20.00 27 Mar 2015 -
Referee: Paul Tuite
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Bohemians
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Mar 27 2015
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers made it two wins from two on the road on Tuesday evening when they overcame Owen Heary's Sligo at the Showgrounds by the odd goal in three. Goals from Sean O'Connor, his second of the season, and striker Mikey Drennan either side of ex-Hoop Danny Ledwith's equaliser saw Pat Fenlon's side through.
Rovers hosted Cork City last week in a clash for which the word “tight” doesn't quite do justice, with just one shot apiece on target over 90 minutes. Games between Rovers and Bohs are traditionally just as tight, but Fenlon will be expected to take a few more risks as he hosts the side he guided to two league titles for the first time since taking over on Whitestown Way.
The stalemate against Cork stretched to seven the number of consecutive home clean sheets Rovers have kept in the league, and five of them have come under the stewardship of Craig Hyland, who continues to be preferred between the sticks ahead of double Player of the Year-winner Barry Murphy. If Hyland makes it eight-in-a-row on Friday night, Rovers will more than likely emerge with maximum points.
BOHEMIANS
Three wins from his opening three games had new Bohs boss Keith Long on cloud nine, but his side crashed back down to earth with a bump on Tuesday night when champions Dundalk came to Dalymount Park and left with three points thanks to a smash-and-grab performance.
Bohemians will point to the harsh dismissal of Anto Murphy (the midfielder misses out on Friday as he serves the mandatory suspension) but Long will take much heart from the manner of their performance which, even with 10 men, saw them create enough chances to take at least a point from the game.
Long's side will need to be more disciplined if they're to take anything from Tallaght Stadium, but they'll be confident having not lost a league game at the home of their rivals since 2012. With Anto Murphy the only absentee apart from Dave Mulcahy and long-term injury victim Dan Byrne, they certainly have the experience to get a result on the Southside.
Referee: Paul Tuite
MATCH STATS
Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians met five times in 2014. Trevor Croly's Hoops triumped over their rivals in the Leinster Senior Cup and EA Sports Cup, eventually reaching the final of the latter, where they were defeated by Dundalk in one of Pat Fenlon's early games in charge.
In the league, Rovers ran out 3-1 winners at Dalymount Park in the opening rounds thanks to goals from Gary McCabe, Kieran Marty Waters and Ronan Finn. The second game in Tallaght was drawn 0-0, while the final meeting in Dalymount saw Shane Robinson cancel out Derek Pender's opener.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 8/13, Bohemians 5/1, Draw 5/2
PREDICTION
Shamrock Rovers 1 – 0 Bohemians
Shamrock Rovers
Injured:Unknown.
Doubtful: Luke Byrne (hamstring).
Suspended:None.
Cork City
Injured: Dan Byrne (knee), Dave Mulcahy (calf).
Doubtful:None.
Suspended: Anto Murphy.