Derry City Host Shamrock Rovers in Top-of-the-Table League of Ireland Premier Clash
================================================================================
In a highly anticipated match, second-placed Derry City will welcome League of Ireland leaders Shamrock Rovers to The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Friday. According to Sports Mole, Derry City have 27 points after 16 matchweeks, while Shamrock Rovers have 32 points after 17 games.
The home side, Derry City, were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Drogheda United on May 16. Their opponents, Shamrock Rovers, managed to beat St Patrick’s Athletic 4-0 on May 19. Derry City’s manager, Tiernan Lynch, will be pleased with his side’s form, considering they are unbeaten in four outings – winning three – and have triumphed in five of their past seven while losing just once.
### Match Preview
The Sports Mole report states that Derry City come into Friday’s match on the back of three consecutive victories at home, as well as three consecutive clean sheets. However, their previous seven meetings with Shamrock Rovers have not been favourable, with the Candystripes failing to win any of those matches, losing on four occasions.
Shamrock Rovers’ manager, Stephen Bradley, will also be delighted by his team’s offensive efforts, given their return of 31 goals in the top flight makes them the league’s best attacking side. The Hoops have won their last four games by a cumulative score of 12-1, but they failed to win their previous four, suffering one loss.
### Team News
According to Sports Mole, Derry City left wing-back Ben Doherty is dealing with a muscle injury and may miss out, and his absence could lead to the selection of Sam Todd to the left of centre-backs Hayden Cann, Mark Connolly, and Kevin Holt. Adam O’Reilly, Robbie Benson, and Michael Duffy were stationed in a midfield three last time out, and they are likely to play together on Friday.
As for Shamrock Rovers, centre-back Daniel Cleary is a doubt due to a knock, while fellow defenders Sean Kavanagh and Sean Robertson have been ruled out. Expect Lee Grace, Roberto Lopez, and Cory O’Sullivan to start in central defence behind midfielders Jack Byrne, Darragh Nugent, and Matthew Healy.
### Possible Lineups
The Sports Mole report suggests the following possible lineups:
Derry City: Maher; Cann, Connolly, Holt; Harkin, O’Reilly, Benson, Duffy, Todd; Whyte, Boyce
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Grace, Lopez, O’Sullivan; Grant, Byrne, Nugent, Healy, Honohan; Burke, Noonan
### Prediction
The Sports Mole prediction for this match is Derry City 1-2 Shamrock Rovers. It would not be surprising if Derry managed to score considering the visitors have been somewhat more defensively vulnerable on the road. However, when coupling Shamrock’s record in front of goal with their strong form, they should be confident of claiming all three points.
Source link
