6th April 2009: Dundak v Shamrock Rovers Match Preview
There is mid-week action in Oriel Park on Tuesday night when Dundalk take on Shamrock Rovers. Dundalk are full of confidence following the fine 3-1 win in Sligo on Saturday night. Shamrock Rovers will also be keen to get back to winning ways after two defeats and a draw in their last three games.
Team News
Thomas Heary was withdrawn early against Sligo Rovers and is rated as doubtful for Tuesday night. Michael McGinlay suffered an ankle injury in a friendly against Dungannon last Tuesday and is almost certainly out of contention. Declan O'Brien is also a doubt to start having missed the Sligo match. Local striker Tiarnan Mulvenna's performance partnering Darren Mansaram on Saturday night earned considerable praise from the Dundalk management and may be in line to keep his place in the side. If Heary is unavailable it is likely that Simon Kelly will partner Liam Burns in the centre of defence with Shaun Kelly returning to the starting line-up at right-back.
There is no new developments in the Michael Collins case.
Sean Connor will be sitting in the stands as part of his four match suspension.
Pre-Match Comments - Sean Connor
"We produced a decent performance in Sligo. Kept our shape well and worked hard. The difference was that we had some luck unlike in some of our other games this season. Sligo started very strongly. We weathered the storm in first twenty minutes. I thought Chris Turner would cause them problems and Darren Mansaram played his best game since coming to the club. We moved Chris out to the right of midfield after myself and Joe went through a few options last week. It worked very well. He was able to come up the wing and get shots in. It just shows that he is an adaptable player who is willing to play different roles. It was frustrating to be up in the stand for the game but myself and Joe had done all our planning and went through a number of contingency plans. The win put us on six points and I think we are progressing well as a team. Shamrock Rovers is another huge match and I am expecting another full house at Oriel Park for this game. I am sure that 20 years ago this would have been a top of the table clash and that, like myself here at Dundalk, Michael O'Neill has plans to bring Shamrock Rovers back to the top of Irish football. Rovers are further along the road in that process having re-established themselves in the Premier Division over the past two years. I am expecting a very open game with both sides intent on winning three valuable points.
The Rovers View - Michael O'Neill
“Traditionally, Oriel Park is a tough place to go and get a win and I’m sure this game will be no different. We know that they’ve some very good players and it will be difficult.
“But we also know that we can play a bit, and we’ll be going there very confident of getting all three points. Just like in Drogheda, I’d expect a sizeable and noisy away support and that always helps.”
Twelve Years since last Rovers Win.
Dundalk have not beaten Shamrock Rovers in the league since the 26th September 1997 when a Brian Byrne goal three minutes from time gave Jim McLaughlin's team a 2-1 win at Tolka Park. Earlier, Paul Carlyle had equalised Tony Cousins early opener for the Hoops. The teams that night were:
Shamrock Rovers: Forde, Britton, Whelan, Purdy, Brazil, Tracey, Colwell, Kenny, Morrisroe, O'Neill, Cousins.
Dundalk: Williams, Reddish, Doohan, Brady, Crawley, Campbell. Carlyle, Melvin, Hoey, Byrne, Withnell. Sub: McNulty for Withnell.
While the last time Dundalk beat Rovers in a competitive match in Oriel was, of course, the 2002 FAI Cup Semi-Final - We have to back to the 4th October 1996 for our last league win at Oriel Park over the Hoops. Leonard Curtis gave Rovers an early lead but two goals from Joe Gallen and a goal apiece for Fintan McConville and Joe Hanrahan gave John Hewitt's team a fine 4-1 victory. The teams that night were:
Dundalk: Fridge, McNulty, Crawley, Doohan, Napier, Devereaux, Campbell, McConville. Gallen, Douglas, Hanrahan. Sub: Withnell for Douglas, Hewitt for Withnell.
Shamrock Rovers: Horgan, Travey, Carolan. Brazil, Whelan, Curtis, Williams, Cousins, Reid, Fenlon, Kelly. Sub: Toal for Carolan, Lynch for Toal, Molly for Kelly.
