20.00 11 Mar 2016 -
Referee: Ben Connolly
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Wexford Youths
- Aaron Clarke
- Thu, Mar 10 2016
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers get their home campaign underway on Friday evening when Pat Fenlon’s men welcome Wexford Youths to Tallaght Stadium. Kick-off is set for 8pm.
After an opening night victory on the road, the Hoops boss is looking forward to returning to Tallaght in front of the Rovers faithful after a 2-0 victory against Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds last Saturday evening.
“We are looking forward to getting out on the pitch at Tallaght Stadium tomorrow night,” Fenlon told shamrockrovers.ie.
“It seems like a long time since we have played a league game there. We look forward to playing in front of our home fans and giving them plenty to cheer about.”
With Luke Byrne absent last week against Sligo, Fenlon was left with little choice but to move midfielder Gavin Brennan to fill the role at left-back and the Hoops boss was delighted with his efforts in defence.
“We made enforced changes to the side last week with Gavin Brennan going in at left back and he did really well there.”
In a league campaign that could come down to small margins, Fenlon is happy that players can slot into additional positions as it increases competition amongst his squad and the Hoops boss is delighted to have retained the large majority of his 2015 squad, while key additions will see them attempt to close the gap with Dundalk and Cork City.
“It shows the competition we have for places and that is great to see. Whilst there hasn’t been a huge turnaround in our squad from last season we have strengthened in the core areas and we are improving the players that we have. We have seen these improvements in pre-season and tomorrow the Rovers fans will see for themselves”.
WEXFORD YOUTHS
Wexford Youths take to the road for their first away game since being promoted to the Premier Division for the first time when they travel to the Capital to take on Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.
Shane Keegan’s men will be aiming to bounce back from an opening night defeat at home to Longford Town, a game many people at Ferrycarrig Park would have been targeting when the fixtures were first released.
While the opening night result did not go the way of Youths. Keegan has taken many positive away from his side’s opening salvo in the Premier Division with the manager telling wexfordyouths.ie that he was happy with his side’s performance and with some small adjustments he is hopeful his side can begin to collect some league points starting with Friday’s trip to Tallaght Stadium.
"It was a very strange game last weekend,” he said. “As a team we played really well and dominated the game but unfortunately the key moments of the game went against us.
“But the lads have come away from it with a confidence that we're not far off where we need to be. With a few small improvements and a bit of luck going our way I think we can start to pick up points, hopefully starting with the Rovers game."
In preparation for Friday’s game, Wexford Youths rotated their squad in Monday’s Leinster Cup victory against Athlone Town. Late goals from substitutes Eric Molloy and Danny Furlong ensuring they advanced to the quarter-final stage, via extra-time.
Referee: Ben Connolly
MATCH STATS
Danny North has scored on the opening night for the second consecutive season as Rovers recorded back to back opening night victory’s - Sligo Rovers last weekend and St Patrick's Athletic in 2015.
Wexford Youths have lost their opening fixture of the season for the fourth season in a row when Longford Town defeated them last weekend at Ferrycarrig Park.
The last time the side’s clashed, Rovers were victorious by five goals to one in the 2010 FAI Cup.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 1/4, Draw 4/1, Wexford Youths 11/1
PREDICTION
Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Wexford Youths
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Stephen McPhail, Luke Byrne
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Wexford Youths
Injured: Peter Higgins, Shane Dunne, Aidan Keenan
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
About Aaron Clarke
Aaron is a Dublin based reporter who joined Extratime.ie in February of 2015 as a Women's National League reporter. Two months later he began covering League of Ireland football and most weekends he can be …