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Dublin derby goes beyond bragging rights for Shamrock Rovers this time - Paul Corry

Shamrock Rovers let a two-goal lead slip last time Bohemians visited Tallaght Stadium in April
Shamrock Rovers let a two-goal lead slip last time Bohemians visited Tallaght Stadium in April

It's the point of the season when permutations come into play and for Shamrock Rovers the equation is somewhat straightforward going into Friday's Dublin derby against Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium.

Already ten points clear with a game in hand, if Stephen Bradley's side beat Bohs and Derry City lose to Drogheda United, the Hoops will seal their fifth SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division crown in six years with five games to spare.

The potential of getting the title sealed at home against their most bitter rivals is a sweet carrot in and of itself, but it will also benefit the club on other fronts, according to former Hoops midfielder Paul Corry.

The club are still in the Sports Direct FAI Cup - a semi-final against Kerry awaits early next month - while they have another lucrative six-game UEFA Conference League campaign upcoming.

"It's been a very flawless season. Top of the league, still involved in the FAI Cup and in the Conference League group stage, I think the derby against Bohs is one where you just want to focus on getting three points," Corry told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast.

"And for that reason, I think (Bradley) will go full strength. He has the luxury now to pick and choose where he wants to play players and tee people up for the real important games.


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"But I think they'll go full steam ahead for this Bohs game. Particularly, he'll want to wrap up the league - I know the league is done and dusted - but he'll want to make sure that it is officially done as soon as possible to allow them to really focus in on the Conference League and I think the FAI Cup is going to carry as much weight as the Conference League, just on the basis that he hasn't done a league and cup double.

"For all the success they've had, they probably haven't won enough FAI Cups. But make no bones about it when they play Bohs this Friday night, it's going to be very much about getting his strongest 11 on the pitch and trying to get a win over their biggest rivals and if they could win (the title) on a Friday in Tallaght against Bohs with Derry coughing up points, that would literally be the most perfect equation and perfect finish to the domestic season."

Corry added that the fact that Rovers have lost all three previous meetings with Bohemians this season will also be at the "forefront" of Bradley, the players and supporters' minds. It's a point former Hoops midfielder Richie Towell concurred with.

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley exchanges words with Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
Bohs boss Alan Reynolds (r) has got the better of Stephen Bradley's side three times this season

"Stephen Bradley will most definitely pick his strongest 11. I've no doubt about that," Towell said.

"I think that's some of the reasoning behind some of the changes that he made against Waterford.

"I think they've sold over 8,000 tickets already, so it's going to make for an absolute fantastic advertisment for the League of Ireland.

"I think Stephen Bradley will use that a little bit as fuel to the fire that Bohemians have been so dominant over them so far this season.

"But they'll be under no illusion that they'll be nice and calm in their own performance. I don't think anything will change.

"Everybody knows how Shamrock Rovers play, how they approach the games and vice versa, I think Alan Reynolds, he'll be really calm going into the game because (Bohs) know how to play against Shamrock Rovers.

"I know that he's said that they need to come out and win the game but I don't think their game-plan's going to change drastically over the last couple of games that they played against Rovers."

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