14.00 20 Jul 2014 -
Referee: Andrew Mullally
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers B -v- Shelbourne
- Macdara Ferris
- Sun, Jul 20 2014
SHAMROCK ROVERS B
It is tough task in Tallaght that awaits Shamrock Rovers’ First Division team on Sunday afternoon when Shelbourne cross the Liffey to take on the Hoops (kick off 2pm). Shels currently sit second place in the table while the Hoops are second last, having lost six matches in a row.
While Rovers’ B team is all about blooding young talent for the club, they could do with a positive result of any sorts on Sunday. Colin Hawkins’ men come into the game having conceded 19 goals in their last eight games and have only scored once during that spell.
When the former Ringsend rivals met in Tallaght earlier in the season, the Hoops strengthened the spine of the team with the inclusion of some of Trevor Croly’s Premier Division players for the very first time. All had previous connections with the Tolka Park based club with defender Rob Cornwall and midfielder Robert Bayly playing against the club they were with last season. Karl Sheppard, a previous youth team player with Shels, started up front. The Hoops were well worth their point in the 1-1 draw that day.
“It was weird playing against the lads again but it was a good experience,” said Rob Cornwall about that day in a recent edition of Shamrock Rovers’ match programme. “We didn’t get the win which was frustrating but we have a young team.”
The Hoops drop in form has coincided with the loss due to injury of both Chris Lyons and, in particular, Daniel Purdy. While Lyons has only just recently returned to the squad, Purdy hasn’t played since he dislocated his collarbone in the heavy 6-0 defeat away to his former club Longford at the end of May.
Rovers have only scored seven goals in their eight home games, which is the lowest return of any team in the league. A number of Rovers’ First Division squad, along with a number of trialists, played last Monday night when Wolverhampton Wanderers won 4-1 in Tallaght in the friendly fixture between the Championship team and First Division clubs.
Evan Osam stepped up from the Colin Hawkins’ squad to make his Premier Division debut with Rovers’ first team in the 3-0 win in Bray last Friday. At 16 years old, Osam became the youngest players to line out for Rovers in top flight action for 36 years and it remains to be seen if he will be in Sunday’s squad.
The Hoops, who lost Ryan Coombes to Bray this month, have added to their First Division squad Dylan Kavanagh, from UCD, and Gavin Boyne, who was runner up in RTÉ television’s ‘Football’s Next Star.
SHELBOURNE
Since the two teams played out a 0-0 draw in Tolka Park in May, Shels have won two of the five league games they have played, losing to Galway at home and Longford away at the start of this month. They won 3-1 at home to Waterford United in their last league outing and like Rovers this week they faced English Championship opposition - losing 4-0 to Ipswich Town during the week.
Jordan Keegan, Gareth Coughlan and Adam McDonnell scored the goals for Shelbourne against Waterford last week. 17-year-old McDonnell was making his league debut for the Reds. Gary Dempsey should be available to play following the 33-year-old’s signing for Shels during the week. Anthony Hewitt is a new attacking option for the Reds having recently joined from St. Mochtas and he was named on the bench for last week’s league game.
Johnny McDonnell has a number of players missing from his squad. One of last week’s goalscorers, Jordan Keegan, required an appendectomy during the week. John Sullivan, Brian Gannon, Adam O’Connor and Darren Tinnelly will also miss the trip to Tallaght due to injury. Willo McDonagh and Keith Quinn are also not available as they are still serving suspensions picked up in the recent games against Longford Town and Cobh Ramblers respectively.
Referee: Andrew Mullally.
MATCH STATS
Eight Rovers player have made appearances in both the Premier and First Division this season with the Hoops. As well as Evan Osam, Rob Cornwall, Robert Bayly and Karl Sheppard, Sean Heaney, Dean Kelly, David O’Connor and Sean O’Connor have also played in both divisions.
The two games played between Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers this season have ended in draws, 1-1 in Tallaght and 0-0 in Tolka Park. Brian Gannon scored Shels’ goal in Tallaght while Daniel Purdy, top scorer with five, was on the scoresheet for Rovers. Dylan Connolly is Shelbourne’s top goalscorer with six league goals.
Shelbourne have yet to win a league game in Tallaght Stadium. Their only competitive win in the Dublin 24 venue came in the 2010 Leinster Senior Cup.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers B 6/1; Draw11/4; Shelbourne 4/9.
PREDICTION
2-1 away win.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Daniel Purdy.
Suspended: Ryan Doolin.
Shelbourne
Injured: John Sullivan, Brian Gannon, Adam O’Connor, Darren Tinnelly, Jordan Keegan.
Suspended: Willo McDonagh, Keith Quinn.
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 …