Soccer
The Hoops looking to bounce back after shock loss to Drogs
By Daire Walsh
DEFENDING champions, Shamrock Rovers will look to recover from a rare slip-up when they welcome an in-form Shelbourne to Tallaght Stadium in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division tomorrow evening (kick-off 7.45pm).
Despite coming into the tie on the back of a 13-game unbeaten run, the Hoops were undone by one of their former players at Head In The Game Park on Monday.
A member of the Rovers first-team from 2014 to 2016, Ryan Brennan is now back at his hometown club of Drogheda United and his 38th-minute goal propelled the Co. Louth club towards a shock 1-0 win over the top-flight pace-setters.
Stephen Bradley’s charges remain seven points clear at the summit following Derry City’s defeat to Sligo Rovers on the same night, but they will not want to give the Candystripes any incentive in the race for league supremacy.
When Rovers visited Tolka Park back on April 8, it took a late goal from Kilnamanagh native Aaron Greene to earn them the spoils on a 2-1 final scoreline.
The newly-promoted Shels were still finding their feet in the Premier Division at that point, but have exploded into life in recent weeks. Since losing out to Finn Harps on April 29, the Drumcondra men have won four games on the bounce.
What is most impressive about this run is the fact that their manager – Ballyboden’s Damien Duff – was serving a touchline ban for all bar one of these encounters.
Another ex-Hoops star in the form of Joey O’Brien was barking out the sideline instructions during his absence, but the Shels head coach was back in the hot seat for Monday’s victory over UCD.