Soccer
Rovers aim to pluck three points from Harps to secure Premier title
By Daire Walsh
SHAMROCK Rovers will be seeking to confirm their status as the top team in the land when they welcome Finn Harps to Tallaght Stadium for a potential SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title-winning clash tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Already 13 points clear of St Patrick’s Athletic at the summit of the table – albeit with a game more played – the Hoops can officially seal the top-tier crown by claiming all three points against the Donegal men.
Having comfortably claimed Premier Division bragging rights at the end of a reduced 2020 season, the pressure was on Stephen Bradley’s men to show they were capable of replicating this achievement in a more normal-structured campaign.
Despite encountering resistance from Pat’s and Sligo during the opening half of the season (and falling to five defeats thus far), Rovers have once again proven themselves to be the standard bearers of the domestic game.
In many respects, the secret behind the Hoops’ march to a second successive Premier Division has been the power of the collective.
Rather than relying on a couple of individuals to do the heavy lifting for them, the entire squad have played their apart in ensuring that Rovers have remained on top of the pile.
While Bohemians striker Georgie Kelly (19 goals) and Drogheda’s Mark Doyle (12) have been more prolific than the Tallaght side’s main marksmen, there has been an impressive spread of scorers for the champions-elect throughout the term.
A summer recruit from arch rivals Bohs, Daniel Mandroiu has proven their scorer-in-chief in the league with 10 goals. Just behind him, Rory Gaffney and Graham Burke (the match-winner against Longford last Saturday) have chipped in with nine apiece.
The holders also boast the best defensive record in the division with just 23 goals conceded in their 32 games to date. Mid-season signings Barry Cotter and Richie Towell have also played their part for Rovers with the latter having already won the Premier Division on two occasions in the colours of Dundalk.
When Harps last visited the Hoops on June 11, it coincided with the return of supporters to Tallaght Stadium for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As fate would have it, tomorrow night’s clash between the sides in the same venue could very well be played in front of a full house.
This might lead to a carnival atmosphere at Whitestown Way, but Ollie Horgan’s men will be intent on spoiling the party. After claiming a 1-1 draw on the road against Rovers in June, they recorded a 2-1 win over them on spoils in early September.
Currently in the relegation play-off spot, Harps will know that garnering a positive result at the home of the champions could be the springboard for a much-needed strong homerun to the season.