League Preview: Dundalk -v- Shamrock Rovers

Both title hopefuls log horns in Oriel Park tonight after disappointing draws over the weekend. Dundalk still lead the pack and the chasing pack may be running out of games to catch them.

DUNDALK FC

On their last outing, Dundalk clutched a point from the jaws of defeat at Dalymount Park thanks to a 94^th minute Richie Towell bail out. It may prove a valuable point come the end of the season, but the mood in the Dundalk camp after the game is one of two points dropped. Following Cork City’s win on Monday evening Dundalk’s lead at the top of the table was reduced to five points – although it could be restored to eight if they win in Oriel tonight.

The Lilywhites will be looking to recapture the swagger of their last home game, when they trounced St Pats 4-1 if they want to put clear daylight between themselves and Shamrock Rovers. Former Hoop, Ronan Finn, reflected on The Lilywhite’s draw against Bohemiansand his side’s earlier draw with Rovers in Tallaght when The Town saw a 2-0 lead slip when he spoke with dundalkfc.com.

“It’s disappointing as we went down to Dalymount to win the game but, it didn’t work out.  We tried to extend our lead at the top of the table, you don’t ever want to lose that. We haven’t lost too many games all season but we didn’t want to lose another one and we’ve been saved in the last minute, we were happy from that point of view. It was both a sense of disappointment and relief too.

“It’ll be a tough game, Shamrock Rovers are a good team and we had a hard game against them earlier on in the year. I thought we were the better team on the day, unfortunately when we went down to 10 men it changed the complexion of the game and they came into it. We were maybe slightly lucky to escape at the end with a point.”

The gravity of the game was not lost on Finn but he felt that there was undoubtable more pressure on Rovers to get a result.

“Rovers will be coming down here to get three points, but there is no reason we can’t win the game.

“At the start of the year we all believed at the start of the year that we can go and win the league. We’ve always had that belief and nothing has changed, if anything we’ve gotten stronger as the season moved on. The season isn’t finished yet but we’ve put ourselves in a good position”

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops missed an opportunity to gain ground on league leaders Dundalk on Saturday when they drew with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds. A 2-2 draw between Bohemians and Dundalk would have allowed Pat Fenlon’s side to reduce the difference between them to ten points but as things stand they are twelve adrift of the current champions.

If Rovers are to have any hope of making a late push for the title a win in Oriel Park is a must, a feat only managed once this season. Such a notion still assumes a capitulation of The Lilywhites and, of course, second placed Cork City.

The last time these sides met was back in April, their meeting being postponed by European fixtures. An entertaining draw was played out in Tallaght when a controversial red card decision was a catalyst in Dundalk ceding a two goal lead. Michael Drennan netted a brace following Gary Rogers’ dismissal.

Had the game gone ahead in July, Drennan would have been suspended but he is available for tonight’s game, having returned from a three game ban to face Sligo Rovers.

Former Chelsea player Damian Duff – who made his first starting appearance for Shamrock Rovers against Sligo Rovers on Saturday – bolsters the Hoop’s squad considerably and his performance will be one watched keenly by both sets of fans.

Duff could potentially be joined by fellow former international, Stephen McPhail, who is poised to make a return after an extended hamstring issue. The only player unavailable for Rovers is Sean O’Connor who will miss the rest of the season.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

These are two of the league’s form teams at the moment with Dundalk taking 11 points from their last 15, and Rovers taking 10. Only bottom placed Limerick, with 13 points from their last 5 games, have been performing better of late.

The league’s two top scorers will be on show tonight; Dundalk’s Richie Towell (15) and Rover’s Michael Drennan (11). Dundalk’s David McMillian (10) could become the joint second highest scorer –behind his team-mate Towell should he score tonight.

Dundalk’s record against Shamrock Rovers in the league reads P184 W57 D51 L76

BETTING

Dundalk FC 10/11 ; Draw 5/2 ; Shamrock Rovers 3/1

PREDICTION

Dundalk 1 – 1 Shamrock Rovers

Dundalk FC

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Sean O’ Connor

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.