- Rónán MacNamara
- Fri, Mar 31 2023
SHELBOURNE
The Premier Division returns after the international break as Shelbourne welcome title challengers Derry City to Tolka Park on Friday with kick off at 7.45pm.
Shelbourne enter the game following back-to-back wins in the Premier Division and the Leinster Senior Cup and were in fine form in the latter, thumping Dundalk 4-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
Damien Duff’s charges are unbeaten at Tolka Park this season, beating Bohemians and drawing with Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers.
Injuries have hampered Shels in the early part of the season but the international break gave stricken players the opportunity to return to fitness.
Overall, the Reds have been tough to beat this term, losing two of their six league games and they come into Friday having lost just once in their last five games.
“We’re in a lot better shape on the injury front, a lot stronger I’m glad to say,” Duff told ShelbourneFC.ie.
“JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle, Paddy Barrett, and Jad Hakiki are fit and available. Great to be able to have them come back into the mix. Kian Leavy is back, he was in with the Ireland U21s and did well.
“Injury wise we’re getting lads back at the right time, we’re only missing our long term injured players Conor Kane and Sean Boyd.
“The likes of Jad and Mark, great to see them back. Fit and match fit is a big difference, but glad both are pain free.
“Jad needs to get minutes, so we might see him with the U19s, he’s missed a lot of football but listen, he’s back and available for us.
“With the guys coming back it gives me and the staff a welcome headache when it comes to sitting down and picking the team.”
Friday night will be a repeat of November’s FAI Cup final where Shelbourne were hammered 4-0 in the showpiece in the Aviva Stadium by a rampant Derry side.
Duff believes their first meeting of the season will be a different game.
“Will it make a difference? Not for me, totally different game, arena, occasion. It’s our home ground, Tolka Park, the soul of Shelbourne Football Club. We’ve a good team coming down to us, live on TV, we’re playing well, why would we be thinking about 5 months ago?
“My thoughts on the game, my approach, the team I pick, it’s not a revenge mission or anything like that. I’ve a lot of motivating factors for tomorrow, the players do, but November 13 is not one of them. I don’t need that to get myself up for a game at Tolka Park.
“The FAI Cup final, on the day they were the better side, we’re honest we know we deserved what we got, we weren’t ready to deliver on the big occasion, but trust me when I say this, we will be. That’s where we’re looking to go.
“I have no doubt, the team that is out tomorrow night is a lot better than the team that lost the FAI Cup Final, we’re constantly growing, evolving and improving.”
DERRY CITY
The Candystripes make the trip south to Drumcondra to take on Shelbourne as they look for a first win in three games.
Home form was City’s achilles heel in the title race last season and back-to-back home draws with Sligo and Dundalk see them come into the game in second place, three points behind leaders Bohemians.
Defensively Ruaidhri Higgins’ side have been solid, conceding just three goals in their opening six Premier Division games so a tight game is in store.
Alan Reynolds spoke to Derrycityfc.net on Thursday before he suddenly departed for his native Waterford FC to link up with new manager Keith Long.
“They’re always really well organised and are a very difficult team to play against, especially at home.
“We know Friday night will be exactly the same and while we’re glad to get back playing again, we’ll have to be at our best if we’re to give ourselves a chance of winning.”
Mark Connolly remains an absentee following his recent injury as Derry look for their third successive win in Dublin.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
MATCH FACTS
Both sides have been better on the road in this fixture with Shelbourne picking up four points at the Brandywell while Derry won both of their games at Tolka Park.
This is a repeat of last season’s FAI Cup final which Derry won 4-0
The last time these sides met in the Premier Division was a 1-1 draw at the Brandywell.
PREDICTION
Shelbourne 0-1 Derry City
Shelbourne
Injured: Conor Kane, Sean Boyd
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Derry City
Injured: Mark Connolly, Colm Whelan.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
