19.45 6 Mar 2015 -
Referee:
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- St Patrick's Athletic
- Macdara Ferris
- Fri, Mar 06 2015
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Any manager starting the season at home would be happy to have no injury concerns coming into the game. However Hoops boss Pat Fenlon must deal with the loss of five players from his squad due to suspensions carried over from last season when they take on St. Pat’s in Tallaght on Friday night (kick off 7.45pm).
Stephen McPhail, Barry Murphy and Ryan Brennan all miss out due to yellow cards picked up playing with the Hoops last season. Keith Fahey and Gavin Brennan have carry over suspensions from their time with St. Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United respectively.
Just three points separated the teams in the league last season with Pat’s finishing one spot above the Hoops who held fourth place in the final league table. The Saints’ FAI Cup win means that the Hoops will play European football this season but the Shamrock Rovers faithful will want Fenlon’s team to push on and challenge for the title. The last time they were in a title battle was in 2011 and the team emerged victorious that year. A win for either team against their south Dublin rivals would give a solid start to the season.
The Hoops boss is hoping their good build up to the campaign will give them the edge under the Friday night lights and the live TV cameras. “Pre-season has gone very well for us and the players are very keen to get going, as goes for everyone involved at the club and I'm sure, the league,” said Fenlon.
“Other than the suspended players, we don't have anyone else missing. Everyone got a clean bill of health this week. The first game couldn't be much bigger and we expect there to be a great atmosphere in Tallaght for the match.”
Rovers captain Conor Kenna played his first pre-season game against Shelbourne last week having undergone hip surgery over the winter. Also available for selection will be a trio of new signings who were confirmed last weekend – defenders Max Blanchard and Tim Clancy and striker Gareth McCaffrey. It is likely that both teams will deploy with a 4-5-1 formation with Danny North making his competitive debut for the Hoops as they take on his old team.
SAINT PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
It is a mouth watering opening to the season with Pat’s traveling to Tallaght to take on Shamrock Rovers on Friday. There is plenty of rivalry on and off the pitch between the two clubs. Both managers have played previously with both clubs with Buckley also having managed the Hoops between 2002 and 2004. In a not unusual situation, numerous current players have lined out with each club during their careers to date.
That includes James Chambers who has had two spells at both Pat’s and Rovers and he scored an opening day goal in the Hoops’ 1-1 draw at the start of the season five years ago away to Sligo Rovers.
“It’s great that it’s finally come around and we’re all looking forward to the game,” said Chambers about starting this season when speaking to stpatsfc.com. “When you get into pre-season training, whatever the first fixture is, it’s always the thing you focus on and get ready for. The fact that it’s a Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers will only add a little bit of spice to it.”
While Rovers have five players suspended, the Saints are also missing a couple of players due to suspension. Defender Sean Hoare and influential midfielder Killian Brennan will be missing.
“There’s obviously a few lads suspended for both sides so that’s a pity that we won’t see those players on the opening night of the season, but it should still make for a fascinating game as both teams will go out to play to win the game.
“As a group, we’ve done all that has been asked of us during pre-season in terms of preparation and getting our match fitness levels up, now we just want to get into the thick of things. It’s a long season ahead and we’re involved in a few competitions, but it would be nice to start well and get a win.”
Having made the switch from Tallaght to Richmond Park for this new campaign, Saints’ new signings Ciarán Kilduff, Jason McGuinness and Conor O’Malley should all be in the matchday squad. The club are still waiting on international clearance for their new Togo international signing Cyril Guedjé.
Saints boss Liam Buckley is also waiting on the availability of a couple of players due to injury. Jamie McGrath has a groin issue while Ger O’Brien hasn’t played since his team’s 6-0 friendly win in Richmond Park in mid-February against Cabinteely when he went off due to a hamstring concern.
“It’s great to finally get started,” said Buckley when speaking to stpatsfc.com. “We got back into training in January and the players have worked really well since then to get their fitness levels up and get back into the rhythm of playing.
“We’d a good workout in Dundalk last week, but that game is out of our system now and we’re fully focused on starting off positively against Rovers on Friday. I know all our supporters are looking forward to it and ticket sales have been fantastic so we’ll hopefully get a result in Tallaght for them.”
Referee: Padraigh Sutton
MATCH STATS
In the last 10 years only two Rovers players have scored more than ten league goals in a season (Tadhg Purcell and Gary Twigg). Gary McCabe has been the Hoops’ top league goalscorer in the last two seasons with eight goals on both occasions (Ronan Finn was joint top scorer in 2013). In each of the past four seasons, a Pat’s striker has exceeded the ten goal mark. Rovers forward Danny North scored 15 goals for Pat’s in 2011, Anto Flood got 10 goals in 2013 and Christy Fagan scored 12 goals in 2012 and 20 when he was the joint leading goalscorer in the Premier Division last season.
Rovers have not lost the first league fixture of the season since 2004, when they were defeated 1-0 by Shelbourne. This is the third time in six years that Pat’s have been the first away visitors of the league season to Tallaght. In the second league game of the 2010 campaign, they won 2-0 in the Dublin 24 venue. In 2013, the Hoops ran out 3-0 winners.
Pat’s played once in the league in Tallaght last season, losing 2-1 to the Hoops in a game that had both Stephen McPhail and Keith Fahey sent off.
BETTING
Rovers 6/4; Draw 11/5; St Pat’s 7/4.
PREDICTION
1-1
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Gavin Brennan, Ryan Brennan, Keith Fahey, Stephen McPhail, Barry Murphy.
Saint Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Ger O’Brien (hamstring), Jamie McGrath (groin), Cyril Guedjé (awaiting international clearance).
Suspended: Sean Hoare, Killian Brennan.
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 …