McCabe now has five league goals to his name and is Rovers’ top scorer. He scored his first goal of the year against Youths in Rovers’ first home game of the season – Danny North scored a late goal that night in the 2-0 Shamrock Rovers win.
McCabe’s second goal on Tuesday meant the Hoops were able to leapfrog above Derry City at the end of the night into third in the table on goal difference – the position Rovers ended the season last year.
Pat Fenlon’s only injury issue is the ongoing one of Luke Byrne being out for the season. The Hoops boss welcomes both Max Blanchard and David O’Connor back into this squad after recent injury layoffs for the defensive duo.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
MATCH STATS
The last time the Rovers first team played Youths away from Tallaght was a pre-season friendly at IT Carlow in 2013. Rovers won the match 3-0 that evening.
When the clubs played each other in the 2014 First Division, Youths were victorious in all four games against the Rovers B team. They won the home matches 2-0 and 3-2 and won 2-0 in Tallaght twice.
Rovers have played 12 league games so far in this campaign and in their eight victories to date have yet to concede a goal. Conversely they have failed to score in their four league defeats.
BETTING
Wexford Youths 21/5; Draw 11/4; Shamrock Rovers 4/7.
PREDICTION
Wexford Youths 0 – 2 Shamrock Rovers
Wexford Youths
Injured: Peter Higgins, Lee Grace and Aidan Keenan.
Doubtful: Danny Furlong.
Suspended: None.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Luke Byrne (knee).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Macdara Ferris
Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl …