Oct 25,2024
The Premier Division title race continues into to the penultimate weekend with the possibility of Derry City being eliminated tonight, as Shelbourne look to strengthen their position at the top.
How simple that sounds.
Last week's round produced four victories for the sides gunning for the title, eliminating Galway United from the mix.
Now there are four, with St Patrick’s Athletic unlikely to impact top spot unless a bizarre set of results occur.
It looks a three-horse race. Shelbourne and likely Derry City have it in their hands with the Candystripes holding a six-goal superior goal difference to Shamrock Rovers.
The Hoops are not in action until Sunday due to their UEFA Conference League exploits last night.
They are waiting to pounce should the top two drop points in the final fortnight.
City and Shels play on the final day, with a possible scenario that they could draw to ruin both of their chances and allow the reigning champions to make it five on the spin.
The Hoops have yet to go top this season and could do it on the final day after 35 matches being in the chasing pack.
Attention first will be on Tolka Park to see if Shels can maintain their advantage or even grow it.
Drogheda's fate is sealed after Bohemians stretched clear of the play-off place last week. They may opt to rest some key players with time on their hands before the FAI Cup final and their clash with the First Division side.
That may play into the hands of Shels. It will be a Tolka Park high on nervous energy as they seek a remarkable league success.
Victory would mean that they could be champions by the end of the week, should Shamrock Rovers drop points in Dundalk.
After finally ending their wait for a victory last week, hopes will be high that Shels can repeat the trick and go into the final week just needing to beat Derry.
Again, easier said than done.
The Candystripes must go to the form side of the league and take all three points. St Pat's have recorded seven victories in succession to put themselves in a fantastic position to qualify for Europe. The league is now too much of an ask, but what a remarkable turnaround it has been.
Derry have won in Dublin 8 already this season. It seems so much more unlikely based on recent displays of both sides.
There is no fall-back option any more for Ruaidhri Higgins' side, they simply must prove they are worthy of winning a league.
The Connacht derby gives Galway United and Sligo Rovers their final shot at making Europe. Should Derry take all three points against Pat's, a winner of the clash in Galway would enter into contention for fourth spot on the final day.
Sligo in particular have the incentive of knowing a win would take them to a showdown with the Saints in The Showgrounds next week.
The final game sees Waterford and Bohemians meet at the RSC as both look to finish the season on a good note.
Shelbourne v Drogheda United, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Tolka Park is the place to be tonight with no tickets available for home fans since last Monday.
The title is in sights for Shels, as is the prospect of all their work being undone by the poor points return from August onwards.
They held their nerve last week to recover from going a goal down to Waterford and the relief was evident.
It was the first time the Reds scored three goals in a league game at the 34th attempt.
Some key players will sit out this game. Shane Griffin and Sam Bone remain out with injury. Matty Smith and Mark Coyle are suspended. Both will return for the crunch clash with Derry City.
JJ Lunney has overcome his injury problem.
Drogheda have been a tough opponent for Shels in the Duff-era. They secured European football with a rare four-goal salvo on the final night of last year.
Damen Duff is trying to keep feet on the ground: "We are going to treat it like any other game, trying to keep things normal. Maybe in the past, we've overthought or built up games like this, at this time of the season, too much. Now, it’s back to normal service and a regular week of training.
"Even during the poor run of results over the last six to eight weeks, we kept working hard and coaching. We didn’t change, didn’t panic. We kept doing our work and were fully confident that it would turn.
"I’ll never lose faith in what we’re doing—the staff, the players. We know it’s the right way, and I won’t change, and no one will make me change my mind on that. Some of the results have been poor, but results like last Friday help get the lads back on track."
It has been close to two decades since Shels were the kingpins of Irish football.
The thought has crossed the minds of many, the question is whether they can make the steps needed.
Duff said he "demanded" his players were in the shake-up and now wants them to grasp the opportunity created.
"It's nice to be here, people are probably surprised we are, and that we’ve managed to stay there for almost the entire season, but this was always our plan. When you have a plan, you have to see it through. We’re in a good position now, and there’s a plan for these two games.
"When we met at the start of the season, I didn’t ask the lads to be in a title race—I demanded it. I’m not interested in gallant efforts, Irish football has probably been built on it for decades. I’m not interested in hard luck stories, my only interest is in finising the job."
Kevin Doherty has admitted he will make some alterations to his normal XI, while maintaining the core of the side.
"My concern is Drogheda United and not any other club, so we have to do what we feel is best for what we need," he told the Drogheda Independent.
"It won't be the same team as last week, but there won’t be loads of changes either. We don’t have a massive squad and we’re in a good rhythm and in good form and I don’t want to mess with that.
"The message I want to get out is that it will do some lads good to change things during games and they mightn’t play 90 minutes, but I don’t want to be taking players out and then they have not played for two weeks. Some players need to keep playing every week to keep their rhythm.
"We’re only playing one game a week anyway and that is perfect for us leading into the final."
St Patrick's Athletic v Derry City, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Injury problems have hit Derry City at the worst possible time going into this must-win encounter.
Top scorer Patrick Hoban will miss out along with midfielder Patrick McEleney.
