The League of Ireland Premier Division has a considerably different look after the double round of games in the last week with Shamrock Rovers now hunting down the leaders as Shelbourne visit Tallaght Stadium tonight.
RTÉ Sport will broadcast a number of games from this, the second series of fixtures in the Premier Division, beginning with the all-Dublin clash.
Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne, 14 April at 7.45pm
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) March 30, 2023
Shelbourne v Dundalk, Tolka Park - 21 April at 7.45pm
Derry City v Shamrock Rovers - 1 May, 2023 at 7.15pm
Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians - 5 May, 2023 at 7.45pmhttps://t.co/41PN8ymv5W #RTEsoccer
The Hoops saw off rivals Bohemians last Friday, issuing a statement of intent that their slow start was merely that, and followed it up with a routine three points against UCD.
They can now overtake Derry City this evening on the back on the Candystripes succumbing to two home losses as the worries switch from one team in the title race to another.
Bohs still maintain a seven-point advantage, but there's no doubt Stephen Bradley will expect to see his side close in on top spot sooner rather than later.
Damien Duff was an angry and frustrated figure after Shels drew with the Students, and they may have been compounded at half-time against a Sligo Rovers.
A triple substitution, a fortuitous own goal and containing the visitors with relative ease led to a change in mood for Duff.
They’ll need to find their very best form keep the Hoops scoreless, as they did in Tolka Park earlier in the year.
SSE Airtricity League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers welcome their former player and coach Damien Duff and his Shelbourne side to Tallaght on Friday | Watch live on @RTE2 and @RTEPlayer from 7.35pm. Live updates on @RTESport online and the @RTENews app #LOI pic.twitter.com/Q0chmCSQ6f
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) April 12, 2023
The number of games tonight is reduced with Sligo hosting Drogheda and Dundalk’s match with Derry delayed due to Joe Biden’s visit.
It leaves two more games in the capital with the leaders welcoming resurgent St Patrick’s Athletic.
Bohs could have fallen into a slumber on the back on their first home loss of the season. Victory in Derry, with a number of changes to the team, showed a resolute nature to their side.
The Gyspsies are making great strides in putting themselves in pole position when the race for the European place heats up later in the year.
Pat’s have turned their year around with 10 points from the last four matches.
Home wins over UCD and Cork City were nothing to get too excited about. However victory in Drogheda – a place where many sides will drop points and have already done, showed there has been an improvement as they return to the top four.
A win in Dalymount would make the table even more congested.
There’s also a hugely important game at the other end of the table.
Cork City, despite their win over Dundalk on Monday, remain the closest side to UCD in the table.
They meet in the UCD Bowl with a chance for the Rebels to put clear daylight between themselves and the Students.
With a quarter of the season played, College meet to make this game or face an insurmountable task as the year goes on.
Shamrock Rovers v Shelbourne, Tallaght Stadium, 7.45pm
Stephen Bradley is keen to see his side turn their recent victories into something more in the second series of games, beginning with Shelbourne.
Dundalk, Bohs and UCD have been put away by Stephen Bradley men's in the last fortnight with nine goals hitting the net in the process and three clean sheets.
"I think the confidence has always been there and obviously the results help but the confidence has been good and we know we’ve been doing well. Now we have the results to match those performances. The aim is definitely to keep that run going and we’ll do everything possible tonight to ensure that we do.
"I think the confidence has always been there and obviously the results help but the confidence has been good and we know we’ve been doing well. Now we have the results to match those performances. The aim is definitely to keep that run going and we’ll do everything possible on Friday to ensure that we do."
Bradley is expecting Shelbourne to bring the usual level of organisation and hard work.
"I don’t see much changing from their point of view and we’ve got to respect that because there’s more than one way to win a football match. We’ve got to respect that and it’s up to us to find a way to unlock that, and go and create and score some goals.
"They have some big players from set pieces and then you look at their front three or four, they have some good players in that area of the pitch so we’ve got to make sure we respect them as a team and everything they bring.
"It’s another Dublin Derby and I’ve no doubt we’ll have another brilliant crowd. It’s on TV in the best stadium in the country. If you can’t look forward to these sorts of games, then you shouldn’t be involved so it’s definitely one we’re all looking forward to."
Gary O’Neill returns for the Hoops while Aaron Greene and Richie Towell are back in training, but this game may come too soon.
