Dundalk Aim for Another Upset Against Shamrock RoversDundalk Aim for Another Upset Against Shamrock Rovers Dundalk will visit Tallaght Stadium on Thursday evening, hoping to repeat their victory over reigning champions Shamrock Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division. Previous Encounters In February, Dundalk held an early lead with Jamie Gullan’s free-kick but conceded a late equalizer to Aaron Greene. However, in May, Dundalk secured a crucial 1-0 home win over Rovers thanks to John Mountney’s 91st-minute strike. Current Form Dundalk has a three-point lead over neighbors Drogheda United in the battle to avoid relegation. They will face Rovers fresh off a 2-0 defeat to Waterford, while Rovers suffered a similar fate at the hands of Sligo Rovers. History Against Rovers Dundalk has not won a league match at Rovers in five years. Their last victory came in 2019 when Sean Gannon scored the winning goal. Team News Dundalk’s new signings are expected to be available, while Andy Boyle and Jamie Gullan are doubtful. Zak Johnson will play his final game for the club before returning to Sunderland. Quotes Jon Daly (Dundalk Manager): “We were disappointed with the result against Waterford. We have to go to Tallaght fully focused and make sure we punish Rovers if they are not on their game.” Zak Johnson (Dundalk Goalkeeper): “I’m disappointed for the lads that I couldn’t finish on a high at Oriel Park last week, but we have Shamrock Rovers to look forward to on Thursday so hopefully we can make up for that in my last game.” Match Officials Referee: Marc Lynch Assistants: Darragh Keegan, Eoin Harte Fourth Official: Oliver Moran
Dundalk will be hoping to take more points off reigning champions Shamrock Rovers when they play in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday evening.
The Lilywhites return to the situation they had on the opening day of the season in February, when Jamie Gullan’s superb free-kick put them ahead in the first half, only to have their lead cancelled out by Aaron Greene’s close-range effort after the break.
Dundalk secured a precious last-minute victory over Rovers at Oriel Park in mid-May, when John Mountney scored in the 91st minute. This proved to be a turning point in their battle for last place with neighbours Drogheda United, as they moved to within three points of them.
Jon Daly’s men prepare for back-to-back games with the Boynesiders, in the league and FAI Cup on July 12 and 19 respectively, as they hope to maintain their three-point lead over their rivals when the final whistle blows on Thursday ahead of next week’s huge Louth Derby.
Dundalk travel to Rovers having seen their proud record at Oriel Park come to an end last Friday with a 2-0 defeat to Waterford as their run of eight consecutive home clean sheets went up in smoke. In the process they fell further behind eighth-placed Bohemians, who have two games in hand, with the gap to safety now six points.
That same evening Rovers suffered a painful 2-0 defeat at Sligo Rovers, a result that did Dundalk no favours either, with their hopes of winning a fifth consecutive league title hanging by a thread. The club now sit fourth, 15 points behind leaders Shelbourne, but have played a game less than the Reds.
Dundalk know they will have to improve on their away games if they are to win anything against Tallaght this time around, having lost eight of their ten away games since that opening night. Last time out, a month ago in the capital, they went down 1-0 to Shels.
Rovers have lost three of their last four games, with their only win in that run coming at Drogheda in late May. Their recent home form has been mixed, winning one, drawing one and losing two of their last four there.
However, Dundalk will have to overcome recent history if they are to cause an upset, having gone five years without a league win at Rovers, starting in late June 2019 when Seán Gannon scored in the 73rd minute to seal a 1-0 victory.
Team news
New signings Scott McGill, Bobby Faulkner, Hayden Cann, Jad Hakiki and Norman Garbett are expected to be there, but Andy Boyle and Jamie Gullan are doubts, while Dara Keane is injured. On-loan Zak Johnson will play his last game for the club before returning to Sunderland.
Quotes – Jon Daly
“We were disappointed with the result against Waterford. The goals we conceded were sloppy and poor from our side. I’m sure Waterford will see it from their point of view as a really good pass from the corner, and then the free-kick they won, they managed to clear it. From my point of view it was two avoidable goals.
“In the end, Waterford put the ball in our net twice, and that’s what the game is about. We had some good chances. I don’t think it’s necessarily up to our strikers to score. Other players get chances too and they have to have that concentration.
“There are positives. If you don’t create chances and you don’t come across as a threat, then you worry a bit more. I was very disappointed that I didn’t get anything out of the game, but sometimes you don’t get what you deserve in football.
“I don’t think it’s a good time to play Rovers, especially when we’re away. They’re a good team. They’ll be disappointed with the result in Sligo, I was disappointed with it too because I would have liked them to have got three points to keep Sligo a bit closer to us.
“But I do think it shows us how important it was to beat Sligo here before half-time. Again, it tells me that the league is really, really competitive and if you’re not in it for whatever reason, you can end up on the wrong side of a result.
“We have to go to Tallaght fully focused, we are on our game, and if they are not on their game we will make sure we punish them. It will be a tough game, I know very well how good they are, they have a lot of players back now so they are almost back to full strength.
“There will be a lot of people who will write them off, but there is still plenty of football to be played and I’m sure there will be plenty of twists and turns before the end of the season.”
Quotes – Zak Johnson
“I want to say a massive thank you to the fans. They have supported me all the way here. Dundalk is a place I will never forget. I think it is a massive learning curve for me for the future. Dundalk has a massive role to play, no matter how high I get and perform.
“I’m disappointed for the lads that I couldn’t finish on a high at Oriel Park last week, but we have Shamrock Rovers to look forward to on Thursday so hopefully we can make up for that in my last game.
“Our last game against Rovers, where we beat them 1-0 in Oriel through John Mountney in the last minute, I think that’s the standout moment. There was a lot of pressure on us in that game and up until the 90th minute I think there was eight points between us and Drogheda.
“At the end of that game we closed the gap to three, which was massive for us. I think that’s probably the most notable moment, but every moment has been incredible, every clean sheet I’ve had has always felt special. The feeling has never gotten boring, I’ve always enjoyed it. I’m going to miss Dundalk.”
Match officials
Referee: Marc Lynch
Assistants: Darragh Keegan and Eoin Harte
Fourth official: Oliver Moran
