League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Cork City

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Stephen Bradley’s Hoops will be looking to bring the curtain down on their strong league campaign when they welcome Cork City to Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

Shamrock Rovers head into their final league game of the year with 72 points to their name from 35 league outings – with 35 of those picked up at the Whitestown Way venue.

Rovers can equal their record league win haul of 23 games on Friday evening, with 22 wins coming both home and away.

Speaking to his club’s media team, Rovers boss Bradley admits that he is eyeing up that record to be equalled on Friday evening.

“We’ve spoken about this for some time that we want to be up there and beat records. Tomorrow night gives us a chance to do that (23 total wins in 2011).

“The points tally is one of the highest we’ve ever had, and the clean sheets is up there too so everything has gone in the right direction. It would be nice to go and equal that win record that’s been held for a number of years.”

However, the former Shamrock Rovers midfielder added on the challenge that Cork City pose.

“They’ll obviously be on a high from winning last week. They’ll come and play with a freedom in the last game of the season, so we’ve got to be ready for that.

“But we’ve got our own targets and our own reasons for wanting to go and win this game, so we’ll be fully focused on that.

“It’s our last home game and the fans have been unbelievable all year. They’ve travelled all around Europe.

“They deserve a performance and for us to go and put on a show tomorrow night and win the game. Hopefully that’s what we’ll do.

“Dylan Watts will be OK for next week but he’s out for tomorrow as a precaution. Neil Farrugia is fine, he could have played on at UCD but with the injury he had there was no point in taking a risk.

“The game was over, and we played the last 15 or 20 minutes with 10 men. Sean Callan is still out.”

CORK CITY

After a year to forget on-the-pitch, Cork City will look to make it three wins on the bounce on Friday evening when they travel to face FAI Cup finalists Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

The Leesiders have struggled this term, lying in eighth position after a poor start to the season set the tone to a morale-sapping year at Turners Cross.

Both John Caulfield and John Cotter have departed the club in 2019, with former Longford Town boss Neale Fenn taking over the reins of the club in August.

Fenn, after a poor start, has since won two games on the spin – with big wins at home to UCD and Dundalk copper-fastening their survival hopes.

“It’s a game we definitely want to go and win, and we feel we can win,” manager fenn said during his pre-match press conference.  

“They’ve obviously got a cup final to look forward to, so we’ll go up there and if we play like we did the last few weeks, we’ve got a great chance.”

Last week’s match-winner Daire O’Connor also added; “Since he’s come in, I’ve scored three, compared to the start of the season when I didn’t score at all. It’d be nice to finish the season with three wins in a row.

“In a way, the season is finishing at a bad time for us, just as we’re picking up form. I think everyone’s realising that. If we could get three wins from three, it’d give everyone that’s coming back next season a big lift.”

Cork are expected to have a full squad to choose from ahead of their trip to the capital to face the Hoops.

Referee: Damien MacGraith.

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers have picked up seven out of a possible nine points against Cork City so far this term, with two win’s and a draw over the Leesiders.

The Hoops have won three of the four previous four encounters between the side’s at Tallaght Stadium – with the Rebel Army’s last win over Rovers in the capital coming in March 2017.

Neale Fenn’s Cork City have picked up seven points from their previous five league outings, with back to back wins over UCD and Dundalk recently.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 3/10; Draw 7/2; Cork City 7/1.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Cork City

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Dylan Watts, Sean Callan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cork City

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.