Ciaran Coll is also injured while Mark Connolly serves a suspension. It leaves big holes in attack and defence for City.
It did not make for a happy 40th birthday for Ruaidhri Higgins as he looks to his bench for inspiration.
One positive is the return of Colm Whelan after a good display in the victory over Dundalk.
Derry were largely comfortable in that game and face a completely different challenge here.
Higgins feels Derry can rise to the occasion.
"We will be looking at it as an opportunity for someone to put their best foot forward. Our players in the last couple of weeks have had good results away from home and we have won down there before this season and hopefully, we can replicate that again.
"Of course, there is a lot at stake. The players are in good spirits. We have a good record against St Pat's and we want to keep that run going. There is an edge to St Pat’s, a lot of players have got form. We are going there to win."
Stephen Kenny's transformation at Inchicore sees them in fourth place and they will go above Derry with the victory here.
Pat's have their only injury issues from their clash with Galway United last week.
Mason Melia (back) and Alex Nolan (hip), remain out with Stephen Kenny saying that he is "waiting on Jake Mulraney and Zack Elbouzedi" after they picked up knocks.
Kenny knows his side can't afford to slip up in the race for the top three spots.
He explained: "The players attitude in training has consistently been good throughout the season. We've been on a terrific run of results, so they want the games to come thick and fast.
"We'll get a really tough game against Derry.
"We hadn't beaten Bohemians, Waterford or Shelbourne all season in the three previous rounds of games, we beat those three in hard fought games and Derry are another one.
"Derry have been in the ascendancy in all of the meetings this season, so we've got to keep that run going to turn Derry over on Friday. It must be the objective to get into the position to qualify for Europe at least."
Galway United v Sligo Rovers, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
A sell-out crowd is expected for this Connacht derby which could have had so much more riding on it if results were better for the participants in last couple of matches.
Nevertheless they can be hugely proud of their performance.
Both sides will have an eye on proceedings in Richmond Park to see what impact this game will have.
The Tribesmen have failed to score against Sligo this year after losing 2-0 in The Showgrounds while they have also played out two 0-0 draws.
This is undoubtedly the most important clash with over 4,000 to attend.
The Bit O' Red's small squad has caught up with them, having been without a recognised striker for the loss to Bohemians last week.
Luke Pearce will return tonight after serving a suspension and may make a difference.
But Wilson Waweru, Stephen Mallon and Ellis Chapman won't make the trip down the N17 and miss out due to injury.
Sligo boss John Russell is not giving up on Europe despite the difficulties they face.
"We're still fighting and we're still in with a chance of finishing in a European spot", he said.
"I know we need results to go for us elsewhere but all we can affect is what Sligo Rovers do.
"The aim is to finish the season with two wins and let's see where it lands us.
"It's a derby against our neighbours and it's a game we're very much looking forward to. These are games you want to be involved in as a player and our boys are aware how big of a game it is.
""There seems to be a really big interest in this match and it's great to see as the Connacht derby is a fixture which should be associated with Sligo and Galway teams at the top end of the Premier Division."
It has been a memorable return to the top flight for John Caulfield and Tribesmen supporters.
He wants to give the crowd a night to remember.
"I was saying to the players just make sure that we give everything this season and finish with a home win for our supporters. We look forward to preparing for that all week.
"Look at our last three or four home games we’re up between 3,500 to 4,500. It’s our last home game, a cracking match for everyone to look forward to.
"Europe is still there, albeit an outside [chance]. But it’s more for our supporters this year. They’ve had a great season, they’ve been behind us all the way. We’re trying to see if we can give them that winners' performance at home to send them home happy."
Waterford v Bohemians, RSC, 7.45pm
This is the closest thing to a dead rubber at the end of the season, which is quite an achievement given just seven days remain in the campaign.
Waterford have seen their season collapse with the FAI Cup quarter-final exit to Athlone Town and a run of just one win in 11 matches.
They can still catch Sligo Rovers in sixth place while Bohs will try to leapfrog them by clawing back their own four-point deficit in the last two matches.
Bohs' 2-0 win away to Sligo Rovers last week ended fears that they could be dragged down into the relegation play-off spot.
There is a long way for Alan Reynolds to go to win over fans in Dalymount Park. That was certainly a start.
"I think it was a reminder to our players of what can be achieved, and replicating the energy we saw at the end of the game has to be something that motivates us in our last two games as we look to finish the year strongly and build towards next season."
Captain Keith Buckley, Rob Cornwall and James McManus all returned to the training pitch this week. The trio will sit the final two games out once more alongside Leigh Kavanagh, Ross Tierney and James Akintunde.
Reynolds has hinted he may use some of his younger players in the squad due to the number of absentees.
"At this stage of the season we have to look at that as a positive opportunity for our younger players, so some of our U19s, Rhys Brennan, Seán Moore and Markuss Strods alongside Nickson Okosun, are in contention to feature in our squads for the final two games.
"They are really good quality prospects, so now is a good opportunity for them to be in and around first team training and to see what they are capable of transitioning to senior football."
Keith Long' has a 100% record over his former club this year with three victories.
Adam Queally and Kyle White miss the final home game of the year due to injury.