Simon Power and Liam Burt remain out while Sean Gannon also misses out after picking up a knock on Monday.
Damien Duff has pointed to the long unbeaten run in Tallaght Stadium to show the task at hand tonight.
As well as that, a video analysis of their victory against Sligo Rovers, in which the Bit O’ Red could have taken a great half-time lead, also focused the minds.
"They were unbeaten in 70 odd matches until Derry won against them. We know the task at hand.
"Our mentality never changes. We’re going to win the game. Boys will take that approach in and they need to go there with genuine belief as well."
"I think we’re in a nice position. We’ve definitely left points behind during the first round of games. Other teams can say the same I’m sure. It’s a phrase we’ve said a lot over 18 months.
"Last weekend was very important for us to set the direction we’d go in heading into the second round of matches, our aim was six points from two games we got four points, it leaves us three points better off than at this time last season.
"Looking back on Monday, there were a few issues in the first half but that’s down to lads struggling with injuries, fitness and form, we made the changes and that gave us a spark. "
Duff is eyeing a shock, particularly as he failed to defeat the champions so far as a manager.
"There are only two teams we haven’t beaten since we came back up, Dundalk and Rovers. There is no better time than Friday. I said it yesterday morning, I think they’re ready to do it and end that wait."
Mark Coyle is out with a muscle strain. Sean Boyd and Conor Kane remain absent through the long-term injuries.
Key midfielder Gavin Molloy is out for a few weeks with ankle ligament damage.
Bohemians v St Patrick's Athletic, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm
Bohemians boss Declan Devine hailed the depth of his squad as he ponders his options for the visit of St Patrick's Athletic to Dalymount Park.
Victory in Derry made it seven wins from their opening nine games and put the home defeat to Shamrock Rovers behind them.
Devine said: "We have a really tight group, who are really close together. They came in on Saturday morning and the defeat was still hurting as you would expect.
"We freshened things up with four new faces for the Derry game. The guys who came in did really well, it was a real team performance.
"Dean Williams has been flying in training but has had the best striker in the league ahead of him. Dean came in and scored the winner and showed again how good he can be for us.
"Kris Twardek has been an outstanding player over the years, has been outstanding in training too and came in and did really well.
"Jay Benn is getting fitter by the week and came in and his match sharpness was first class.
"James Clarke, who was probably Bohs' best player after he came in last season, came in and showed again that he will have a huge role for us.
"There is serious competition and everyone wants to play. That is without James McManus who has not started the last couple of games, who was probably one of our best players this season, John O’Sullivan has come on in recent games and done really well.
"We have Jordan Flores coming back now which is a tremendous asset. Keith Buckley has come back and had a massive performance in Derry. Then you have people like Adam McDonnell who has been a constant 9/10 in every game.
"I am so happy with the squad – we were without James Akintunde and Ali Coote. But our squad has pace and power, technical ability, physical ability."
The Bohs manager is wary of how the Saints have lifted themselves in recent weeks.
He said: "St Pat’s are on a good run of form. Their results have been very positive – they have won three on the spin.
"They are a good team. They were a good team when we played them the last time. They have a really good squad of players.
"In every game we have got to work as hard as we possibly can and this will be a very tough game that we will be ready for.
"The games cannot come quick enough for our players at the minute."
Akintunde (hamstring) remains out, while Coote (thigh) is a doubt.
Pat’s went down to a 2-0 loss in the home fixture as they look to extract some revenge.
Clancy is happy with how Pat’s are performing in front of goal:
"Our last few performances have been really pleasing and we'll be aiming to take that into the game tonight.
If you include the game at Shamrock Rovers, we've scored 12 goals across the period which is really good, we've kept two clean sheets too, we want to try to keep that going in what will be a tough Dublin Derby, it's one that we want to go to try and win.
"Declan Devine has had a brilliant start to his time as Bohemians manager, they've had a massive turnover in players too so to get them purring so early in the season is really good, they've got lots of very good players and lots of energy in their team, they've had seven wins so far so we'll be aiming to go to Dalymount on Friday and stop the run that they are on and continue our good one."
Danny Rogers (thumb), Tom Grivosti (hamstring), Harry Brockbank (calf) continue to miss out through injury, Captain Joe Redmond is awaiting results of the extent of his injury picked on Monday, while winger Jake Mulraney was taken off as a precaution in Drogheda and will also be assessed before the game.
