20.00 1 May 2015 -
Referee: Sean Grant
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Drogheda United
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, May 01 2015
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers missed an opportunity to leapfrog Cork City into second place when they were held by Limerick at Jackman Park last Saturday evening.
The Hoops were grateful to Brandon Miele's late goal to salvage a draw against the league's bottom side despite creating a hatful of goalscoring opportunities in the second half.
Pat Fenlon will count his team unlucky to have hit the woodwork twice in the second half, but the reality is that the result leaves them five points off leaders Dundalk as the opening series of games draws to a close.
Fenlon can at least call on a clean bill of health for a game they must win to keep pace with the league leaders, and will be buoyed by the scoring return of striker Danny North in the midweek Leinster Senior Cup win at Athlone.
DROGHEDA UNITED
Drogheda United arrive in Tallaght as the last side to beat the Hoops in front of their home fans. That 1-0 win proving the second-to-last straw that finally broke the proverbial camel's back as Trevor Croly's inglorious reign at the Tallaght club came to a close a week later in Limerick.
Drogheda faced into that game on the back of indifferent form, and they return to west Dublin on the back of a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Longford Town, a game that had long been lost to the Louth side when Sean Thornton was harshly sent off in the second half.
Drogs boss, Johnny McDonnell, told the club's website: “I was very disappointed with how we played on Friday. I’m not sure why we were so poor but I can assure all the fans that no one was more disappointed and frustrated with the performance than the players themselves.
“We’ve put in our best displays this season against St Pat’s, Cork and Dundalk because they are different games. It’s easier for us to be set-up on the counter attack and to get in amongst the opposition. Last week wasn’t like that but it was a hiccup and we won’t dwell on it now.”
Thornton will miss the engagement as he serves his automatic suspension, while defender Neil Yadolahi remains sidelined, but McDonnell is hopeful that 18-year-old centre half Lloyd Buckley – who has scored twice in his previous three appearances – will overcome a niggle.
Referee: Sean Grant.
MATCH STATS
Shamrock Rovers and Drogheda United met five times in 2014. The Hoops easily disposed of Drogs in the Leinster Senior Cup and EA Sports Cup, 5-1 in the former and 2-1 in the latter.
Rovers won the league clashes at United Park 3-2 and 2-0, while Drogheda continued the trend of away wins as Gavan Holohan secured a 1-0 win for the Boynesiders in Tallaght.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 1/4; Draw 4/; Drogheda United 11/1.
PREDICTION
Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Drogheda United.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Dave Webster.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.
Drogheda United
Injured: Neil Yadolahi.
Doubtful: Lloyd Buckley.
Suspended: Sean Thornton.